More than 3% drop in ethylene output of Japan in April

13-May-09

Ethylene output totalled 551,200 tons in April in Japan, compared with 570,000 tons a year earlier, as per the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Ethylene production in Japan dipped by 3.3% in April from the same month a year earlier, as per government data. This in the first time in 8 months that the decline has been by single digits. The recovery has been supported by an increase in output by several petrochemical makers in April to take advantage of a demand recovery in China. Additionally, no units were shuttered in April for maintenance-related plant shutdowns in Japan.