Chemical Producers Plan Only Modest Increase In Capital Spending In '96

Abstract

C&EN's just-completed annual survey of significant chemical producers shows they plan modest increases in capital spending next year. A mix of 20 large- and medium-sized chemical companies surveyed by C&EN plans to increase worldwide capital spending in 1996 an average of 6% from 1995 to $7.6 billion. Nine of them plan double-digit increases, ranging from 11 to 47%. Others, however, plan only modest increases, no increases, or significant decreases from 1995 capital spending. The companies in the survey estimate that their plant and equipment spending this year increased an average of 11% from 1994 to a total of $7.1 billion. Between 1991 and 1994, the 20 companies collectively decreased capital spending from $8.1 billion to $6.4 billion. A subset of 11 of these chemical producers also broke out spending plans for the U.S. and say they will increase capital spending in the U.S. an average of 10% to $2.3 billion in 1996. U.S. spending for the ...