After spending three years struggling to recover from the 2007-2009 recession, the global chemistry industry can finally look forward to a rosier year ahead. The cover story of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine, details what to watch for in 2014 across different sectors and geographic regions.
The article points out that several factors are buoying expectations for the coming year around the world. In the U.S., low-priced natural gas from shale deposits is spurring a plant building boom, the first of its kind in decades. The chemical industry is also benefitting from strong auto sales and an uptick in housing starts, which drives demand for basic materials. Executives in the fine chemicals sector are also optimistic.
Although by no means stellar — or necessarily set in stone — projections are on the whole positive. Chemical production in the U.S. is expected to rise by 2.5 percent, a respectable increase over the 1.6 percent rate posted in 2013. In Europe, despite stiff competition, industry watchers expect chemical sales to increase. Projections show China and India will continue to drive economic growth, and with it, the chemical industry.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.
Journal
Chemical & Engineering News