US Specialty Chemicals Markets End Year on High Note

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that US specialty chemicals market volumes gained 0.9% in December, ending the year on a strong note. All changes in the data are reported on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis.
 
Of the 28 specialty chemical segments ACC monitors, twenty-five expanded in December, no markets experienced decline and three were stable. During December, large market volume gains (1.0% and over) occurred in catalysts, electronic chemicals, lubricant additives, mining chemicals, oilfield chemicals, plastic additives, plasticizers, and plastic compounding.
 
The overall specialty chemicals volume index was up 5.6% on a year-over-year (Y/Y) 3MMA basis. The index stood at 111.6% of its average 2012 levels. This is equivalent to 7.69 billion pounds (3.49 million metric tons). On a Y/Y basis, there were gains among twenty-four market and functional specialty chemical segments. Compared to last year, volumes were down in only four segments.