Specialties Market Starts Q4 on a Positive Note

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that US specialty chemicals market volumes started the fourth quarter on a healthy note, rising 0.3% in October. This follows a 0.4% gain in September and a 0.6% rise in August. This marks an improvement from the average 0.1% gain in the second quarter but below the average 0.5% gain in the first quarter.

In addition, the pace of change moderated during the past three months. All changes in the data are reported on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis.

Of the 28 specialty chemical segments monitored, 17 expanded in October—down from 19 in September. Eleven markets declined. During October, large market volume gains (1.0% and over) occurred only in foundry chemicals, lubricant additives and textile specialties.

The overall specialty chemicals volume index was up 6.1% on a year-over-year (Y/Y) 3MMA basis. The index stood at 114.4% of its average 2012 levels in October. This is equivalent to 7.79 billion pounds (3.54 million metric tons). On a Y/Y basis, there were gains among 22 market and functional specialty chemical segments.