Ethylene output for September loses 14% yoy in Japan

08-Oct-08

In the month of September, Japanese ethylene production dipped by 14% from the same month a year ago, as per government data. Ethylene output summed up to 528,400 tons in September this year, as against 614,100 tons in September 2007. This figure also indicates a 12.8% reduction in output from the previous month. This reduction suggests longer maintenance shutdowns and slackening demand that has affected producer margins, leading to production cuts. Two maintenance-related plant shutdowns were seen in Japan this year, while only one plant was shut in the same month a year earlier. Export volume of ethylene fell 9.1% to 155,100 tons in August yoy, while August imports dropped 8.3% to 31,500 ton, as per data from METI.