Geneva, 15 July 1999
ECE/TRADE/99/13
WORLD CHEMICAL
PRODUCTION HITS 1.5 TRILLION DOLLAR LEVEL
United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe
Releases Latest
Chemical Statistics in its Annual Review
According to the latest review
of the chemical industry, just published by the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), world chemical
production in 1998 rose to nearly US$ 1.5 trillion, with western
Europe having the largest share at roughly 35% and North America
29%. The single largest chemical-producing country was the
United States; with Germany being the largest European
producer.
Per capita consumption of
chemicals in North America, at nearly $1,300, was higher than in
western Europe, where the figure stood at just over $1,000. In
stark contrast, eastern and central European per capita
consumption was a mere $159.
The 175-page The
Chemical Industry in 1998: Annual Review discusses in detail
recent general macroeconomic advances and chemical industry
developments in the industrialized world - principally in the 55
member countries of the UN/ECE. The Review also includes a
detailed statistical review of production and trade in chemical
products.
Production in the chemical
industry generally follows the same trend as overall industrial
production. In western Europe, growth in chemical industry
production was just under 3.0%, somewhat poorer than the 1997
figure of 4.7%. In line with forecasts for overall industrial
production, the 1999 forecast for chemical production is again
more pessimistic, at 2.2%.
In the United States, 1998 was
the seventh straight year of economic expansion, and chemical
industry production was up by around 3.5%, somewhat less than the
4.1% recorded for 1997. Similar or slightly lower growth is
expected for 1999.
Special report
A special chapter in this year's Review focuses on how the chemical industry in the
northeastern part of Germany, formerly the German Democratic
Republic, has developed over the past decade. With the
privatization in 1997 of the last major chemical estate in the
area, the chemical industry of that region is now completely in
the private sector. Growth in chemical industry production in
1998 in the region grew 6.4% over 1997 but has still only
achieved half the turnover of 1989.
The Review also gives the
annual gross output of the chemical industry, as well as
production and trade data for some 80 chemicals and chemical
products, for the period 1995-1997 for nearly 50 countries in the
region covered by the UN/ECE.
The Chemical Industry in
1998: Annual Review is priced at US$ 100 and may be purchased
by quoting Sales No. E.99.II.E.9, ISBN 92-1-116712-4 from United
Nations sales agencies in various countries or through:
United Nations Publications
Sales and Marketing Section
Palais des Nations, Room C-113
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 917 26 13/14
Fax: (+41 22) 917 00 27
E-mail: [email protected]
A service and handling charge of
US$ 12 should be added to sales made through the Geneva office.
For further information,
please contact:
Mr. Howard Hornfeld
Programme Coordinator
for the Chemical Industry
Trade Division
United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 917 32 54
Fax: (+41 22) 917 01 78
E-mail: [email protected]