Japan’s Oct PS output falls 6%, SM down 26%

17 November 2008 11:49  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS news)--Japan’s output of polystyrene (PS) decreased 6% to 65,801 tonnes in October compared with a year earlier on production cuts fuelled by decreased demand, while year-on-year styrene production dropped 26% to 202,394 tonnes, an industry body said on Monday.

The figure was a 1% decline from September, the Japan Styrene Industry Association (JSIA) said.

Japan’s styrene producers, including Showa Denko, have cut PS operating rates recently due to weak demand.

One PS manufacturing plant was shut for a turnaround in October, compared with three units that underwent turnarounds a year earlier, said the JSIA, without disclosing the names of the producers.

Exports of PS were down 67% to 1,995 tonnes year on year and decreased 35% month on month, the JSIA said.

PS exports to South Korea declined due to reduced production of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, while the large year-on-year drop was partly due to higher demand in October 2007, the association added.

Total shipments of PS, including exports and domestic sales, were at “a very low level” of 58,951 tonnes, down 24% from the previous year and 9% from September, said the JSIA.

Production of styrene monomer (SM) dropped from October 2007 due to more turnarounds - three units this year compared with one unit a year before - and reduced operating rates at SM plants due to lower demand, the association said.

Production of SM in October was 4% higher than September, the JSIA said.

SM exports fell 28% to 82,313 tonnes compared with the same period a year earlier due to the large decline of shipments to China; month on month, SM exports increased 15%, the JSIA said.

Domestic shipments of SM decreased 20% year on year to 130,368 tonnes due to a decline in shipments for use in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin, the JSIA said.

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By: Tomomi Yokomura
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