ExxonMobil unveils liquid-phase isomerization advances for paraxylene production

At the International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) in Houston, Texas, ExxonMobil presented breakthrough results in its liquid-phase isomerization (LPI) process, highlighting energy efficiency, improved yields and strong commercial performance. The presentation, titled “Liquid-Phase Isomerization Process for Paraxylene Production”, was delivered by Alejandra Rivas Cardona, Business Development Manager for ExxonMobil’s Aromatic Catalyst Licensing organization, and Jeff Pryor, Market Development for ExxonMobil.

The LPI process was introduced as a complementary—or in some cases, alternative—technology to conventional vapor-phase isomerization (VPI). ExxonMobil emphasized that LPI operates in the liquid phase, reducing energy-intensive vaporization and condensation steps while enabling lower-temperature operation.

“This technology was designed not as a replacement, but as a strategic enhancement to VPI,” said Rivas Cardona. “It can debottleneck existing xylene loops, reduce energy consumption and increase material efficiency without requiring major infrastructure changes.”

Commercial success and proven longevity. ExxonMobil shared case studies from commercial plants, including one that has been in operation for nearly a decade. Results consistently demonstrated ultra-low xylene losses—below 0.3 weight percent—across the full catalyst cycle.

Another unit, where LPI was installed in parallel with a VPI reactor running on ExxonMobil’s CYMAX2 catalyst, achieved:

Lower xylene losses
Increased ethylbenzene conversion
Reduced energy consumption across the system.
In one heavy naphtha-fed operation, the plant achieved 101% of baseline paraxylene production capacity while simultaneously cutting energy use:

Fuel gas down 3%
Steam down 9%
Power down 3%
Cooling water down 3%.
The combined OPEX savings were calculated at 4%, with the project delivering a payback in less than two years.

Pryor emphasized the broader implications: “The xylene loop is one of the largest energy consumers in the aromatics chain. By shifting to liquid-phase operation, we can cut that energy demand dramatically—more than 50% in some cases—while improving paraxylene yields.”

The LPI process also leverages ExxonMobil’s proprietary cobalt-like catalyst, which does not rely on precious metals, reducing both costs and logistical challenges for customers.

Looking ahead. The company framed LPI as a flexible solution for both revamps of existing complexes and new grassroots units, particularly where ethylbenzene-lean feeds are used. In such cases, ExxonMobil noted, LPI could even serve as a full replacement for vapor-phase isomerization.

In closing, Rivas Cardona summarized the message to refiners and petrochemical operators: “If greater efficiency, fewer byproducts, and reduced energy use are important to you, LPI technology delivers those results while fitting seamlessly into your current setup.”

Taiwan's government said on Thursday that it will cooperate should "international allies" impose further restrictions on Russian energy imports, after a group of non-governmental organizations criticized the island's continued business with the country.

While Taiwan joined the United States and major Western allies in putting broad sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, it did not explicitly ban imports of energy, a major hard currency earner for Russia.

Responding to criticism on Wednesday from a group of NGOs including the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air about Taiwan's continued imports of Russian naphtha, Taiwan's foreign ministry said the government will continue to closely coordinate with the United States, the European Union and other democracies.

"Should international allies impose further restrictions on Russian energy products or other items, Taiwan will actively cooperate, demonstrating its unwavering resolve to oppose aggression and defend the international order," it said.

Taiwan's economy ministry, which is in charge of energy policy, said in a separate statement that it "urges domestic enterprises to procure petroleum products that comply with EU regulations".

It noted that state-owned firms had stopped importing Russian oil in 2023 but that there is no restriction on private companies to continue doing so.

"As international sanctions continue to evolve, the ministry will further examine relevant control measures and communicate with domestic manufacturers," it added.

Taiwan has imported 102,000 bpd of refined products in the first nine months this year, up from 76,000 bpd in 2024, data from shiptracker Kpler showed. Naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock, makes up the bulk of imports from Russia, the data showed.

