Japan’s styrene-butadiene-rubber demand for January-March rose 6.2% from a year earlier to 95,075 mt, the Japan Rubber Manufactures Association said Monday on its website.
On the other hand, SBR exports in the first quarter fell 4.6% year on year to 59,972 mt, the association added. This was attributed to a tire makers cutting production amid bearish global demand.
Japan’s butadiene rubber demand in Q1 rose 4.2% year on year to 54,291 mt, while exports fell 21.5% to 29,017 mt. Industry sources said Japan’s rubber demand rose in Q1 as automakers hiked automobile production ahead of the rise in consumption tax in April. Japan’s consumption tax was increased to 8% from 5% since April 1.
– Platts.com
