Japan turns to Chinese petrochemicals amid naphtha crunch (asia.nikkei.com)
from schizoidman@lemmy.zip to world@lemmy.world on 28 Apr 23:03
https://lemmy.zip/post/63391156

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Japan’s imports of high-density polyethylene – used to make plastic bags and containers for food and detergent – from China swelled roughly 170% on the year in March and were 20% above last year’s monthly average, based on Japanese trade data and Chinese customs data.

Polystyrene, with applications including food trays and parts for home appliances, jumped 76% on the year. Overall imports of major plastic feedstocks from China grew 27%.

After importing no butadiene from China since 2021, Japan brought in 1.97 million kilograms in March. Used in tire production, butadiene is a basic chemical for which it is especially difficult to find alternative sources.

Chinese trade data also showed the first exports to Japan in six and a half years of mixed xylene, a key ingredient in paint thinner, which has been in short supply in Japan.

China seems to be faring better. In addition to its more diversified supply chain for crude oil, it has more facilities that can produce chemical feedstocks from coal or from ethane derived from natural gas. The country is making full use of its coal-to-chemicals capacity, tapping into abundant domestic coal reserves.

#world