SECTION ONE P R O D U C T
I O N
BY THE U.S. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
A strong economy spurs expansion in chemical output Production of chemicals and related products expanded at a relatively steady pace throughout 1978 in the U.S. Output for the year as a whole in the entire industry was 6% above that of 1977. Thus it was a year in which chemical production advanced in parallel with the rise in production for all U.S. industry rather than, as has been more usual in the past, at an appreciably faster rate. Although the gains made by chemicals last year did not match those of either of the two previous years, 1978 was, by and large, a relatively typical year for the industry. Plastics continued to set the pace for the rest of the industry, with thermosets turning in a particularly favorable year. Man-made fibers also did well, especially nylon and olefin fibers. But a no-growth
year for styrene-butadiene rubber put a damper on rubber output overall. Strength in plastics helped fuel demand for organic chemicals, such as ethylene, vinyl chloride, and phenol, which generally outperformed inorganic chemicals. Notably weak among big-volume inorganics were ammonia, chlorine, and caustic soda. On the other hand, sulfuric acid output increased at an unusually high rate, spurred both by growth in the entire U.S. economy and by increased production of phosphoric acid, which in turn hinged on phosphate fertilizer exports. Although consumption of plant nutrients by U.S. farmers was lower during the 1978 fertilizer year, exports of both nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers advanced sharply.
Growth continues at a relatively steady rate for all major chemical sectors % annual growth rate 8 30
1975
% annual growth rate 30
1976
1977
1978
1979
1975
1976
1977
a Average running annual growth rates in production of major plastics, inorganics, and all chemicals, and in shipments of man-made fibers. Sources: International Trade Commission, Bureau of the Census, Textile Economics Bureau
Output has been rising since early 1975
. . . pulled up by strong gains for synthetics
Production index,81967 — 100 2001
Production index,81967 = 100 350
180
300
r~^
Chemicals and allied products 160
^^^•Synthetic materials5
140
200
All industry
150
120
y^
-
Basic chemicals
100
100 1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1975
a Seasonally adjusted, b Includes plastics, synthetic rubber, and man-made fibers. Source: Federal Reserve Board
34
""
C&EN June 11, 1979
1976
1977
1978
1979
TOP 50 CHEMICALS: Growth slows for organics, but remains healthy generally Production Billions of lb 1978 1977
Rank 1978
1977 a
1
1
Sulfuric acid
2 3
2 4
Lime c Oxygen, high and low purity
4
3
5
6
Ammonia, anhydrous Nitrogen, high and low purity
6 7
5 8 7
Common unitsb 1978 1977
1977-78
71.64
39,594 tt
35.43 33.89
37.85 32.53 35.15
19,389 tt 428 bcf
28.41
23.99
392 bcf
331 bcf
-3.6 18.4
25.43
28,133 mp 10,960 tt 10,710 tt
25,426 mp 10,573 tt
10.6 3.7
79.19 38.78
Ethylene Chlorine, gas
28.13 21.92
16,944 tt
35,821 tt 18,926 tt 393 bcf 17,576 tt
10.5% 2.5 8.9
Average annual change 1976-77 1973-78
7.6% -0.7 L3 5.1 14.9 15.4 1.9
4.4% -0.5 1.9
1968-78
3.3% 1.2 5.6
2.2
3.4
11.5
12.7
4.7 1.0
7.9 2.6
-0.1 6.7
1.9 6.1 1.4
8 9 10
Sodium hydroxide
21.42
21.15 21.87
10,933 tt
-2.0
4.0
9 11
Phosphoric acid, total Nitric acid
19.13 16.10
17.92 15.90
9,563 tt 8,051 tt
8,958 tt 7,951 tt
6.8 1.3
12.7 2.1
11 12
10 12
Sodium carbonate d
15.16
16.18
13 14
-6.3 0.4 7.9
-0.1 36.6
-0.1 7.8
Urea, primary solution
11.13 10.76
11.25 8.89
1,511 mg 10,757 mp
1,535 mg 8,890 mp
-1.6
15
13 14 16
14.35 13.33
8,090 tt 7,177 tt 13,328 mp
0.1
14.41 14.37
7,581 tt 7,207 tt 14,375 mp
7.0
Ammonium nitrate e Propylene Benzene
-1.6 13.2
0.8 8.1
16 17
15 18
Ethylene dichloride Toluene, all grades
10.46 9.25
11.00 7.73
10,463 mp 1,274 mg
10,997 mp 1,067 mg
-4.9 19.4
7.2 6.7
Ethylbenzene Vinyl chloride
8.38
8.31 5.99 6.87
8,379 mp
8,312 mp
0.8
38.8 -6.0 35.7
6.7
7.6
6,955 mp 6,878 mp
5,986 mp 6,867 mp
16.2 0.2
4.4 9.0
5.4 2.8
8.9 6.4
6.05
6,433 6,360 860 5,971
6,046 mp 6,453 mp
6.4 -1.4
7.6 3.4
839 mg 5,409 mp
2.5 10.4
18
17
19 20
23 19
21 22
21
Formaldehyde, 3 7 % by weight
20
Methanol, synthetic
6.43 6.36
23 24
Xylene, all grades Terephthalic acid f
6.16 5.97
25
22 25 24
6.45 6.05 5.41
Hydrochloric acid
5.55
5.44
2,773 tt
2,721 tt
26 27
27 26
Ethylene oxide Carbon dioxide, all forms
4.83 4.58
4.36 4.51
4,838 mp 2,288 tt
4,364 mp
28 29
29 27 31
Ethylene glycol
4.02 3.89 3.52
3.68 4.36
4,015 mp
Ammonium sulfate Butadiene(1,3-), rubber grade
3.26
1,943 tt 3,515 mp
3,675 mp 2,182 tt 3,257 mp
30
Styrene
6.96 6.88
mp mp mg mp
2,256 tt
21.0
-0.8
1.3 2.3 7.4 4.1 8.2 8.1 6.2
0.1
4.1
-16.9 7.1
-1.6 1.4 6.9
5.2 4.1 14.4
1.9
7.0
2.0
4.7
10.9 1.4
4.3 9.4
3.0 7.9 4.1
6.3 8.0 7.0
-0.5 -0.7
-0.3 1.9
8.5 -1.1
10.3
9.3
9.5
-11.0 7.9
0.1
8.6
31 32
32
p-Xylene
3.49
3.17
3,493 mp
3,172 mp
10.1
-0.8
30
Carbon black
3.30
3.48
3,300 mp
3,477 mp
-5.1
33 34
33 34
Cumene Acetic acid
3.26 2.79
2.64 2.57
3,257 mp 2,786 mp
2,644 mp 2,570 mp
23.2 8.4
15.0 -1.7 5.8
35
38
Phenol, synthetic
2.73
2.34
2,726 mp
2,338 mp
16.6
7.1
4.0
1.6 9.2 4.8 6.4
36 37
37 36
2.48
2.40
1,239 tt
35 39
2.40 2.37
1,200 tt 1,185 tt 2,335 mp
-2.8 1.0 4.4
-2.9 2.1 -0.7
-1.8 0.3 0.1
40
40
Acetone
2.34 2.12
2.42 2.51 2.24
1,198 tt 1,212 tt 1,255 tt
3.4
38 39
Sodium sulfate 9 Calcium chloride h Aluminum sulfate
2.22
2,115 mp
2,242 mp 2,219 mp
41 42
42
Propylene oxide
2.04
1.87
2,044 mp
1,866 mp
Acrylonitrile
1.75
43 44
43 41 45
Isopropyl alcohol Adipic acid
1.71 1.69
1.65 1.89 1.54
1,752 mp 1,707 mp 1,688 mp
45
44
Vinyl acetate
1.68
1.59
1,681 mp
46 47 48
46 47 48
Sodium silicate Acetic anhydride Sodium tripolyphosphate
1.60 1.50 1.47
1.52 1.50 1.43
49
49
Titanium dioxide
1.44
50
50
Ethanol, synthetic
1.27
1.37 1.34
802 1,500 735 718
352.92 171.98
337.97 160.62
4.4% 7.1%
524.90
498.59
5.3%
Cyclohexane
TOTAL INORGANICS IN TOP 50 TOTAL ORGANICS IN TOP 50 GRAN DTOT AL OF TOP 50
-1.0 -5.6 4.1
4.1 2.8
3.0
1.9
1.4
-4.7
15.5
1.2
4.5
9.5 6.4
4.0
3.1 5.3
7.9
1,646 mp 1,888 mp 1,535 mp 1,586 mp
-9.6 10.0 6.0
-1.4 1.5 2.2
-1.9 3.8
tt mp tt tt
760 mp 1,502 mp 717 tt
5.5 -0.1 2.5
2.1 -2.1 -5.3
2.4 -1.0
687 tt
1,271 mp
1,339 mp
4.5 -5.1
8.4 9.8 1.3 7.1 1.7 -0.5 -1.0 -3.6 13.4 4.5% 14.0% 7.4%
5.5
8.9
-1.8
-4.6 1.4
-8.3
-5.2
5.6% 4.5%
4.6% 5.7%
5.3%
4.9%
a Revised, b tt = thousand tons, bcf = billion cubic feet, mp = million pounds, mg = million gallons, c Except refractory dolomite, d Synthetic and natural, e Original solution, f Includes both the acid and the ester without double counting, g High and low purity, h Solid and liquid. Sources: Bureau of the Census. Bureau of Mines, International Trade Commission, and C&EN estimates
June 11, 1979 C&EN
35
PRODUCTION: A sharp gain for plastics pulls up chemical output in 1978 Annual change 1977-78 1968-78
Industrial production indexes, 1967 = 100
1978 a
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
Total index Manufacturing, total Nondurable manufacturing
145.2 145.7
137.1 137.1
129.8 129.8
107.8 106.4
111.1 111.0
106.3 106.4
148.1 180.7 196.8
134.6 159.4 176.7
133.8 154.5 171.9
119.7 118.9 126.5 143.6 156.4
109.6 108.2
Chemicals and products Chemicals and synthetic materials
117.8 116.3 126.4 147.2 154.1
129.3 129.4
154.8 190.7 210.8
129.8 129.5 140.9
116.6 125.9 135.8
112.3 120.4 126.9
111.5 118.4 125.0
106.2 109.5 113.9
Basic chemicals Alkalies and chlorine Gases, coal tar, inorganic pigments
173.7 118.0 183.2 b
158.6 115.0 165.0
135.9 106.5
123.7 114.4 125.6
117.9 119.1
117.0 115.1
107.4 105.7
123.0
183.5 123.6 116.3
133.3 155.3 112.9 108.4
137.7 120.2 146.5
205.9 127.7
153.3 125.6 165.0 177.9 112.6 116.6
147.7 123.8
Basic organic chemicals Inorganic chemicals, nee Acids and fertilizer materials
165.3 116.7 171.9 193.2 126.5 121.7
155.3 107.8 111.5
139.7 99.2 105.3
128.7 97.7 106.2
127.8 125.3 97.6 104.9
Synthetic materials Plastics materials Synthetic rubber
286.3 364.2
232.6 280.4
191.0 213.1
145.1 155.7
126.9
250.4
236.8
214.3
214.4
220.1
189.1
117.2 164.9
114.8 142.2
141.2 148.6 117.7
Man-made fibers
101.2 191.2
221.1 243.3 135.6
160.4 166.2
118.7
224.4 258.5 129.7
194.7 217.4
127.3
260.8 320.3 124.4
Chemical products
171.6 217.5 155.8 112.8
165.3 211.6
131.3 155.5
114.2 127.5
148.3 108.5
156.1 192.4 139.4 123.1
116.4
Drugs and medicines Soap and toiletries Paints Agricultural chemicals
215.3
207.5
195.1
Petroleum products Rubber and plastics products
144.2 254.8
141.0 232.2
133.1 200.2
131.5
169.3 182.9
140.7 174.1 127.7 114.2 163.9 124.1 166.7
157.8 170.0 110.8 113.1
142.8
137.7
179.6 128.1 119.2 144.6
170.1 129.0 114.7 127.0
130.3 118.0
135.1 114.1 111.1
108.9
103.5
124.7 195.2
128.5 184.1
122.1 172.4
116.7 147.6
116.9 105.6 107.9 113.2 132.3
139.8 112.0 119.0 111.1 112.0
6% 3 5 6 7
3% 3
111.2
5 1 7
112.8 97.1 100.7
7 1 8
5 1 5 8 3 3
126.9 123.4
10 14
8 11
111.1 133.9
2 S
1 6
105.3 107.5
4 3 5 4
5
106.1
107.0 107.0 97.6
108.4
105.1
130.2
119.7
4 6 6
4
7 4 1 8
2 10
3 8
a Preliminary, b Estimated, no December 1978 data available, nee = not elsewhere classified. Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
MINERALS: Phosphate, salt, lime, and sulfur are big-tonnage products Annual change
1975
Thousands of tons
Bromine, production
208 0
Iodine, consumption Imports0
a
4.5 3.4
a
217 4.3 3.5
1968
1970
1972
1974
230
204
216
209
193
178
175
3.6 3.2
3.1
3.8
3.5
3.4
2.7
4.0
3.1
3.1
3.3 3.6
3.2 3.0
152 3.0 2.9
1977-78
-4%
1968-78
3%
2.2 2.9
Lime, production "
e 20 ,451 19,987 20,257 19,159 21,645 21,132 20,332 19,635 19,788 20,250 18,676
2
1
Phosphate rock, marketable production Exports
55,156 52,091 49,231 48,806 45,676 42,128 40,823 38,878 38,731 37,718 41,243 13,856 14,584 10,398 12,270 13,895 13,873 14,272 12,584 11,735 11,334 12,097
6 -5
3 1 -1 9 5
0
Potash ( K 2 0 equivalent)/ production Imports 9 Apparent consumption 0 Salt, total sold or used' Evaporated Rock Salt in brine k Sodium carbonate, production 1 Sulfur, production m Apparent consumption" Frasch, production Apparent consumption" Recovered elemental, production 0 Apparent consumption" Other, production 0 Apparent consumption"
2,484
2,457 5,076
2,400 4,594
2,501 3,797
2,552 4,326
2,603 3,587
6,605
6,149
5,112
6,086
5,563
2,659 2,961 4,816
2,587
2,804 2,332
2,722 2,166
1 2
4,720
4,340
4
43,700 43,439 44,218 41,057 46,565 43,939 45,051 44,106 45,928 44,277 41,306 5,704 5,634 5,372 5,951 5,913 5,879 5,956 5,530 5,695 5,554 na na 14,958 15,668 14,283 14,835 12,347 14,434 13,700 14,170 13,397 12,461 22,777 22,917 21,401 25,779 25,680 24,737 24,449 26,228 25,185 23,291 na
1 na na na
5,186 6,838
2,766 4,815
2,729 2,605 4,728
a
6,782 e
6,228
5,216
4,059
3,722
2,865
0i
9
13
12,318 11,824 11,992 12,610 12,789 12,231 11,444 10,730 10,703 10,690 10,903 13,889 12,850 12,060 11,875 12,115 11,463 11,036 10,274 10,334 10,269 10,160 6,520 7,016 8,077 8,849 8,518 8,165 7,868 7,932 8,004 8,354 6,226 6,309 6,041 6,439 7,001 6,680 6,753 6,328 6,283 6,422 6,617 6,506 4.478P 3,995 3,514 3,326 2,948 2,706 2,184 1,787 1,593 1,522 1,631 5,232 4,558 4,228 4,123 3,775 3,132 2,725 2,766 2,619 2,360 5,769 1,615 1,310 1,462 1,208 992 1,008 1,096 975 1,140 1,093 1,026 1,310 1,615 1,462 1,208 1,220 1,285 1,228 1,183 9 9 2 . 1,008 1,152
4 8 -5 3 12 10
1 3 -3
2,678
2,495
2J
2,043
4,328
3,218
1 OJ
23 23
0 11 9 5 3
a Estimated, b Estimated apparent consumption of crude elemental iodine, c Crude elemental iodine, d Includes Puerto Rican production, e Preliminary, f Includes muriate and sulfate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, and parent salts; excludes other chemical compounds containing potassium, g Includes nitrate of potash, h Calculated from sales plus imports minus exports. i Total obtained by all recovery methods that was sold or used by domestic producers (figures differ slightly from U.S. production figures); figures include Puerto Rican production, j Annual change for 1968-77. k Sold or used as such. I Natural only, soda ash and trona (sesquicarbonate). m Sulfur content basis, n Calculated from shipments plus imports minus exports (sulfur content basis), o From natural gas plants and petroleum refineries, plus small quantities from coking operations, p Includes a small quantity from a utility plant, q From by-product sulfuric acid (basis 100%) produced at copper, zinc, and lead plants, and from pyrites, hydrogen sulfide, and liquid sulfur dioxide, na = not available. Source: Bureau of Mines
36
C&EN June 11, 1979
ORGANIC CHEMICALS: Output is higher for most major products Millions of lb unless otherwise noted
1978a
1977
1976
1975
1974
2,570 2,219
2,463 1,869
2,197
2,584
Acrylonitrile
2,786 2,115 1,752
Aniline Benzene, m g b c
606 1,511
1,646 584 1,457
1,518 544
1,640 1,215 407
1,980 1,412 551
1,425
1,024
1,488
455 3,259
449 3,507
293
370
3,515
2,597
646 915
660 867
625 780
476
505
508
Carbon tetrachloride Cresylic acid e Cumene
737 143 f 3,257
809 139 f 2,644
857 157 f
Cyclohexane Diisodecyl phthalate
2,335 165
2,265
2,716 2,187
906 138 f 2,003 1,734
161
143
106
388 525
400 526
312 495
1,339
1,429
EthanolaminesJ Ethyl acetate, 8 5 %
1,271 364 227
414 529 1,496
308 218
286 216
258 171
Ethyl chloride Ethylbenzene k
541 8,379
612
669
8,312 25,172 10,997
5,770 22,475
575 4,822 20,499
3,675
8,042 3,335
3,809
4,838
4,364
4,184
4,467
415 6,433 1,707
493
450
387
6,046
5,449 1,936 264
4,558
Acetic acid, synthetic Acetone
Bisphenol A 1,3-Butadiene d n-Butanol Caprolactam Carbon disulfide
Dioctyl phthalates Dodecylbenzene h Ethanol, synthetic
471
Ethylene
28,133
Ethylene dichloride Ethylene glycol
10,463 4,015
Ethylene oxide 2-Ethylhexanol Formaldehyde, 37 % n Isopropyl alcohol Maleic anhydride
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
2,429 1,989 1,354
2,235 1,818 1,115
1,956
1,932 1,615 1,039
1,770
1,738
1,518 1,157
1,361 1,021
458
398 1,134
334
1,453
410 1,252
263 1,000
320 3,644
255 3,527
187
202
182
3,682
3,340
3,101
490 713
558 668
519 656
590 640
466 575
468 na
3,123 405
479
782
777
768
753
721
1,163 1919
1,047 1739
1,009 1579
1,011 1909
2,906
2,665 2,123 171
2,293 2,298 153
2,144
1,983 1,841
429 498 1,962
467 524
437 550
1,851 284 222
1,347 2,039 137
438 529
440 758 j 2,127 224
23 3 2
1
2
1,630 259 159
436 553 1,957 264 161
2,361 255 167
620 4,984
678 4,827
679
573
4,907
4,034
-12 1
18,450
18,089
16,436
12 -5 9
8 7 6
179
-3 0 -5 18 4
-1 na -5 5 2
7,558
7,460
6,037
3,038
2,571
2,043
4,167
3,962
3,598
2,625
11
287
405
387
5,764
526 5,652
3,865 457
3,408
402 6,424
4,427
1,521 216
1,939 290
1,835 282
1,790 274
4,398 2,014
4,305 2,074
-16 6 -10
201
182
13
5,176 366
6,878
7,064
6,472
4,206
3,817
-1
544' 541
454
4,950 437
4,932
493' 506 592
423
403
305
-5
4
509
484
548
441
375
480 366
484 324
17 -2
609
520
471
401
402
366
451 299 303
3 S 6
125 734
103 706 2,241
110 734
85 707
1,463
1,023 9,884°
933 8,472°
794 6.891P
1,708 734 6,641°
92 635 1,636
92 636
2,052
88 705 1,744
760 7.235P
744 7.025P
6 18 17 7
563 1,520 5,941 4,405 s
421 1,194 4,682 3,574
1,179 4,335 2,989
461 1,177 4,648 2,750
353 958 3,698 2,384
13 10 0 10
10
830
759
695
25
6
729 3,736
718
6
9
2,969 944 1,316 537
16
9 1 10
538
Pentaerythritol Perchloroethylene
121 722
114 614
105 669
101 679
2,726 993 14,375
2,338
2,121
1,746 702
4,200 m 395
2,298 977 8,709° 10.475P
4,522 1,674 229
1,919 215
5,410
517 1,823 6,301 5,051
391 1,524 4,673 4,614
1,756 5,956 4,262
502 1,753 5,975 2,564 r
1,018
999
705
922
958
916
876
1,403 5,621
1,503 5,351
931
803
4,336
1,056 2,707 802
1,068 2,326
1,211 5,089 832
4,040 799 1,590 538
Vinyl acetate
1,681
1,586
1,481
1,290
Vinyl chloride o-Xylene p-Xylene
6,955 1,014
5,986 985 3,172
5,677 854 2,911 722
4,196 703 2,484
811
1,687 2,232 137
0 na 9
3,070
478
3,493 860
-9 3
7,809
Methylene chloride
Xylenes, m g D C
763 1469
na -5
3,761
425 459 497
1,274
-6
9,293'
428 631
6,867
793
3,278
512 635
Terephthalic acid, dimethyl ester q Toluene, m g b c
2 4
-2 6
9,165' 3,341
7,977
598 623 567
489 1,866
13
8
13,151 4,799
Methyl ethyl ketone Methyl chloroform
551 2,044 6,878 5,971
4
576
6,242
Propylene oxide Styrene,
883 1719
144 2,929 433 na
5,676 20,852
6,453 476
Propylene glycol
123
na 799
4
6 9 4
660
6,360 454
902 926 13,328° 10,030°
198
293 221
1,748 136
1,185
5% 5
5,688 22,329
Methanol, synthetic Methyl chloride
Phthalic anhydride Propylene 0
395 533 1,618 307
1,076
8% -5 6 4
662
1,888 294
Phenol, synthetic*
2,352 147
997 1619
1,538 979 366
Annua I change 1977-78 1968-78
6,048 23,891
332
378
Production 1973
639
510
785
2,208 739
785 1,662 612
428
850 1,628 382
19
8
3 10 6
-1 8 8
1
4 -2 6 5
3 1 6 3 7 5 8 6
5
a Preliminary figures, b Tar distillers not included to avoid disclosing individual company data; includes material for use in blending motor fuels, c All grades, d Rubber grade, e Includes mixed cresols f Does not include data for coke ovens and gas-retort ovens, g Includes data for coke ovens and gas-retort ovens h Includes straight-chain dodecylbenzene, tridecylbenzene. and other straight-chain alkylbenzenes i Also includes branched-chain alkylbenzenes. j Mono-, di-. and triethanoiamines. k Does not include ethylbenzene produced and consumed in continuous-process styrene manufacture. I Production figure may be too low, because some methyl chloride and ethylene dichloride were produced but not separated or accurately measured by some producers m Approximate figure, n By weight, o Includes refinery propylene, p Includes data for propane-propylene mixture, q Includes both the acid and its dimethyl ester (DMT), without double counting; acid figures multiplied by 1.16 to convert to equivalent DMT. r Includes only dimethyl ester and not acid s Figure may be too high because of possible double counting of some acid and ester na ~ not available. Source: International Trade Commission
June 11, 1979 C&EN
37
S o d i u m perborate works hard in their laundry, bathroom, and kitchen—in bleaches, detergents, presoaks, denture cleaners, destaining products for plastic dishes. It was also used to help apply the dye and easy-care resins to their clothing.
