European chemical industry to grow by 2% in 2014: Cefic
The output of European chemical industry, which had contracted by 0.2% in 2013, is likely to benefit from general economic recovery in 2014
BS B2B Bureau B2B Connect | Brussels, Belgium
Kurt Bock, President, Cefic
Production growth is expected to continue in 2015, though the pace is likely to slow to 1.5% as restocking tails off. The return to growth follows a modest fall in output during 2013 as the industry wrestled with the second slowdown of Europe’s double-dip recession. After a slump by more than 20%, Europe’s production of chemicals has yet to match the peak achieved in 2008.
Kurt Bock, President, Cefic, said: “We now expect a long-awaited return to growth in output by the European chemical industry this year. However, the recovery is volatile and the pace of expansion is being held back by high energy prices, which put European producers at a severe disadvantage compared to those in North America and the Middle East who benefit in particular from cheaper gas.”
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First Published: Jun 24 2014 | 4:18 PM IST