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Liaoyang Complex | China Petroleum Daily (Aug 23, 2025)

The Liaoyang Complex is a large-scale integrated refining and petrochemical manufacturing base located in the southeastern suburbs of Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. First established in 1974, it is historically significant as the birthplace of Dacron (polyester) fabric manufacturing in China. Over five decades it has evolved from a single chemical fiber facility into a fully integrated "oil–chemical–fiber" (油化纤) complex combining crude oil refining, aromatics, polyolefins, and chemical fiber production.​​

Crude Processing Capacity

The 2009 expansion — a strategic component of the Sino-Russia Petroleum Cooperation Agreement — transformed Liaoyang into China's first 200,000-bpd refinery designed exclusively to process Russian crude. Total investment was approximately USD 238 million.​

Production Units & Key Capacities

The complex operates 39 large-scale production units overall, with aromatics (xylenes/PX) accounting for the largest share of total annual output capacity.

Technology Licensors — Liaoyang Complex

The original grass-roots complex (1974-1979) was designed and built under a landmark 2-billion French Franc contract between China National Technical Import Corporation (CNTIC) and Technip in partnership with Speichim — the largest contract ever signed between France and China at the time. The full suite of process licensors for the 21 original units was as follows:​

Engineering and EPC contractor for the entire complex was Technip + Speichim (joint venture), delivering 45,000 tonnes of equipment across 4,400 items and training 230 Chinese technicians worldwide.​

2009 Expansion (200,000 bpd Refinery Upgrade)

The 2009 Russian crude processing expansion was executed under the Sino-Russia Petroleum Cooperation Agreement. The specific process technology licensors for individual refining units in this expansion have not been publicly disclosed in available sources. The EPC contractor for the expansion was reported as a Chinese engineering firm working under CNPC supervision.

Key Production Areas

• Refining: Atmospheric & vacuum distillation, hydrocracking (20,000 bpd), hydrorefining (40,000 bpd), sulfur recovery (30,000 t/y)​

• Aromatics: Paraxylene (PX), benzene, mixed xylenes

• Polyolefins: Polypropylene (PP), HDPE, LLDPE​

• Polyester & Fibers: PTA, Dacron (polyester fabric) — China's original production base​

• Other chemicals: Ethylene, Ethylene Oxide (EO)