Japan turns to Chinese petrochemicals amid naphtha crunch

Middle East turmoil spurs soaring imports of polyethylene and paint thinner xylene

Japanese chemical companies are grappling with shortages of feedstocks that had been sourced mainly from the Middle East. (Photo by Kai Fujii)

TOKYO/DALIAN/BEIJING -- As the turmoil in the Middle East throttles Japan's supply of the key petrochemical feedstock naphtha, Japanese manufacturers are turning to China to source chemicals used in applications from food trays to tires.