According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) slipped by 0.3% in April, following a downwardly revised 0.4% decline in March. Chemical production fell across all regions.
Using a three-month moving average of the Federal Reserve data comparable to the U.S. CPRI, output of the nation’s overall manufacturing sector rose by 0.3 percent in April, following a 0.5 percent gain in March. Within the manufacturing sector, output in several key chemistry end-use markets increased, including motor vehicles, aerospace, construction supplies, machinery, computers, plastic and rubber products, paper, textile mill products and furniture.
Also measured on a three-month moving average basis, chemical production was mixed. Output slipped in several key segments including pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, plastic resins and synthetic rubber. Many segments, however, saw rising production. Some of the largest gains were in man-made fibers, adhesives, industrial gases, chlor-alkali and inorganic chemicals.
Compared to April 2011, total chemical production in all regions was up 0.3% and remained ahead year-over-year in all regions except the Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic and West Coast regions. On a year-to-date basis (comparing the first four months of 2012 with those a year ago), chemical production was up 0.5% nationally. All regions were ahead on a year-to-date basis except the Gulf Coast region.