Operation of Chemical Industry in the First Half of the Year

In the first half of the year, the added value of the chemical industry increased by 4.6% year on year, and the growth rate increased by 1 percentage point year on year. Among the main products, ethylene production reached 10.15 million tons, an increase of 9.8% over the same period last year. The output of plastics in primary form was 45.57 million tons, an increase of 7.4%; the output of synthetic rubber was 2.9 million tons, an increase of 4.3%; and the output of synthetic fibers was 25.35 million tons, an increase of 12.3%. The output of caustic soda was 17.45 million tons, an increase of 0.2%, and that of soda was 13.39 million tons, an increase of 6.6%. The output of chemical fertilizer was 29.65 million tons, an increase of 2.9%. Among them, nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer increased by 4.9% and 11.4%, respectively, while phosphorus fertilizer decreased by 5%. The output of pesticides was 1.04 million tons, an increase of 2%. Outer tire production of rubber tyres was 403.75 million, down by 1%. The output of calcium carbide was 12.78 million tons, down 0.9%. The prices of most of the chemical products under the monitoring were lower than last month. In June, the average price of caustic soda (tablet alkali) was 2,980 CNY/ton, down 7.7% from last month and 22.6% from last month, while that of soda was 1980 CNY/ton, down 1.5% from last month and 7.5% from last month. Urea was 1970 CNY/ton, down 2.5% from last month and 1% from the same period last year, while domestic diammonium phosphate was 2650 CNY/ton, down 1.1% from last month and up 5.2% from the same period last year. Calcium carbide 2660 CNY/ton, down 1.1% from last month, 8.9% from the same period last year.