0
0
1
209
1195
Access Intelligence
9
2
1402
14.0
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Specialty chemical market volume for the U.S. slipped 0.2% in October, partially offsetting a 0.4% gain the previous month, according to data from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com).
The data, included in ACC’s latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report, indicate that 20 of the 28 specialty chemical market segments monitored by ACC experienced decline in October. The only areas experiencing gains of greater than 1.0% were electronic chemicals and paint additives. Nominal gains were seen in adhesives and sealants, cosmetic additives, flame retardants, plastic additives, plasticizers and plastic compounding.
Other specialty chemical market segments declined in October, including biocides, coatings, catalysts, dyes, food additives, mining chemicals, pigments, constructions chemicals and others.
In the wider economy, the U.S. manufacturing sector reported an overall contraction in November, which could reflect the effects of “SuperStorm” Sandy, the ACC report says. Also, a recent unemployment report in the U.S. was better than expected, with unemployment dipping to its lowest level since 2008. However, the drop was due to a lower number of people participating in the workforce, the report states.