Forecasts See Improving Economy The American chemical industry won't be alone in having an uptick

摘要

OUR ANNUAL"state-of-the-industry"cover story("Upward Momentum Builds,"p.14)predicts good growth in production at American chemical plants this year.The article's author,Martha Moore,chief economist of the American Chemistry Council,Washington,D.C.,www.americanchemistry.com,expects a 4.3% rebound in output in 2022,as inventories are rebuilt and demand in end-use markets firms up further-and then ongoing,albeit somewhat lower,production increases from 2023-2025.In addition,she forecasts that American exports of chemicals will reach $182 billion by 2025,and the U.S.will maintain its traditional substantial trade surplus in chemicals over the entire period.Check out that article for far more details,including on the prospects for individual sectors of the industry as well as the outlook for chemical production around the world.Of course,as she rightly cautions,various factors-particularly ones related to the duration and handling of COVID-19-could upend such predictions.