Ethylene output in Japan for December 2013 up 9.7% year-over-year to 621,900 tons, up for fourth consecutive month, mainly due to decline in imports of petrochemical-related products, recovery in domestic shipments reflecting growing demand for films

Elyse Blye

TOKYO , January 21, 2014 (Jiji Press English News Service) – Ethylene output in Japan in December rose 9.7 pct from a year earlier to 621,900 tons, up for the fourth consecutive month, the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association said Monday.

Ethylene is a base ingredient for petrochemical products.

In December, the estimated real plant operation rate increased 7.9 percentage points from a year before to 90.2 pct, exceeding the 90 pct baseline indicating a good performance for the first time since September 2011.

The improvement mainly reflected falls in imports of petrochemical-related products caused by the weak yen as well as a recovery in domestic shipments reflecting growing demand for films.

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