China's Shandong Liaherd Chemical Industry Co plans to start up its new 30,000 tonne/year melamine plant in Zibo next month. “The plant will be operational by next month, but [the] exact operation date would depend on market situations. It’s uneconomical to open and shut a plant frequently,” the source said. Actual cost of building the plant in the Shandong province of eastern China is expected to fall at least yuan (CNY) 60m ($8.8m) from the initial estimate of CNY360m as costs of procurnig equipment declined amid the global financial crisis, said the source. Shandong Liaherd's existing 5,000 tonne/year melamine unit was running at full capacity.（ICIS)