S Korea's olefins, aroms exports rise in Feb

20 March 2008 07:45  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--South Korea was a strong exporter of olefins and aromatics in February 2008 as compared to the same month the year before, statistics released by the Korean International Trade Authority revealed on Thursday.

February ethylene export figures almost doubled to 63,248 tonnes from 32,938 tonnes year-on-year, while benzene exports surged nearly 50% to 135,902 tonnes from 90,725 tonnes for the corresponding period in 2007.

The nation’s acrylonitrile (ACN) exports also rose 49.5% to 114,178 from 76,378 tonnes, and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) numbers closed nearly 30% higher at 315,366 tonnes from 246,577 tonnes.

Paraxylene (PX) figures jumped 16% to 121,434 tonnes from 104,660 tonnes, while propylene exports slipped 22.4% to 29,425 from 37,932 year-on-year.

Export volumes for toluene, styrene and acetone also closed lower by 16%, 14.2% and 14.3% respectively.

South Korea’s polymer export volumes remained relatively stable across the board in February 2008, with the exception of polypropylene (PP) which jumped 49.5% to 114,178 from 76,379 year-on-year. 

In the import markets, solvent naphtha February figures increased three-folds to 763 tonnes from 188 tonnes in 2007, while methanol numbers steadied at 114,958 tonnes from 114,049 in February 2007.

Product		Export (tonnes)		% change
		Feb 2008	Feb 2007
Olefins	Ethylene	63248	32938	92
	Propylene	29425	37932	-22.4
	Butadiene	13424	13242	1.37
Polymers	hdPE	91386	90971	0.46
	ldPE	18785	21065	-10.8
	lldPE	34166	27184	25.7
	PP	114178	76379	49.5
	PVC	31433	28826	9.04
	PS	18535	17136	8.16
	ABS	94360	93019	1.44
Aromatics	Benzene	135902	90725	49.8
	Toluene	53833	64079	-16
	PX	121434	104660	16
Others	SM	102718	119719	-14.2
	PTA	315366	24657	27.9
	ACN	114178	76378	49.5
	Phenol	14791	15698	-5.78
	Acetone	13845	16149	-14.3

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Serene Cheong
+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