09.22.16
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that US specialty chemicals market volumes rose 0.3 percent in August. This follows a 0.4 percent gain in July and a 0.3 percent decline in June. All changes in the data are reported on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments we monitor, seventeen expanded in August with the largest gains (1.0 percent and over) in adhesives and sealants, lubricant additives, and mining chemicals.
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was off 0.8percentyear-over-year (Y/Y) on a 3MMA basis. The index stood at 105.0 percentof its average 2012 levels. This is equivalent to 7.24 billion pounds (3.28 million metric tons). During 2014, Y/Y comparisons were generally in the 4.0 percentto 6.8 percentrange 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 spread to other segments as well and year-earlier comparisons have been negative since second quarter 2015. Lately, the year-earlier declines have been moderating. On a Y/Y basis, there were gains among market and functional specialty chemical segments.
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was off 0.8percentyear-over-year (Y/Y) on a 3MMA basis. The index stood at 105.0 percentof its average 2012 levels. This is equivalent to 7.24 billion pounds (3.28 million metric tons). During 2014, Y/Y comparisons were generally in the 4.0 percentto 6.8 percentrange 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 spread to other segments as well and year-earlier comparisons have been negative since second quarter 2015. Lately, the year-earlier declines have been moderating. On a Y/Y basis, there were gains among market and functional specialty chemical segments.