According to the Japan Chemical Fibers Association, the nation’s production of man-made fibers in September 2017 increased by 2.0% over the same month of last year to 76,775 tons (provisional). Of this, synthetic fibers decreased by 2.3% to 60,872 tons. Meanwhile, the production of cellulosic fibers sharply rose by 22.0% to 15,903 tons, and pushed up the overall MMF production volume.
Among major synthetic fiber items, production decreased for nylon filament (down 3.9% to 7,521 tons), acrylic staple fiber (down 0.8% to 10,447 tons) and polyester staple fiber (down 21.3% to 7,452 tons). On the other hand, polyester filament production turned to an increase (up 0.7% to 9,906 tons).
Because fiber producers were relatively cautious in their production in September, stocks tended to head downward. September ending stocks of MMF fibers decreased by 3.3% compared to the end of August to 89,805 tons, of which synthetic fibers declined by 4.4% to 71,658 tons. Stocks decreased for all four major synthetic fiber items.