A publication of the Chemical Economics Handbook
March 2009
The ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT
of the Chemical Industry
$
Chemical Economics Handbook • SRI Consulting
March 2009
The ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT
of the Chemical Industry
$
The Economic Environment of the Chemical Industry provides timely, concise information
about trends that impact chemical industry sales and profitability. The report includes current
monthly or quarterly data for the chemical industry and key end-use markets. All data are
graphed, enabling the reader to visually compare current trends with those of the prior year.
Updated information may be available from the CEH Inquiry Service—Contact SRIC
researchers at the following locations:
USA
Telephone:
650/384-4300
Fax:
650/330-1149
Zürich
Telephone:
41 44/283-6333
Fax:
41 44/283-6330
Tokyo
Telephone:
813/5202-7320
Fax:
813/5202-7333
March 2009
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
of the chemical industry
© 2009 Chemical Economics Handbook • SRI Consulting
iii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Macroeconomic Environment............................................................................................................................................................................3
World ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
United States, Western Europe and Japan...............................................................................................................................................5
Currency Exchange Rates ......................................