In August, the American Chemistry Council (ACC)’s US Chemical Production Regional Index (CPRI) expanded.
In the three-month moving average (3MMA) basis, chemical output expanded in all regions by 0.6%, a bit down from a 1.0% increase in July. Output increased in all regions, except the West Coast, with the largest gains occurring in the Gulf Coast region.
Many segments posted improvements such as plastic resins, chlor-alkali, organic chemicals, industrial gases, synthetic dyes and pigments, consumer products, synthetic rubber, manufactured fibers and fertilizers.
Production decreased in adhesives, coatings, other specialty chemicals, and crop protection chemicals.
Chemical demand showed a recovery last month, as overall factory activity up by 4.1% on a 3MMA basis. All essential chemistry end-use industries increased output with the strongest gains in appliances, motor vehicles, aerospace, foundries, iron and steel, refining, plastic and rubber products, tires, and apparel.
On a yearly basis however, the CPRI went down by 4.8%, the fifteenth straight month of declines, but still improved compared to the readings from the previous months. Output remained down compared to the same period in 2019 in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast regions.
