The US. Department of Commerce examines the current state of the US. chemical industry and predicts what it will take to remain competitive in the foreseeable future. The U.S. chemical industry is broad and complex. Its more than 70,000 products range from chemicals first derived from the initial processing of organic or inorganic raw materials (e.g., benzene, toluene, and chlorine, which are vital to other processes) to finished consumer products such as medicines, soap, and toothpaste, which are seldom associated with the chemical industry. In volume terms, most of the industry's output consists of basic chemicals, little known to consumers. These products are used by chemical producers to make other chemicals or in other industries to make or grow things that serve society—from apples and autos to zippers and zithers. Nevertheless, much of the public is unaware of the vital role of the chemical industry in everyday life and modern products.
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