Index inches up as prices shift

By Staff -- Purchasing, 1/15/1998

Despite changes in commodity chemicals pricing, Purchasing's index of industrial chemicals inched up only 0.3 points to 106.0 in December. The index will continue to slowly rise through the first half of 1998 as prices strengthen with demand in the 2nd quarter.

Several commodity chemical prices declined in December. Among them, U.S. bulk contracts for propylene dropped 1cent/lb to 17cents/lb. Ethylene glycol and acrylonitrile contracts also slipped 1cent/lb to 35cents/lb. Toluene tags fell 3cents/gal to $1.03/gal. Soda ash prices went down $4/ton to an average of $95/ton. Acetone contracts declined 1cent/lb to 23cents/lb.

Some increases in industrial chemical prices helped to offset the declines. Styrene contracts nudged up 1cent/lb to 30cents/lb. Sulfuric acid tags jumped $2/ton to $50/ton. Benzene contracts inched up 3cents/gal to $1.03/gal. Chlorine tags increased $14/ton to $258/ton.

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