C&EN's Top 50 Chemical Products 100 Chemical Producers

As 1984 began, a full year after the end of the previous economic recession, chemical producers were in full gear. And although the economy tailed off after the first six months, 1984 was, all in all, a good year for the chemical industry. That is not to say the year was trouble free. Producers had to contend with the effects of the unprecedented strength of the dollar against foreign currencies. Imports increased sharply in many areas, and export markets fled American products for those priced in cheaper currencies. And less expensive imports kept producers from raising prices. Still, production volumes increased handily. Output of CE that of inorganics climbed 9.4% last year. Because of the intransigence of many product prices, however, the jump in output did not bring with it as big an increase in sales revenues. For ...