SEOUL: S Korea July ethylene exports jumped 13,787 mt or 32.65 to 56,099 mt as compared to the previous month, official data showed. Year on year, this is a decline of 3,070 mt mt or 5.19%.
China remains the biggest recipient of South Korean ethylene at 52,169 mt, an increase of 17,703 mt or 26.6% from June.
Market participants attributed this to increased production at various regional crackers. South Korea’s SK Global Chemical ramped up operating rates at its Ulsan crackers to 100%, TPS reported on Jul 8.
The combined capacity of both crackers are – 870,000 mt/year of ethylene, 500,000 mt/year of propylene and 130,000 mt/year of butadiene.
Meanwhile, ethylene imports rose by 2,800 mt or 21.9% in July on month. Japan is the biggest supplier of ethylene to South Korea at 9,765 mt.
