JAPAN DISASTER: March chemical output falls because of quake

22 April 2011 09:53  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS)--Japan’s output of 14 products out of the 18 primary chemicals decreased in March compared with the previous month as a result of the impact of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that hit northeast Japan, an industry association said on Friday.

Polypropylene (PP) production fell 25% to 186,100 tonnes month on month, while polystyrene (PS) decreased 13% to 557,000 tonnes, according to the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA).

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) production in March was down 43% to 23,900 tonnes from the previous month, while butadiene rubber (BR) output fell 28% to 17,000 tonnes month on month, official JPCA data showed.

On a year-on-year comparison, production of 11 chemicals including low density polyethylene (LDPE), PP, PS, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl chloride (monomer) (VCM), benezene and xylene decreased due to the effects of the quake as well as maintenance shutdowns at some of the plants, the association said. 

Meanwhile, the exports of three resins among the four primary resins – namely LDPE, HDPE, PP and PS – increased in March because of the tight demand-supply balance in Asia, according to JPCA.

A total of 39,400 tonnes of PP were exported in March, up 61% from the previous month, while exports of HDPE rose 12% to 9,800 tonnes, the association said.

Exports of LDPE rose 9% to 22,400 tonnes, while PS exports were down 29% to 1,500 tonnes, according to JPCA.

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By: Tomomi Yokomura
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