The turbulences in the world economy are affecting theEuropean business of chemistry. The financial crisis in the USA, the higher energy costs, and the stronger appreciation of the Euro against the US$ are generating negative effects on production growth of the EU chemicals industry.Output in the EU chemicals industry (excluding pharmaceuticals) has started todecline since March 2008, and output declined further in April 2008 by 1.3% compared to April of 2007. All chemicals sectors experienced relatively thesame negative trend in April where output declined in the range of 1.0 to 1.9%.Pharmaceuticals are the only exception where output grew positively. Chemical products (excluding pharmaceuticals) were 5.3% more expensive in the first four months of 2008than the same period of 2007.The mix of geopolitical tensions in the MiddleEast, the robust Asian demand and investment traders in the commodities marketshas swelled oil prices to untenable levels for many energy-importing economies.The chemicals confidence indicator for the EU reached relatively the same levelas in April and is still slightly above the long-term average. By contrast,confidence in the manufacturing sector decreased further in May. The economicclimate for Europe and the world is experiencing a renewed decline. In May, theEconomic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased further in the EU and stands belowits long-term average. According to the latest Results of the Ifo WorldEconomic Survey (WES), the World Economic Climate has worsened further in thesecond quarter of 2008, the indicator having fallen to its lowest level in sixyears. (Refer the slides below for more details)




 


In May, the EconomicSentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased further in the EU and stands below itslong-term average. The decrease in the sentiment indicator for the EU is due tolower confidence in manufacturing and construction and among consumers,while confidence in retail trade improved and remained stable in services.Data shows that services and consumers are the only two exceptions where EUconfidence for each sector has still been below its long- term averages for afew months. (Business and Consumer Survey results May 2008, EuropeanCommission)


According to the latestResults of the Ifo World Economic Survey (WES), the World Economic Climate hasworsened further in the second quarter of 2008, the indicator having fallen toits lowest level in six years. The decline is mainly due to more unfavourableassessments of the current economic situation, but also the expectations forthe coming six months have again been revised downwards. The worsening in theIfo World Economic Climate has again affected above all North America and Western Europe. The strongest decline in the climate indicator, as in the previous survey, was in the US. Here, however, the fall was attributable exclusively to theclearly less favourably assessments of the current situation whereas theexpectations for the coming six months are no longer quite so pessimistic. Theclimate indicator has also fallen in Asia, especially in South Korea and Hong Kong. Also in Japan negative economic expectations (Latest Results of the IfoWorld Economic Survey (WES) of 2nd quarter 2008 in co-operation with theInternational Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris) (Refer the slides below for more details)

 





 






 



About the Authors:


The authors are associated with Cefic European Chemicals Industry Council


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The turbulences in the world economy are affecting the European business of chemistry. The financial crisis in the USA, the higher energy costs, and the stronger appreciation of the Euro against the US$ are generating negative effects on production growth of the EU chemicals industry. Data shows that output in the EU chemicals industry (excluding pharmaceuticals) has started to decline since March 2008, and output declined further in April 2008 by 1.3% compared to April of 2007. All chemicals sectors experienced relatively the same negative trend in April where output declined in the range of 1.0 to 1.9%. Pharmaceuticals are the only exception where output grew positively.


Taking into account the first fourth months of 2008, output in the EU chemicals industry (excluding pharmaceuticals) experienced no change compared to the same period of 2007. However, the results show encouraging growth in production for pharmaceuticals (3.9%).


Petrochemicals and Polymers registered a very weak growth (less than 1%). Basic inorganics grew by 1.2% while specialty chemicals and consumer chemicals showed a clear decline. Chemicals including pharmaceuticals grew over the first four months of 2008 by 1.4% compared to the same period of 2007, which is too low compared to its long-run average (Data source: Eurostat). (Refer the slides below for more details)





 





 







 




Using the price data for the first four months of each year, the analysis shows that chemical products (excluding pharmaceuticals) were 5.3% more expensive in the first four months of 2008 than the same period of 2007. The price index pointed to a significant price increase in both basic inorganics and petrochemicals. Polymers experienced a price change of 3.3%. However, prices of specialties and consumer chemicals registered a modest increase (less than 2%). Chemicals producer prices are on an upward trend in April 2008 compared to April of last year. The beginning of 2008 producer prices reflected the high oil price which continued its rise in 2008 (Data source: Eurostat). According to the opinions of analysts and the latest Consensus Forecast (June 2008), the mix of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the robust Asian demand and investment traders in the commodities markets has swelled oil prices to untenable levels for many energy-importing economies. (Refer the slides below for more details)

 







 


Comparing the first fourth months of 2008 to the same period of 2007, chemical sales (excluding pharmaceuticals) grew by 5.4%. The growth rate for April of 2008 was higher by 4.3% compared to April of last year, confirming the continuing positive trend (Data source: Eurostat). (Refer the slides below for more details)


Data (May 2008) shows that Managers in the chemical industry are relatively optimistic regarding their product expectations for the coming months. Their assessment of the recent evolution of demand is improved slightly compared to April. However, the assessment of stocks of finished products remained high. Therefore, the chemicals confidence indicator for the EU reached relatively the same level as in April and is slightly above the long-term average. By contrast, confidence in the manufacturing sector decreased further in May and this is mainly due to the downward trend in the assessment of the recent evolution of demand.


 

Looking at the entire manufacturing sector, data analysis shows that basic metals and Machinery and equipments are the only two sectors which are more optimistic about their business than the chemical industry, followed by Manufacturing, Pulp and paper and Automotive. Sectors such as Textiles, Clothing and Rubber and Plastic are experiencing a negative trend on both production and expectations in the months ahead. Food and beverages, and Printings and publishing are in a weak position. Finally office and machinery computers is the sector with the highest degree of pessimism regarding the production expectations for the months ahead (Data source: European Commission). (Refer the slides below for more details)