Catharina Klein
Research expert covering Japan
Petrochemical industry in Japan - statistics & facts
Petrochemicals are chemical products that are derived from natural gas or petroleum by refining. They are used to manufacture a variety of final products which range from plastics, synthetic rubber, pesticides, and detergents to dyes. Furthermore, petrochemicals and the specialty chemicals created from them have special properties that can be used to reinforce other products, for example, to make nylon stronger so that seatbelts are more resistant. Accordingly, products made from petrochemicals are diverse and can be found in many consumer and industrial products such as clothing, paints, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech materials.
Petrochemicals are an important subsection of organic chemistry. In Japan, organic chemicals had the second-largest shipment value within the chemical industry. The chemical industry was one of the most important and largest manufacturing industries in Japan since other manufacturing industries such as the automotive industry are dependent on materials that it provides.
In recent years, ethylene represented the petrochemical product with the largest production volume in Japan. Ethylene is an important source of industrial chemicals and plastic products.
Most petrochemical products were demanded to produce synthetic resin, which is the main component of plastic. Synthetic rubber followed with the second-largest demand. Both synthetic resin and synthetic rubber are used for a range of products such as automobile parts and daily commodities. Consequently, the automobile industry constitutes one of the key markets for petrochemicals.
Mitsubishi Chemical represented the leading domestic chemical company and ranked among the industry's leading global players. Japanese chemical companies are usually highly diversified and manufacture a variety of chemical products, ranging from petrochemicals, rubber, and plastic products to pharmaceuticals.
Petrochemical industry in Japan
Since Japan only has scarce natural resources, it is highly dependent on the import of crude oil and natural gas, which are necessary to manufacture petrochemicals. The island nation imports most of such fossil fuels from Middle Eastern countries.In recent years, ethylene represented the petrochemical product with the largest production volume in Japan. Ethylene is an important source of industrial chemicals and plastic products.
Most petrochemical products were demanded to produce synthetic resin, which is the main component of plastic. Synthetic rubber followed with the second-largest demand. Both synthetic resin and synthetic rubber are used for a range of products such as automobile parts and daily commodities. Consequently, the automobile industry constitutes one of the key markets for petrochemicals.
Chemical industry in Japan
In recent years, the Japanese chemical industry was the fourth-largest worldwide. Chemical end products, which include oils and fats, soap, paints, medicine, agriculture chemicals, and cosmetics had the highest shipment value.Mitsubishi Chemical represented the leading domestic chemical company and ranked among the industry's leading global players. Japanese chemical companies are usually highly diversified and manufacture a variety of chemical products, ranging from petrochemicals, rubber, and plastic products to pharmaceuticals.
