Japan January chemical exports rise 23.6%; overall shipments up 6.4%

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Japan’s total chemical exports in January rose by 23.6% year on year to yen (Y) 788.7bn ($7.4bn), while overall shipments abroad were up by 6.4%, official data showed on Wednesday.

Exports of organic chemicals fell by 7.2% year on year to Y139.4bn in January while shipments of plastic materials abroad increased by 30.4% to Y224.8bn, Ministry of Finance data showed.

By volume, exports of plastic materials grew by 17.7% year on year to 468,632 tonnes in January.

Japan’s total exports in the first month of 2021 rose by 6.4% year on year to Y5.78tr, supported by higher shipments to its largest trade partner, China; while total January imports fell by 9.5% year on year to Y6.10tr.

Overall exports to China in January rose by 37.5% year on year, while shipments to the US fell by 4.8%. Exports to ASEAN countries rose by 3%.

Japan is the world’s third-biggest economy.

($1 = Y105.9)