Japan's ethylene production in June fell 5.2% from May to 524,400 mt as several naphtha-fed steam crackers were shut due to technical problems, latest data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed.
Compared with June last year, ethylene production was up 3.1%.
Tonen Chemical restarted its naphtha-fed steam cracker at Kawasaki in eastern Japan on June 25 after an emergency shutdown on June 9.
The steam cracker, which is able to produce 515,000 mt/year of ethylene, was shut due to a compressor problem.
Maruzen Petrochemical restarted its naphtha-fed steam cracker at Chiba, also in eastern Japan, on June 26. It was shut June 20 due to a compressor glitch. The cracker is able to produce 550,000 mt/year of ethylene.
JX Nippon Oil & Energy restarted its naphtha-fed steam cracker at Kawasaki in early July. The cracker was shut on June 27 for repairs, and can produce 404,000 mt/year of ethylene.
