The Specialty Chemicals Market Volume Index, a tool created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) entered the third quarter of 2016 on a positive note, rising 0.2 percent in July. This follows a 0.3 percent decline in June and a 0.2 percent decline in May and marks the first gain since March. All data is measured on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments we monitor, seventeen expanded in July, two were stable and the remaining nine markets experienced decline. During July, large gains (1.0 percent and over) were noted in adhesives and sealants and mining chemicals.
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was off 0.9 percent year-over-year (Y/Y) on a 3MMA basis. The index stood at 102.6 percent of its average 2012 levels. This is equivalent to 7.07 billion pounds, off from 7.14 billion pounds last July. During 2014, Y/Y comparisons were generally in the 4.0 percent to 6.8 percent range but since February 2015, they have fallen well below that range as the downturn in the oil and gas sector has affected headline volumes. Weakness has spread to other segments as well and year-earlier comparisons have been negative since 2nd quarter 2015. Still, on a Y/Y basis, there were gains among market and functional specialty chemical segments.