Japan April caustic soda production falls 1%

06 June 2008 09:10  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS news)--Japan’s production of caustic soda in April decreased 1% compared with the same time the year before, a local industry association said on Friday.

The country produced 368,516 tonnes of caustic soda in April, down from 372,361 tonnes in April 2007, the Japan Soda Industry Association added.

A total of 318,913 tonnes of caustic soda was shipped domestically, a 1.9% decline from 325,135 tonnes year on year, the association said.

Of the total, 176,762 tonnes were shipped for use in petrochemical products including plastics and caprolactam, a 1.9% rise from 173,507 last year, it added.

Exports of caustic soda in April fell 34.4% to 43,819 tonnes from 66,843 tonnes the previous year, the association said.

Prices of caustic soda have been increasing since May. The price of liquefied caustic soda was about $443/tonne FOB (free on board) north east (NE) Asia as of 30 May, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

By: Tomomi Yokomura
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