Japan's shipments of foamed PS sheets fall 0.1% in October

11 November 2011 07:20  [Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS)--Japan’s shipments of foamed polystyrene (PS) sheets fell by 0.1% month on month and 0.4% year on year to 8,060 tonnes in October, according to data from the Japan Polystyrene Foamed Sheet Industry Association (JASFA) on Friday.

This reflected a drop in the shipments used for food trays amid robust demand for other applications, according to JASFA.

The shipments of foamed PS sheets used for food packaging decreased by 10% both month on month and year on year to 3,250 tonnes in October, the data showed.

Meanwhile, shipments used to produce laminated bowls rose by 9.9% month on month and 9.1% year on year to 3,110 tonnes, the data showed.

Laminated bowls are used as containers of instant noodles and other ready-made food products.

A total of 1,330 tonnes of foamed PS sheets were used for general purposes in October, up by 6.4% month on month and 12% year on year, the data showed.

Japan’s overall production of PS in September was 47,902 tonnes – a 5% increase from August, according to the Japan Styrene Industry Association (JSIA).

JSIA will announce statistics for October later this month.

For more information on PS, visit ICIS chemical intelligence

By: Tomomi Yokomura
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