Japan: May cut 2011 ethylene output on Middle East competition
Japan may cut production of ethylene, a raw material used to make plastics and synthetic fibers, this year because of increased competition from the Middle East, according to Mizuho Securities Co. Japan’s exports of petrochemical products may fall as domestic petrochemical makers lose market share in China after new…
Egytex News Desk
Source: www.yarnsandfibers.com
Japan’s exports of petrochemical products may fall as domestic petrochemical makers lose market share in China after new plants start up in the Middle East, the trade ministry said in a report in May 2010. Ethylene output from countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia will climb 12 percent to 23.19 million metric tons this year, according to the ministry.
Japan relies on imports for about 50 percent of its naphtha requirements as feedstock for ethylene production. Ethylene production capacity in the Middle East will gain 5 percent to 27.32 million tons this year, the trade ministry estimated.
Saudi Basic Industries Corp., the world’s biggest petrochemicals maker, or Sabic, started commercial operations last year at its units Eastern Petrochemical Co., known as Sharq, and Yanbu National Petrochemical Co., known as Yansab.
Rabigh Refining & Petrochemicals Co. started operations of an ethane cracker unit at its petrochemical complex in April 2009. The complex has total ethylene production capacity of 1.3 million tons a year.
The joint venture between state-owned Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical Co. of Japan plans to boost capacity to 3.7 million tons a year, Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, Aramco’s vice president responsible for chemicals.
Source: www.yarnsandfibers.com
From the Egytex news archive, first published on 19 January 2011. Figures and names are as reported at the time.
