U.S. Chemical Production Continued To Gain In May

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Jun 24, 2019, 10:53 ET

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) rose by 0.4 percent in May, following a 0.2 percent gain in April and a 0.3 percent decline in March. During May, chemical output was up across all regions except the Ohio Valley, which posted flat growth.

Chemical production was mixed over the three-month period. There were gains in the production three-month moving average (3MMA) output trend in organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, manufactured fibers, plastic resins, synthetic rubber, other specialty chemicals, and industrial gases. These gains were offset by declines in the output of adhesives, fertilizers, crop protection chemicals, consumer products, and coatings.

Nearly all manufactured goods are produced using chemistry in some form. Thus, manufacturing activity is an important indicator for chemical production. On a 3MMA basis, manufacturing activity edged lower for a fourth straight month by 0.1 percent in May. Output expanded in several chemistry-intensive manufacturing industries, including motor vehicles and parts, computers, semiconductors, oil and gas extraction, rubber products, apparel and furniture.

Compared with May 2018, U.S. chemical production was up by 2.1 percent on a year-over-year basis, a weaker comparison than in April. Chemical production was higher than a year ago in all regions, with the largest gains in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast regions.

	U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index, Percentage Change (Seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving average)
		May 19/ Apr 19	May 19/ May 18	Key products
Gulf Coast		0.5%	2.1%	petrochemicals, inorganics, plastics resins, and synthetic rubber
Midwest		0.2%	2.0%	agricultural chemicals, plastics, and paints
Ohio Valley		0.0%	1.7%	organic chemicals, plastics and synthetic materials, and specialty chemicals
Mid-Atlantic		0.1%	2.3%	consumer products
Southeast		0.1%	1.7%	inorganic chemicals, fibers, and consumer products
Northeast		0.3%	3.0%	consumer products and specialty chemicals
West Coast		0.1%	2.2%	basic chemicals, agricultural chemicals, and consumer products
U.S. Total		0.4%	2.1%

The chemistry industry is one of the largest industries in the United States, a $526 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. The U.S. CPRI is based on information from the Federal Reserve, and as such, includes monthly revisions as published by the Federal Reserve. To smooth month-to-month fluctuations, the U.S. CPRI is measured using a three-month moving average. Thus, the May reading reflects production activity during March, April and May.

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The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $526 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, representing ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council