US benzene imports trended higher in both April and May of 2013 and totaled 873,000 tons May YTD, up 31%.

There were relatively modest increases in volumes from three of the US’s top four suppliers: South Korea, up 7%, Canada, up 2%, and Brazil, up 14%.

Imports from Japan of 145,000 tons through May, however, were up 490% from small volumes early last year, moving that country into second place among US suppliers, behind South Korea.