Earnings grow in tough climate. 150118

 In-demand specialties helped offset weakness in agriculture and construction.


In the short term,  the move strengthens the U.S. dollar, potentially harming exports of U.S.-made


products by making them more expensive. In the first half of this year, U.S. exports to China were


off by 3.6%, compared with last year, while imports increased by 7.2%, according to the ACC,


a trade group. that suggests the chemical trade deficit with China-which was $729 million in 2014


-is likely to expand.


 Those moves will leave Axiall with only chlorovinyls, a business that had a poor second quarter


because of weak pricing    for caustic soda and polyvinyl chloride compounded by unplanned


outages. Lower natural gas prices helped but did not rescue result. Similarly, PVC maker Westlarke


Chemical reported lower prices for all of its products. But its acquisition of Vinnolit, a specialty PVC


resin business, enabled it to grow sales by 13.0% and earning by 7.0%.


 Indeed, in the current slow-growth, strong -dollar economy , chemical firms seem able to increase


sales only through acquisition.  


 From :  CEN   AUGUST 24,2015.