EU chemicals production fell by 2.2 % in the first eight months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, presented in the latest Cefic Chemicals Trends Report. Monthly data for August 2012 showed a 2.2 % drop compared with the reading for the same month in 2011. Data for the first eight months of the year point to EU chemicals production remaining 5.8 % below the 2007 peak levels.

Prices for chemicals in the EU in August climbed on a year-on-year basis, up 1.0 % during the month against the comparable period in 2011. The price increase was led yet again by the overall price hike in basic inorganics. Overall prices for chemicals rose by 2.7 % during the first eight months of 2012 against the comparable period in 2011.

Latest trade data show the EU chemicals net trade surplus increased further through the first seven months of 2012 by €6.6 billion compared with the same period of last year, reaching €29.1 billion. Overall chemicals sector confidence decreased by 2.4 points, the decline being mostly due to more negative assessment of the current level of overall order books. This is in line with the downward trend of EU confidence of the overall manufacturing sector, analysis of the most recent EU Commission data indicates.

August Chemicals Output Down

The 2.2 % year-on-year output decline in August was led by two chemicals subsectors - specialty chemicals and consumer chemicals - which fell by 4.6 % and 3.6 % respectively.

Polymers fell by 2.8 % in August on a year-on-year basis while petrochemicals experienced a 2.3 % drop. Basic inorganics production registered a small decline of 0.2 % in August 2012.

EU Manufacturing Output Falls in August

Based on Eurostat data, the production index of the EU manufacturing sector as a whole went down by 1.6 % in the first eight months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Monthly data for August 2012 showed a 1.7 % drop compared with August of 2011. Sectoral analysis shows that construction and basic metals categories - key chemicals industry customers - each fell by 4.7 %. The machinery and equipment subsector is likely to resist, however, the generally stormy economic and business environment in Europe. Output in the food and beverage sector, as well as the auto sector, was anaemic during the January to August 2012 timeframe.

EU Trade Surplus Up €6.6 Billion Through July

Trade data through July 2012 show a €29.1 billion overall year-to-date EU chemicals net trade surplus with other markets, up €6.6 billion on the same seven-month period the year prior. The EU net trade surplus with the NAFTA region contributed significantly to the bump in the January-July overall surplus, reaching €7 billion, up €2.2 billion compared with the same period in 2011. The EU net trade surplus with the Rest of Europe, which includes Russia and Turkey, reached €8.9 billion through July, up €1.5 billion compared with the same seven-month period the previous year. A €3.1 billion surplus occurred with Asia, excluding Japan and China, during the first seven months of the year, down €0.1 billion from the comparable period in 2011.

Prices for Basic Inorganics Climbed by 2.1 % In August 2012

Year-on-year EU chemicals prices rose in August by 1.0 %, driven by the price for basic inorganics, which increased by 2.1 % during the month. Prices for consumer chemicals rose by 0.8 %, while petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals prices edged down by 2.9 % and 1.8 % respectively in August as compared with the year prior.

January-to-July EU sales up 4.9 % from 2008 pre-crisis period

Compared to full-year sales levels in 2008, the pre-crisis peak, the total value of EU chemicals sales through the first seven months of 2012 was 4.9 % higher. July sales were 4.4 % lower compared with the same month the year prior. Sales for the first seven months of 2012 were 1.6 % below the comparable period in 2011.

EU chemicals confidence indicator (CCI) decreased by 2.4 points in October 2012

Based on data from the EU Commission business and consumer survey report published on October 30, 2012, the EU chemical industry confidence indicator, or CCI, decreased by 2.4 points in October 2012 compared to September of the same year. Managers' assessment of the current level of overall order books decreased by 7.2 points, and their production expectations for the sector decreased by 4.0 points. The EU Commission report also showed a similar downward trend in confidence in the overall EU manufacturing sector.