U.S. Chemical Production Dropped in February 2021

Compared with February 2020, U.S. chemical production remained off by 3.8%.

The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI), fell 3.6% in February following a 0.7% gain in January and a 1.3% gain in December, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC). During February, chemical output fell in all regions as winter storms disrupted chemical production in the Gulf Coast and other parts of the country that rely on raw materials from the region. Chemical output for the Gulf Coast region fell 5.8% compared with January, the largest monthly drop since September 2008 and the second-largest drop in the series, which goes back to 1988. The U.S. CPRI is measured on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis.

As measured on a 3MMA basis, chemical production fell sharply in categories except for consumer products, manufactured fibers, fertilizers, and other specialty chemicals. The largest declines occurred in petrochemical and other organic chemicals and plastic resins. Smaller declines were seen in the production of inorganic chemicals, coatings, adhesives, and pesticides.

As nearly all manufactured goods are produced using chemistry in some form, manufacturing activity is an important indicator for chemical demand. Following six consecutive months of gains, the manufacturing recovery stumbled in March, with overall factory activity off by 0.4% (3MMA). The 3MMA trend in manufacturing production was mixed, with gains in output of food and beverages, aerospace, machinery, semiconductors, iron and steel, foundries, plastic products, rubber products, paper, structural panels, textiles and apparel, and furniture.

Compared with February 2020, U.S. chemical production remained off by 3.8%, the twenty-first consecutive month of year-over-year declines and deterioration from recent progress. Chemical production was lower than a year ago in all regions.

U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index, Percentage Change (Seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving average)
		Feb 21/ Jan 21	Feb 21/ Feb 20	Key products
Gulf Coast		-5.8%	-3.6%	petrochemicals, inorganics, plastics resins, and synthetic rubber
Midwest		-3.3%	-4.5%	agricultural chemicals, plastics, and paints
Ohio Valley		-3.3%	-5.2%	organic chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials, and specialty chemicals
Mid-Atlantic		-2.4%	-5.0%	consumer products
Southeast		-3.2%	-4.8%	inorganic chemicals, fibers, and consumer products
Northeast		-1.5%	-4.6%	consumer products and specialty chemicals
West Coast		-2.1%	-5.0%	basic chemicals, agricultural chemicals, and consumer products
U.S. Total		-3.6%	-3.8%

The chemistry industry is one of the largest industries in the United States, a $565 billion enterprise. The manufacturing sector is the largest consumer of chemical products, and 96% of manufactured goods are touched by chemistry. The U.S. CPRI was developed to track chemical production activity in seven regions of the United States. The U.S. CPRI is based on information from the Federal Reserve, and as such, includes monthly revisions as published by the Federal Reserve. To smooth month-to-month fluctuations, the U.S. CPRI is measured using a three-month moving average. Thus, the reading in January reflects production activity during November, December, and January.

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