French chemical industry rebounds

Officials of the French chemical industry have given a glowing report on their industry's performance in 1994. This news reinforces the picture of regained economic strength throughout the chemical industry last year, following a poor 1993. And they predict that the industry will consolidate its gains in 1995, with continued growth. According to Francis Bazile, president of the Union of Chemical Industries (UIC), the French chemical industry association, 1994 was "a year of strong growth." Production in the French chemical industry last year was up 5.6% over 1993, which had a modest, "relatively respectable" growth of 1.5% over 1992, according to Bazile. That increase was not as great as, but the decline had not been as steep as, that of chemical industry production in Western Europe as a whole. European production rebounded 6% from 1993, after a 1.6% annual drop in 1993 (C&EN, March 13, page 23). Sales for the industry were up 7%. However, ...