China imported 38% less toluene in September this year at 48,192 mt, compared with September 2010 on weak demand, according to Chinese customs data released on Tuesday.
The drop was underpinned by a broad-based decline in imports from its supplier countries.
China imported close to no toluene from Taiwan and the Philippines in September, from more than 12,000 mt a year ago.
Its largest supplier remained South Korea, which delivered 36,227 mt in September, down just 2.2% from a year ago.
China's toluene imports: Country Sep 2011(mt) Sep 2010(mt) Change (%) South Korea 36,227 37,028 -2.2 Thailand 9,100 12,896 -29.4 Japan 2,862 4,954 -42.2 Taiwan 1 12,529 NA Philippines 0 12,297 NA Total* 48,192 77,884 -38.1 *Includes countries with small or sporadic volumes
