Both the U.S. and the Global Chemical Production Regional Index (CPRI) rose in August, according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com).
In the U.S., the CPRI rose 0.5% in August, the ACC report says, a gain that follows a 0.4% rise in July. “Chemical output remained ahead of month-ago levels in all regions, except the Gulf Coast, which posted flat growth,” the report says.
While the overall U.S. CPRI was up, production was mixed when looking at individual chemical subcategories. ACC said there were gains in the output of chlor-alkali and other inorganic chemicals, synthetic dyes and pigments, industrial gases, consumer products, pesticides, coatings, adhesives and pharmaceuticals. Gains in those classes were partially offset by declines in the production of plastic resins, fertilizers, organic chemicals and synthetic fibers, the ACC report says.
Meanwhile, the Global CPRI rose 0.2% in August, with gains occurring in North America, Central & Eastern Europe, Africa & the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, the ACC report says. Chemical industry production contracted in August in Latin America and Western Europe. The Global CPRI was up 3.3% year-over-year, on a three-month-moving-average basis, the report added.