Chemical Industry Grows, But Faces Energy, Regulatory, Workforce Issues

摘要

WEAKENED DEMAND FOR DOMESTIC PRODUCTS. Strengthened demand for exports. Crude-oil feedstocks decreased. Natural gas supplies increased. 2010 was that kind of year for the chemicals industry. The industry experienced very strong export performance last year, extending into this year, notes Kevin Swift, chief economist for the Washington, D.C.-based American Chemistry Council (ACC, www.americanchemistry.com). "There was roughly a $4.6 billion [trade] surplus last year. Exports have surged so much that they've offset the deficit in pharmaceutical chemicals."