Sales of the chemical business can be divided into several broad categories, including basic chemicals (about 35-37% of total output), Life Sciences (30%), special chemicals (20-25%) and consumer goods (about 10%).
Basic chemicals are a large category of chemical products, including polymers, bulk petrochemical products and intermediates, other derivatives and basic industrial products, inorganic chemical products and chemical fertilizers. The typical growth rate of basic chemicals is about 0.5 to 0.7 times GDP. The price of the product is generally less than 50 cents per pound. Polymers are the largest revenue area, accounting for about 33% of the dollar value of basic chemicals, including all types of plastics and man-made fibers. The main market for plastics is packaging, followed by home construction, containers, household appliances, pipes, transportation, toys and games. The largest volume of polymer product polyethylene (PE), mainly used in packaging film and other markets, such as milk bottles, containers, tubes.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is another large volume product, mainly used to manufacture pipes and wallboards in the construction market and, to a lesser extent, for transportation and packaging materials. Polypropylene (PP), similar to PVC in volume, is widely used in packaging, electrical appliances, containers, clothing and carpet markets. Polystyrene (PS) is another high-capacity plastic used mainly in electrical and packaging as well as toys and entertainment. The main man-made fibers include polyester, nylon, polypropylene and acrylic acid, and their applications include clothing, household goods and other industrial and consumer uses. The main raw materials of polymer are bulk petrochemical products.
Chemical products in bulk petrochemical products and intermediate products are mainly made of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas and crude oil. Their sales are close to 30% of basic chemicals. Typical large capacity products include ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylene, methanol, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), styrene, butadiene and ethylene oxide. These chemicals are the starting point for most polymers and other organic chemicals, as well as for many special chemical categories.
Other derivatives and basic industries include synthetic rubber, surfactants, dyes and pigments, turpentine, resin, carbon black, explosives and rubber products, accounting for about 20% of the external sales of basic chemicals. Inorganic chemicals (about 12% of total revenue) are the oldest chemical products. Products include salt, chlorine, caustic soda, soda ash, acids (such as nitric acid, phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid), titanium dioxide and hydrogen peroxide. Fertilizers are the smallest category (about 6%), including phosphate, ammonia and potassium fertilizer chemicals.
Life Sciences (about 30% of the value of the chemical business) include different chemical and biological substances, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, animal health products, vitamins and crop protection chemicals. Although much smaller than other chemical sectors, their products tend to be expensive – more than $10 a pound – growth rates of 1.5 to 6 times GDP, and R & D spending accounts for 15% to 25% of sales. Life science products usually have high specifications and are closely scrutinized by government agencies such as the food and drug administration. Pesticide products account for about 10% of such products, including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.
Special chemical products are a kind of chemical products with relatively high value and rapid development, and their final products have diversified markets. Typical growth rates are one to three times GDP, with prices of more than $1 per pound. They are characterized by innovation. Products are sold according to what they can do, not the chemicals they contain. Products include electronic chemicals, industrial gases, adhesives and sealants, as well as coatings, industrial and institutional cleaning chemicals and catalysts. Coatings account for 15% of sales of specialty chemicals and other products account for 10% to 13% of sales.
Consumer goods include chemicals sold directly, such as soap, detergents and cosmetics. Typical growth rates are 0.8 to 1.0 times GDP.
