9 CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES

Abstract

If the aerosol industry maintains its present heady growth rate, it may only be a matter of time before some alarmist warns that the entire North American continent is about to disappear under a cloud of hair spray, shaving lather, and deodorant. Last year aerosol output in the U.S. and Canada shot up 31.9% from the number of units filled in 1964 and up about fivefold from a decade ago, according to the annual survey of the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA). Other specialty chemicals also registered good sales gains in 1965—but none did so well as the aerosols. Retail sales for toiletries, for example, climbed 11.5% over the previous year. Antifreeze sales, which had been down slightly in 1964, bounced back with an 8% boost in 1965. Similarly, 1965 shipments of soap-type liquid floor cleaners and wax strippers were up more than 17% over 1964. And, synthetic detergent sales kept up their steady pace—gaining ...