Volume 3, issue #15 - 29-05-1998

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Japan Feb 1998 ethylene output down 1.2%

Mar. 31, 1998 Japan's ethylene output fell 1.2% in February 1998 from a year earlier to 578,957 metric tons, according to preliminary statistics released by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
The average operation rate at domestic ethylene centres in February was 89.1 %. Output was below the 600,000-ton level in February, the first time since September 1997.
Domestic ethylene sales in February decreased 2.6 % from the year-ago level to 429,485 tons. The official said domestic ethylene shipments have been stalled due to dwindling demand for its derivative plastics amid the stagnant economy.
Inventories climbed 10.8 % from a year earlier to 67,535 tons, he said.
The official attributed the jump in inventories in February to the fact that some ethylene centres raised stocks ahead of their large-sized maintenance turnarounds in March.