11.30.18
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that US specialty chemicals market volumes started the fourth quarter on a healthy note, rising 0.3 percent in October. This follows a 0.4 percent gain in September and a 0.6 percent rise in August. This marks an improvement from the average 0.1 percent gain in the second quarter but below the average 0.5 percent gain in the first quarter.
In addition, the pace of change has moderated during the last three months. All changes in the data are reported on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. Performance chemistry reflects trends in manufacturing. Of the twenty-eight specialty chemical segments we monitor, seventeen expanded in October, down from nineteen in September. Eleven markets experienced decline. During October, large market volume gains (1.0 percent and over) occurred only in foundry chemicals, lubricant additives, and textile specialties.
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was up 6.1 percent on a year-over-year (Y/Y) 3MMA basis. The index stood at 114.4 percent 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 twenty-two market and functional specialty chemical segments. Compared to last year, volumes were down in six segments.
In addition, the pace of change has moderated during the last three months. All changes in the data are reported on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. Performance chemistry reflects trends in manufacturing. Of the twenty-eight specialty chemical segments we monitor, seventeen expanded in October, down from nineteen in September. Eleven markets experienced decline. During October, large market volume gains (1.0 percent and over) occurred only in foundry chemicals, lubricant additives, and textile specialties.
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was up 6.1 percent on a year-over-year (Y/Y) 3MMA basis. The index stood at 114.4 percent 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 twenty-two market and functional specialty chemical segments. Compared to last year, volumes were down in six segments.