Beijing-based China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) has overtaken Houston-based Kraton Polymers LLC as the world's largest producer of styrenic block copolymer (SBC), according to Chinese state media.

Sinopec's SBC annual capacity reached 410,000 metric tons by mid-August, exceeding Kraton's capacity of 405,000 metric tons. The news also said Sinopec's market share in China's SBC market reached 61 percent in the first seven months.

Sinopec's SBC capacity consists of 220,000 metric tons at its Baling branch in Yuyang, Hunan province, 100,000 metric tons at its Beijing Yanshan branch, and 90,000 metric tons at its Maoming branch in Maoming, Guangdong province.

China has about 10 SBC manufacturers with combined annual capacity of 710,000 metric tons, the reports say.