The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (CPRI) continued its rise, gaining 0.6% in September, according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com).
The September gain follows an upwardly revised rise of similar magnitude in August, ACC pointed out, and chemical output was higher in September than the previous month in all geographic regions.
Chemical production by industry segment was mixed, however, with gains in the production of organic chemicals, chlor-alkali and other inorganic chemicals, synthetic pigments and dyes, industrial gases, consumer products, pesticides, coatings, adhesives and pharmaceuticals offsetting declines in production of plastic resins, fertilizers and synthetic fibers, the ACC report says.
The September chemical output is greater than the same time last year by 2.4%
ACC’s Global Chemical Production Regional Index also rose in September, by 0.1%. “Gains were centered in North America,” the ACC report said, “with nominal gains in Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia-Pacific.” Chemical output contracted in other areas, ACC added, but the overall global production is 3.2% higher than last year at the same time, on a three-month-moving-average basis.