October imports of naphtha for use as feedstock to make ethylene rose in Japan increased by 15.5% from September levels. The imports totalled to 1.50 mln tons in the month according to data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This sudden rise in October from September levels was triggered by an increase in production by Japanese petrochemical makers in response to a recovery in Chinese demand.
The unplanned maintenance closure of Mitsubishi Chemical's 375,000 tpa No.1 ethylene production unit in Kashima in H2-October also boosted naphtha imports. The average naphtha import price was almost flat from September at US$621.5/MT.
23-Nov-09 
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