Japan’s naphtha imports rise 4.7% in March

28 April 2008 11:55  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS news)--Japan’s imports of naphtha for ethylene conversion in March increased 4.7% compared with the previous month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said on Monday.

 

The country imported 1.3m tonnes of naphtha in March, up from 1.24m tonnes in February, according to METI.

 

The increase was due to an expectation operating rates at the country’s ethylene plants would increase in April and May, said a spokesman from Chemnet Tokyo, a local chemical agency.

 

Japan’s spent $1.07bn on naphtha imports in March, up from $1.14bn a month earlier, the ministry said.

 

The price of naphtha in March stood at $872.4/tonne, a 0.7% increase from $866.3/tonne in February.

 

The price of naphtha was expected to continue to rise as the cost of crude oil reached record levels, added the Chemnet spokesman.

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