Japan's vinyl chloride monomer exports jumped 21.4% month on month to 23,328 mt in July, data released Friday from the Vinyl Environmental Council showed.
July exports fell 64% year on year, according to the data.
The month-on-month climb was due to an increase in availability of material for export resulting from the restart of Tosoh's 400,000 mt/year No. 3 VCM plant in Nanyo, Chiba on July 8.
The No. 3 VCM plant was shut last November as a precaution after a fire at the company's neighboring 550,000 mt/year No. 2 VCM plant.
The restart lifted Japan's VCM output by 34.7% to 166,811 mt in July, compared with June, according to the data.
JAPAN'S VCM OUTPUT, EXPORTS, DEMAND AND STOCKS: Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Change (%) Output 149,195 135,661 153,816 111,352 123,859 166,811 +34.7 Exports 18,810 11,500 19,009 9,705 19,221 23,328 +21.4 Local demand 123,186 119,909 112,298 101,893 84,557 122,819 +45.2 Inventory 39,760 33,861 36,488 27,008 36,240 46,077 +27.1 Unit: mt Source: Vinyl Environmental Council
