U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index Higher on Month in August

By Stephen Nakrosis

The American Chemistry Council on Wednesday said the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index rose 0.6% in August from the previous month.

That rise follows a 1% gain in July and a 1.4% decline in June, the council said.

Chemical output expanded in all regions except the West Coast in August.

Compared with the year-ago period, U.S. chemical production in August was down 4.8%, the fifteenth consecutive month of year-on-year declines. However, August's results were an improvement over the past several months, the council said.

August saw production improve in several segments, including plastic resins, chlor-alkali, organic chemicals, industrial gases, synthetic dyes and pigments, consumer products, synthetic rubber, manufactured fibers and fertilizers, the council said, adding that production was lower in adhesives, coatings, other specialty chemicals and crop-protection chemicals.

The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index is measured using a three-month moving average.

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