Ashland Performance Materials Competition
Now Viewing Ashland Performance Materials's competition in: Chemical Manufacturing - Industrial
Recent Developments
Dow Chemical Awards Grants for Methane Conversion - The world's untapped reserves of methane gas are potential sources for conversion into chemical feedstocks, but technology to do so has yet to be invented. To help find a solution, Dow Chemical recently awarded research grants totaling $6.4 million to Cardiff University and Northwestern University, according to company reports. Methane is the major component of natural gas, which is present in large quantities in many areas of the world.
Producer Prices for Industrial Chemicals Rise in 2007 - US industrial chemical manufacturers raised prices for the fifth consecutive year in 2007. Annual producer prices for industrial chemicals increased 6.4 percent in 2007 from 2006 levels. By segment, prices for basic inorganic chemicals rose 7 percent and for basic organic chemicals, 5.7 percent.
Imports of Industrial Chemicals Increase - US imports of basic chemicals increased 7 percent during the first 11 months of 2007 compared to the same period a year earlier. Top source Canada's share grew 10.2 percent, while China rose to number two with a 12.7 percent increase. The basic chemical category includes petrochemicals, industrial gases, and inorganic and organic base chemicals.
Competitive Landscape
Demand depends on the overall strength of the US economy, because most industrial chemicals are used in the manufacture of more-complicated products like fibers, plastics, paints, and paper. The profitability of individual companies is closely linked to efficient operations, because most products are commodities. Big producers have large economies of scale in production, which is why some chemicals are made by just a handful of companies. Small companies can compete effectively by making specialized or highly-purified products. The industry is highly automated: average annual revenue per employee is over $600,000.
Full Industry Overview For Chemical Manufacturing - Industrial
Chemical Manufacturing - Industrial Industry Forecast
from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research
The output of US petrochemicals, industrial gas, synthetic dyes and pigments, and other basic chemicals is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 6 percent between 2007 and 2012.
Industrial Chemicals Manufacturing Growth Volatile
First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.
First Research Opportunity Rating
The First Research Opportunity Rating is First Research's estimate of industry performance vs. industry risk over the next 12 to 24 months.
- Demand: Linked to industrial activity
- Large economies of scale in production
- Risk: Slower economy cuts demand
Industries Where Ashland Performance Materials Competes
- Chemicals
- Specialty Chemical Manufacturing (primary)
- Paints, Coatings & Other Finishing Product Manufacturing
- Plastic & Fiber Manufacturing
