tested for pesticide registration in the U.S., the U.K., and several other countries. Although there are some success stories, not all chemicals have entered the market as easily. "Companies will bring a new product to market only if they think they can make some money doing so," USDA's Vick says. Carbonyl sulfide, COS, is an example of an effective product that cannot find a U.S. producer. Pesticide tests in Australia show that it is effective for treating perishable and durable commodity products, and USDA testing shows that it is particularly useful for grain treatment. However, it is not a U.S. registered pesticide. Another potential new pesticide in a similar position is methyl iodide. James J. Sims, a professor of plant pathology at the University of California, Riverside, who conducts research on the product, says: "Two problems remain for methyl iodide: cost and registration." The university was recently granted a patent for the use of methyl iodide as a fumigant. The search for alternatives, chemical and other, will now continue for an additional four years. But it remains to be seen if the extension will be adequate. "Everybody is constantly looking for alternatives, and it has been going on for a long time," says Peter G. Sparber, a lobbyist with Sparber & Associates, Washington, D.C., and spokesman for the U.S. methyl bromide producers. "Replacing methyl bromide is a tall order to fill—to find the same positive effects with no negative effects." Paige Morse
tile chemicals that at one time were tossed out in the wash water. Another reason for the slower growth rate, Freedonia suggests, is that U.S. textile A new study from business research pub- makers will face increased competition lishers Freedonia Group, Cleveland, pre- from imports. The currency crisis in Asia dicts that U.S. demand for textile chemi- in particular gives many Southeast Asian cals will grow 3% annually between 1997 textile producers an edge against their U.S. and 2002. Whereas customers used nearly counterparts. According to the American $3 billion worth of textile chemicals in Textile Manufacturers Institute, the U.S. 1997, they likely will use nearly $3.5 bil- textile and apparel trade deficit hit an alltime high of nearly $43 billion in 1997. lion of them in 2002. When Freedonia released a similar However, it is not all doom and gloom study about two years ago, the group pre- for U.S. textile makers. Increased trade bedicted a 3.9% average annual growth rate tween Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. bein the use of textile chemicals for the five- cause of the North American Free Trade year period 1995-2000. However, price in- Agreement has meant more exports of creases lagging behind the rate of inflation U.S. textiles. In particular, U.S. mills are and technology developed for environ- sending fabrics to Mexico for cutting, sewmental reasons account in part for the ing, and assembling into apparel. Inslower growth rate predicted in the latest creased shipments of fabrics for assembly study. Many fabric and carpet mills have in Caribbean apparel operations has also installed systems to recover and reuse tex- meant more business for U.S. fabric makers and has boosted textile chemical demand, too. For the long term, though, integrated Textile chemical demand to rise Mexican fiber, fabric, and ap3% by 2002 parel production complexes in Average Mexico may ultimately slow annual $ Millions 1997 2002 change U.S. fabric shipments south of the border. Dyeing & printing $1,240 $1,370 2.0% Finishing 605 745 4.3 Despite the competition Coating 535 640 3.6 from foreign textile makers, Preparation 200 225 2.4 Freedonia predicts that efforts Sizing 180 205 2.6 by U.S. mills to automate and Other 220 265 3.8 produce globally competitive TOTAL $2,980 $3,450 3.0% textiles will continue to drive Source: Freedonia Group use of textile chemicals. Marc Reisch
Textile chemical demand will grow 3% annually
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