APIC '07: China buys 70% of Japanese PVC

17 May 2007 05:29  [Source: ICIS news]

TAIPEI (ICIS news)--China bought 70% of Japan’s polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports in 2006, but shipments to the region are expected to decrease next year, the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPIC) said in a report on Thursday.

More domestic capacity will come onstream in China to meet an expected 10% rise in demand, the JPIC report released at the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference said.

Japan’s PVC exports increased by 4% in 2006 to 744,000 tonnes, said JPIC. Imports amounted to just 11,000 tonnes, although this was a 57% increase on the previous year.

Production volumes totalled 2.1m tonnes in 2006, down 1% on 2005.

Production capacity was stable from the previous year at 2.4m tonnes at the end of 2006. Domestic shipments hit 1.4m tonnes, a 3% decrease on 2005.

A recovery in demand in the private sector should boost demand for PVC windows and sidings, said JPIC.

But overall domestic demand for PVC is forecast to drop slightly in 2007 due to a decrease in public investment. As a result exports abroad, to countries outside Asia, are expected to grow, it said.

By: Jane Gibson
+44 20 8652 3214

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