Japan imported 4,536 mt of styrene-butadiene-rubber solids in July, up 22% from 3,732 mt in June but down 26% from 6,129 mt a year earlier, data released Friday by the Rubber Trade Association of Japan showed.
The country has imported 28,744 mt of SBR over the first seven months of 2013, down 15% from 33,687 mt in the corresponding period last year.
The higher SBR imports came after the country’s auto production hit 910,114 units in July, up 13% from 808,557 units in June but down 1% from 923,519 units in July 2012, according to data released August 30 by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Japan’s SBR import trade data (mt):
|
Source |
May |
June |
July |
Change (%) |
|
South Korea |
2,131 |
1,789 |
2,615 |
+46.1 |
|
Taiwan |
1,311 |
1,246 |
1,487 |
+19.3 |
|
US |
356 |
388 |
167 |
-57.2 |
|
Total* |
4,094 |
3,732 |
4,536 |
+21.5 |
*Includes supply sources with relatively small or sporadic volumes
Source: Rubber Trade Association of Japan
