US chemical production rises in Nov'13

On a three-month moving average (3MMA), output of the nation’s overall manufacturing sector was 0.4 percent higher in November, following a similar gain in October.

Within the manufacturing sector, output in several key chemistry end-use markets expanded, including motor vehicles, construction materials, machinery, fabricated metal products, computers, semiconductors, plastic products, structural panels, printing, textiles, apparel, and furniture.

After nearly five years, headline industrial production surpassed its previous peak. Recent resurgence in the industrial sector and balanced chemical inventories bodes well for future chemical production.

Also measured on a 3MMA basis, overall chemical production was again mixed. Gains in the output of fertilizers, organic chemicals, chlor-alkali, industrial gases, synthetic rubber, consumer products, fertilizers, coatings, and other specialties were offset by lower production of some inorganic chemicals, manmade fibers, acids, pesticides, and plastic resins. Pharmaceutical output was flat.

Compared to November 2012, total chemical production in all regions was ahead by 1.5 percent on a year-over-year basis, following a revised 1.7 percent gain in October. Chemical production remained ahead in all regions compared to a year ago. Comparing the first eleven months of 2013 to that in 2012, chemical production was up 1.3 percent nationally, with six of the seven regions posting gains.

The chemistry industry is one of the largest industries in the United States, a $770 billion enterprise. The manufacturing sector is the largest consumer of chemical products, and 96 percent of manufactured goods are touched by chemistry.

The U.S. CPRI was developed to track chemical production activity in seven regions of the United States. It is comparable to the U.S. industrial production index for chemicals published by the Federal Reserve. The U.S. CPRI is based on information from the Federal Reserve. To smooth month-to-month fluctuations, the U.S. CPRI is measured using a three-month moving average (3MMA). Thus, the reading in November reflects production activity during September, October, and November.

Click here to read more

American Chemistry Council