The American Chemistry Council reports that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes continued to gain during the second quarter of 2018.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reports that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes continued to gain during the second quarter, increasing 0.5% in May after an upwardly revised 1.0% gain in April and a 0.4% gain in March. All changes in the data are reported on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments monitored, 15 expanded in May; 10 markets experienced decline and three featured no change. During May, large market volume gains (1.0% and over) occurred in oilfield chemicals and plastics compounding.
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was up 5.1% on a year-over-year (Y/Y) 3MMA basis. The index stood at 112.9% of its average 2012 levels. This is reportedly equivalent to 7.78 billion pounds (3.53 million metric tons). On a Y/Y basis, there were gains among 23 market and functional specialty chemical segments. Compared to last year, volumes were down in four segments.
