Japan polymer exports rise in March

20 April 2007 10:18  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS news)--Japan’s polymer exports rose in March, with polystyrene (PS) recording the highest jump at 57% compared with the same period a year ago, statistics from a local association showed on Friday.

 

Japan exported 3,300 tonnes of PS in March, up from 2,100 tonnes in March 2006, the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) said in a statement.

 

This was a 21% increase from 2,800 tonnes in the previous month.

 

Exports of polypropylene (PP) in March also posted a 17% year-on-year rise to 44,900 tonnes, while that of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density PE (LDPE) were up 6% and 9% respectively.

 

The association also provided statistics on the country’s petrochemical output which showed that output for most products such as LDPE, HDPE, PS and benzene rose as plants were in operation for a longer period.

 

Output of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethylene oxide (EO) fell.

 

Japan polymer sales (Unit: ‘000 tonnes)

		Shipment			Inventory
		Japan	Exports	Total
LDPE	Capacity	141.6	24.4	166	409.6
	% change on month	14	39	17	-1
	% on year	0	9	1	3
	Jan-March	386.3	60.1	446.4	409.6
	% change on year	0	-2	0	3
HDPE	Capacity	86.8	13.6	100.4	195.2
	% change on month	18	14	17	-4
	% on year	0	6	0	9
	Jan-March	230.2	36.1	266.3	195.2
	% change on year	-3	16	-1	9
PP	Capacity	260.4	44.9	305.3	631.4
	% change on month	14	36	17	-4
	% on year	2	17	4	13
	Jan-March	697.8	98.4	796.3	631.4
	% change on year	2	-4	1	13
PS	Capacity	80.5	3.3	83.9	102.6
	% change on month	23	21	23	-9
	% on year	8	57	9	6
	Jan-March	213.1	8.5	221.5	102.6
	% change on year	5	74	7	6

 

Japan’s March chemical output (‘000 tonnes)

Product	Output	% change month on month	% change year on year
ethylene	680	7	20
LDPE	162	11	16
HDPE	93.2	-4	32
PP	277.7	5	8
PS	73.6	14	16
SM	288.3	0	32
PVC	179	0	5
VCM	276.5	10	-7
MMA	47.7	6	-10
EO	84.7	2	-1
EG	67.4	3	2
acetaldehyde	29.6	20	50
ACN	63.2	21	86
SBR	26.8	-32	60
BR	23.7	7	1
benzene	438.9	2	13
toluene	157.7	18	21
xylene	559.1	21	10

Source: JPCA

 

By: Tomomi Yokomura
+65 6780 4359

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly