The chemical industry is a keystone of the U.S. economy, converting raw materials (oil, natural gas, air, water, metals, minerals) into more than 70,000 different products. Few goods are manufactured without some input from the chemical industry. Chemicals are used to make a wide variety of consumer goods, as well as thousands of products that are essential inputs to agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and service industries. The chemical industry itself consumes 26 percent of its output. Major industrial customers include rubber and plastic products, textiles, apparel, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, and primary metals. [CMA 1998]
Chemicals is nearly a $1.5 trillion global enterprise, and the U.S. chemical industry is the world's largest producer. There are 170 chemical companies with more than 2,800 facilities abroad and 1,700 foreign subsidiaries or affiliates operating in the United States. The industry records large trade surpluses and employs more than a million people in the United States alone. The chemical industry is also the second largest consumer of energy in manufacturing and spends over $5 billion annually on pollution abatement. [CMA 1998] The broad Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) for the industry is SIC 28 and encompasses many 3- and 4-digit SIC categories.
Chemicals is nearly a $1.5 trillion global enterprise, and the U.S. chemical industry is the world's largest producer. There are 170 chemical companies with more than 2,800 facilities abroad and 1,700 foreign subsidiaries or affiliates operating in the United States. The industry records large trade surpluses and employs more than a million people in the United States alone. The chemical industry is also the second largest consumer of energy in manufacturing and spends over $5 billion annually on pollution abatement. [CMA 1998] The broad Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) for the industry is SIC 28 and encompasses many 3- and 4-digit SIC categories.
SOURCE:eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/iab/chemicals/
