Japanese ethylene production increased 2.1% in February to 605,300t compared to the same month a year earlier, boosted by additional plant capacity, according to government data.
The increased production in February was primarily because there was no maintenance on ethylene plants during the month except at one plant, which was shut due to planned maintenance a year earlier.
However, ethylene production in February fell by 6.4 compared to the 647,000t recorded in January.
Exports of ethylene fell 9.6% from February 2010 levels to 191,800t, representing the third straight month of declines.
Mitsubishi Chemical's two naphtha crackers in its Kashima plant, north of Tokyo, remain shut after the 11 March quake and tsunami, while the other two plants in Chiba and Kawasaki, both near Tokyo, have resumed operations.
