EU chemicals sector output drops 1.1 per cent during first eight months of year
EU chemicals production decreased by 1.1 per cent during the first eight months of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, according to the latest Cefic Chemicals Trends Report released today. Monthly production data for August showed a 0.5 per cent drop compared with August 2012.
The EU chemicals net trade surplus reached €29.9 billion during the first seven months of the year – a €1 billion improvement on the same period last year.
EU chemical prices in August 2013 were 0.8 per cent lower than in August 2012. January-July sales were 3.8 per cent lower compared with the first seven months of the previous year. The EU chemicals confidence indicator (CCI) improved in October 2013 in comparison with September 2013, and capacity utilisation in the EU chemicals industry increased from 78.1 per cent in the second quarter 2013 to 79.2 per cent in the third quarter.
