Tokyo – Polyurethane foam production in Japan fell by 6.9% in February 2022 compared with February 2021.
In total, the country produced 13.9 kT of flexible and rigid polyurethane in the month. This compares with 14.9 kT in February 2021.
Cumulatively, Japan has generated 27.5 kT of foam this year. This is down by 4.0% or 1.2 kT on this stage last year.
The country produced 9.0 kT of flexible foam in the month, a decline of 9.5% on the figure of 10.0 kT produced in February 2021.
Looking at the year to date, flexible foam production has reached 17.2 kT. This is a fall of 15.1% or 2.3 kT on the amount produced by this stage last year.
The country's rigid foam production in February contracted by 1.5% between 2021 and 2022. In the most recent month, it stood at 4.8 kT, 76.0 tonne less than last year.
Taking the year so far, rigid foam production is up by 4.1%. It currently stands at 10.3kT, which is less than production at this stage last year by 302 tonnes.
Numbers are collated by MITI, the Japanese trade ministry, and there is a lag while the data are checked.