The Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) rose 0.3% in January of this year, following a similar gain in December 2012, according to the most recent Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). Meanwhile, the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) rose by 0.7% in January, following a revised 0.9% gain last December.
In the U.S., the ACC report commented that chemical production rose in all regions for the second consecutive month. The gains were similar in size for all regions, ranging from 0.7 to 0.9%.
Compared to January 2012, total chemical production was up 0.9%, and remained ahead of year-over-year levels in all regions, except for the Mid-Atlantic and West Coast regions, which were off from a year ago, the ACC report said.
The Global CPRI is up 3.3% from a year ago, on a three-month-moving-average basis, said the report, and stood at 115.7% of its average 2007 levels. The greatest growth in January occurred in the Africa and Middle East region and the Asia-Pacific region.
In assessing the week’s economic reports overall, ACC called them “mixed,” saying for example, that annual growth in both consumer and producer prices are historically low, but existing home sales gained.