India's diesel exports to Europe probably hit an all-time high in September, data from shiptrackers and trade sources showed on Thursday, as traders cashed in on robust profits in the west during a refinery maintenance season.

September volumes from Asia's key swing supplier bound for Europe were at 1.3 MM metric t–1.4 MM metric t (9.7 MMbbl–10.4 MMbbl), data from LSEG, Kpler and two trade sources showed.

Shiptracking data showed India's exports to Europe reached these levels for the first time since such figures began to be recorded in 2017.

India's refiners, which source about a third of their crude from Russia, are boosting runs and redirecting surplus products abroad, with gasoline and diesel shipments hitting multi-year highs.

Total diesel exports for September were also at five-year highs of nearly 3 MMt, Kpler shiptracking data showed.

East-West spread widens. The diesel east-west spreads averaged $45 per metric ton in September, up from less than $30 in August, LSEG pricing data showed, spurring traders to move the product to Europe.

European prices strengthened as refinery maintenance has reduced diesel supply there, traders said.

In Europe, crude processing capacity of some 550,000 bpd–600,000 bpd is expected to be offline in October, two of the sources said, up from around 400,000 bpd in September.

Shipping costs have also fallen by about $10 per ton, data from two shipbrokers showed. The cost to ship 90,000 t of refined fuel on the India-Europe route fell to $3.25 MM–$3.5 MM in the second half of September from $4 MM–$4.2 MM in the period from the end of August to early September, the data showed.

The rise in India's shipments to Europe has tightened supply in Asia, pushing up 10-ppm sulfur gasoil cash premiums to nearly $1.50 a barrel, the highest in two months.

However, Vortexa's head of APAC analysis, Ivan Mathews, said he forecasts India's transport fuel exports to fall month on month in October due to higher domestic demand during the Diwali festive season.

Ultimately, this expected decline in exports could be limited as product cracks are higher than the same period last year, which could "incentivize export-oriented refiners in India to run harder on the margin" and encourage some export sales, he added.

Looking ahead, traders remained cautious on diesel volumes on the India-Europe trade route, given a lack of details about how the European Union's 18th sanction package banning refined products derived from Russian oil will affect India's fuel exports.

Volumes can easily be swapped out for Middle East-origin barrels, which are readily available, two of the trade sources said.

Senegal plans to start construction of a second oil refinery next year to boost domestic processing capacity, and is seeking $2 B–$5 B in investment for the scheme, the CEO of national refining company SAR said on Thursday.

The country has received financing offers from potential investors including China, Turkey and South Korea, Mamadou Abib Diop said on the sidelines of an African energy conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

Abib Diop said feedstock for the new plant would come mainly from Senegal's offshore Sangomar oil and gas field, operated by Woodside Energy with national oil company Petrosen a minority shareholder. The field started producing last year with annual output of 34.5 MMbbl, or some 4.6 MMt.

SAR, West Africa's oldest refinery, processes 1.5 MMtpy of crude oil (or around 30,000 bpd), but faces a domestic shortfall.

"This gap we will cover with a project named SAR 2.0, which means that we will add a second refinery site in order to add 4 MMtpy (of processing capacity)," Abib Diop said.

He said by a targeted 2029 production startup date, SAR wanted to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic supply of petroleum products, as well as potentially exporting to elsewhere in the region.

There is no final decision yet on where the new refinery will be located or if government would take an equity share in its development, Abib Diop said. "A lot of investors are coming and giving their interest about financing these projects," he added.

U.S. oil refiner Phillips 66 expects to book about $100 MM of charges to idle its 139,000-bpd Los Angeles-area refinery, which will cease operations by year-end, the company said on Wednesday.

These include around $70 MM to mitigate groundwater contamination, and about $30 MM for its midstream segment to retire transportation assets.

"Several process units have been placed in an idle state. The remaining units will be idled in a phased manner through the end of 2025," the Houston, Texas-based company said.

The refinery received its last waterborne crude on September 30. The final crude processing date is expected to be in mid-October.

Phillips 66 began winding down its Los Angeles refinery in September.