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Current economic trends

The June 2016 preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) ticked lower than the previous month, reversing the direction from the May value, but continuing a general lowering trend over the past several months.…

Global CPRI ends 2nd quarter on soft note, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) shows that the second quarter ended on a soft note, with the headline index rising only 0.1 percent on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis…

Chemical activity barometer gains for 4th consecutive month, ACC says

The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), expanded 0.4 percent in July following a revised 0.7 percent increase in June, 0.8 percent increase in May and 0.6 percent…

U.S. specialty chemical market volumes fell in June, ACC says

 U.S. specialty chemical market volumes declined in June by 0.4%, according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). The June decline follows a 0.3% drop in May and a 1.1%…

ExxonMobil to expand specialty elastomers plant in Wales

ExxonMobil (Houston, Tex.; www.exxonmobil.com) announced today plans to expand its specialty elastomers plant in Newport, Wales. The company said the project, expected to be completed in late 2017, will result in a 25-percent increase in its global capacity to manufacture…

Two chemicals-related ASTM committees merge

Last week, ASTM International (West Conshohocken, Pa.; www.astm.org) Committee E15 on Industrial and Specialty Chemicals voted to merge into ASTM Committee D16 on Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Chemicals. “Merging these two important committees will help consolidate chemical industry expertise in standards…

Current Economic Trends

The May 2016 preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) is higher than the previous month, with the Equipment and Buildings indices rising by a significant amount. The preliminary May 2016 CEPCI value is…

U.S. specialty chemicals market declines for 3rd consecutive month, ACC says

The Specialty Chemicals Market Volume Index, a tool created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) slipped 0.4 percent in June. This follows a 0.3 percent decline in May and a 0.5 percent decline in April. All data…

Alcoa opens 3-D printing metal powder production facility

Alcoa (Pittsburgh, Pa.; www.alcoa.com) has opened its state-of-the-art, 3-D printing metal powder production facility. Located at the Alcoa Technology Center, the world’s largest light metals research center, the Company will produce proprietary titanium, nickel and aluminum powders optimized for 3-D…

Houghton International Acquires Wallover Enterprises

Houghton International Inc. (Valley Forge, Pa.; www.houghtonintl.com) announced today that it has acquired Wallover Enterprises, a North American metalworking fluid and industrial lubricant manufacturer headquartered in Strongsville, Ohio. This acquisition marks Houghton’s latest strategic investment in the specialty metalworking and…