Kronitex«flame-retardant plasticizers make vinyl safer- in upholstery, wall coverings, carpet backing, phone cords, and other flexible products. These FMC flame retardants are also highly cost-effective in rigid plastics such as plastic TV cabinets and household appliances.
Barium or Strontium in the glass of their TV tube shields this family from X-ray emissions. Outside, barium carbonate is in the bricks of their house to keep them looking new. FMC, with its large ore reserves, is this country's Number 1 supplier of these vital chemicals.
C h l o r i n e bleach helps in the manufacture and care of their clothing. And municipalities use chlorine to purify their water. A chlorine producer for more than 60 years, FMC is now modernizing its 800 ton/day plant as the first step in becoming a dedicated merchant supplier of this chemical.
Handle with care. When you make products for consumers, you have quite a responsibility. You have to be careful to provide them with safe, quality products. At FMC we feel a similar obligation to you. We provide many of the chemicals that go into your products. And we're committed to make sure these chemicals meet your highest quality standards. For you that means predictability in your processing. Higher quality products that are Kronitex— FMC trademark
more competitive. To help you achieve these goals, we have extremely stringent quality controls at all our production facilities. In fact, our reputation for quality has helped FMC Industrial Chemical Group become a three-quarter billion dollar worldwide business. And we intend to keep on growing, through the dedication of our people and our continued high standards for everything we make. These products include acetic acid, alkalis, allyl alcohol, allyl monomers, allyl resins,
Caustic soda is used to make many of the paper products, textiles, ceramics, and household cleaning products this family needs. FMC has been a merchant supplier of this chemical for over half a century.
S o d a a s h is an essential Ingredient of the glass bowl, flower vase, windows, and i l l other glass in this home. Already the largest producer of pure, natural soda ash, FMC is investing some $80 .million over the Fnext 5 years to keep > with future » for this iMs&Sr* ,
ammonia, barium chemicals, chlorine, dolomite, dry bleach chemicals, epoxidized soybean oil, glycerine, organic intermediates, organic phosphates, peroxygen chemicals, inorganic phosphates, phosphoric acid, and solvents. Would you like to know more? Write to FMC Corporation, Industrial Chemical Group, 2000 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Or call 215-299-6000.
INORGANICS: Growth pattern for most compounds continues Production
Annual change
Thousands of tons unless otherwise noted
1978*
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
1977-78
Aluminum sulfate 5
1,184
1,255
1,202
1,141
1,252
1,227
1,188
1,127
1,191
1,253
1,179
-6%
0%
16,967
17,576
16,716
16,419
15,733
15,208
15,169
14,538
13,824
12,769
12,120
-3
3
Ammonium nitrate, d 1 0 0 %
7,208
7,177
7,186
7,088
7,542
7,235
6,863
6,635
6,456
5,891
5,737
0
2
Ammonium sulfated 1 0 0 %
1,797 f
2,182
2,010
2,106
2,120
1,987
1,858
1,821
1,894
1,916
2,002
na
na
Carbon dioxide 9
2,287
2,256
2,064
1,850
1,804
1,566
1,610
1,344
1,135
1,167
1,058
1
8
10,952
10,573
10,378
9,167
10,753
10,402
9,854
9,352
9,764
9,376
8,444
4
3
2,777
2,721
2,542
2,009
2,470
2,534
2,360
2,099
2,014
1,911
1,748
2
90
85
82
74
82
65
59
56
60
65
202'
6
5 4m
8,061
7,951
7,791
7,257
8,120
8,398
7,981
7,638
7,603
7,223
6,992
391
332
289
252
243
227
194
168
Ammonia, 0 1 0 0 %
Chlorine gas h Hydrochloric acid, 1 1 0 0 % Hydrogen^ k bcf, 1 0 0 % Nitric acid, n 1 0 0 % Nitrogen g a s j ° bcf, 1 0 0 % Oxygen,J° bcf, 1 0 0 % Phosphoric acid, 100 %
428
393
388
353
390
389
352
319
9,563
8,958
7,949
7,677
7,213
6,927
6,712
5,970
151P
133P
284P 5,683
1
1
119P
276P 5,435
1968-78
18
248P
13
