Buyers' prices will stay low in '99

By Staff -- Purchasing, 1/14/1999

Purchasing's index of industrial chemical prices slipped again, down 1.10 last month, after rising in November. Buyers say they are still able to find chemicals with low price tags, and some, such as chlorine, have dipped sharply over the past few months. Continued economic stagnation in much of the world--especially Asia, and the resultant low exports are the main cause. In addition, some buyers report still more imported material coming in with low prices.

Buyers continue to be very optimistic that the current pricing situation is here to stay for 1999. According to buyer forecasts, the index is expected to increase by only 1.0 in the second quarter. At that point, the index is projected to flatten out at 87.0 for the remainder of this year. Buyers are doubtful that the index will fall much further than it has already.

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