Japan March PVC output falls 29% from ’08, VCM up 15%

15 April 2009 12:27  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS news)--Japan’s production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in March decreased 20.8% to 112,874 tonnes compared with the same time a year before, local industry statistics showed on Wednesday.

This was a 5% decrease from the previous month, according to the Vinyl Environmental Council (VEC).

Domestic shipments of PVC in March totalled 72,803 tonnes, down 30.5% year on year, while exports increased 22.6% to 64,123 tonnes, the association said.

The country’s output of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), PVC’s feedstock, rose 14.7% in March to 271,869 tonnes compared with the same period the previous year, according to VEC. 

Total domestic shipments of VCM in March were 115,735 tonnes, a 22.2% decrease from March 2008. Exports totalled 120,091 tonnes, up 61.1% year on year, the association said.

Japanese chemical producer Mitsubishi Chemical (MCC) recently decided to exit its PVC and polystyrene (PS) businesses due to tough competition.

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By: Tomomi Yokomura
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