INTERACTIVE: S Korea Nov petrochemical export volumes mostly lower

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–South Korea’s export volumes of petrochemicals were mostly lower on a year-on-year basis in November, including those of ethylene and propylene, industry data showed.

Busan Container Terminal in South Korea (Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Out of 37 chemical products tracked by ICIS, 19 registered a year-on-year drop in November export volumes, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). (Please see interactive below for details)

Exports of ethylene fell by 1.2% year on year to 69,026 tonnes, while shipments of propylene were 7.01% lower at 145,160 tonnes.

Paraxylene (PX) exports dipped by 0.4% in November to 668,574 tonnes, while shipments of toluene fell by 36.1% to 42,110 tonnes.

Benzene exports, on the other hand, grew by 16.2% year on year 263,736 tonnes. It was among the 12 products that recorded increased export volumes in November, according to KITA data.

South Korea’s overall exports in November rose by 4.5% year on year to $51.9bn, while total imports were up by 11.4% at $46.8bn, according to the country’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

By value, petrochemical shipments increased by 3.8% to $4.0bn.

“The factors that helped the growth of Korea’s November exports include the robust manufacturing economy across the globe, sustained GDP growth in major economies, and rising prices of major export items,” the ministry said in a statement in early December.

Interactive by Nurluqman Suratman