All change, please!

摘要

The global polyurethane machinery manufacturing sector entered 2020 in one of its most optimistic moods. The Machinery Index stood at 6.2, its highest since our calculations started in 2012. Things were looking good as we turned the corner from 2019 into 2020. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and everybody ran for cover. Local lock-downs started in China in January; by March many European countries had fol-lowed suit. In the US, there were various attempts to slow the spread of the virus over the course of the year.