Update on French & German chemicals industry

摘要

Instead of the predicted increase of 2% [see Focus on surfactants,Mar 2004],for 2003 the French chemicals industry registered a 1.4% decline in production by volume.Only the soaps,perfumes and cleaning products sector managed to increase production (by 1.1%).Investments fell by 5.9% to EURO3.4 bn.Prospects for 2004 look better with predicted growth of 2.9%.