Global chemical production up in July, but year-over year gains slow, ACC says

Scott Jenkins

World production totals for the chemical industry rose in July, with the Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) up 4.4% on the basis of a year-over-year (Y/Y), three-month moving average. However, the production pace has slowed, according the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com).

 

“Gains in the global chemical industry production have slowed on a Y/Y basis,” ACC says. “There has been a marked deceleration, and in some countries and regions, a downturn.” In addition, the ACC report says that most leading indicators of global industrial activity signal further softness.

 

Production in North America, was up 2.4% Y/Y, while Latin American chemical output fell by 0.4%. Chemical production in Western Europe rose by 1.1%, but the pace there has “moderated sharply since mid-2010,” the report notes. Compared to the previous month, however, the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index fell 0.3% in July, following a decline by the same amount in June.

 

In Central and Eastern Europe, Y/Y chemical production was up 3.8%, and Africa and Middle East was off 2.4%, although the trend there has been positive since April 2009.

 

Led by China and the Philippines, Y/Y chemical production in the Asia-Pacific region showed strong gains, but with other countries of that region showing modest gains or weakness, ACC said. Japan continued to negatively affect the region’s output, although recovery from the earthquake and tsunami disasters is underway, the report adds.

http://www.che.com/only_on_che/latest_news/Global-chemical-production-up-in-July-but-year-over-year-gains-slow-ACC-says_8419.html

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IPC World PCB Production Report shows 19 percent growth in 2010

Worldwide production of printed circuit boards (PCBs) grew by 19 percent over 2009 to nearly $55 billion, according to the World PCB Production Report for the Year 2010, recently released by IPC -  Association Connecting Electronics Industries®. Published annually, the report offers consensus estimates of PCB production value by country and by product category, and analysis on global and regional PCB industry trends. This year’s report includes special sections on trends in the HDI/microvia and metal-core PCB markets.

Approximately 2,600 PCB fabricators produced an estimated $54.772 billion (U.S.) in 2010. PCB production grew in all regions in 2010 as the industry recovered from the recession. Production grew by 6.9 percent in North America, 14.4 percent in Europe and 21.1 percent in Asia, increasing Asia’s share of world PCB production to 87 percent. Rigid-flex was the highest growth category. Metal-core PCBs, while less than one percent of world PCB production, was the second fastest growing category in 2010.

World PCB Production Report for the Year 2010 was developed by the World Market Consensus Committee, comprising the world’s leading analysts in the electronic interconnection industry. Using a consensus process, committee members pool their own information and review data from other sources to produce this annual report. The committee members include Michael Gasch of Data4PCB, Mark Hutton of BPA Consulting Ltd., Harvey Miller of Fabfile Online, Hayao Nakahara of N.T. Information Ltd. and Phil Plonski of Prismark Partners.

The report is available only to IPC members free of charge and can be accessed at www.ipc.org/World-Report-2010. Nonmembers may purchase the report for $1,050 and receive a one-year facility membership in IPC, which includes many other member benefits. To purchase the report, visit www.ipc.org/2010-World-Report. Information on IPC membership is available at www.ipc.org/membership.

For more information on the World PCB Production Report for the Year 2010 or other IPC market research studies and reports, contact Sharon Starr, IPC director of market research, at +1 847-597-2817 orSharonStarr@ipc.org.

http://www.globalsmt.net/smt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14520&s=n&Itemid=396

NASA satellite images Irene, one-third size of East Coast

Hurricane Irene is a major hurricane, and NASA satellite data shows its diameter is now about one-third the length of the U.S. Atlantic coastline. Meanwhile, far in the eastern Atlantic Ocean a tenth tropical depression formed. One satellite image captured both storms and shows the tremendous difference in their size.

NOAA's GOES-13 satellite saw Hurricane Irene moving through the Bahamas on August 25, 2011 at 10:02 a.m. EDT and far to the east off the African coast was newly born Tropical Depression 10. The GOES-13 image shows Irene to be almost one third of the size of the U.S. east coast. The distance from Augusta, Maine, to Miami, Fla., is 1,662.55 miles. Hurricane Irene's tropical storm-force winds extend 255 miles from the center making Irene 510 miles in diameter, almost one-third the size of the U.S. Hurricane-force winds extend 70 miles from the center, or 140 miles in diameter.

GOES-13 images and animations are created at NASA's GOES Project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

NASA satellites are providing valuable data to forecasters to assist them in the forecasts for Irene's track and power. As of this morning, a Hurricane Watch is now in effect for the coastal U.S.

On Thursday morning, August 24, a hurricane warning is in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has also issued the first watch for the U.S. east coast. A hurricane watch is in effect for north of Surf City, North Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia border including the Pamlico, Albemarle, and Currituck Sounds. A tropical storm watch is in effect for north of Edisto Beach, South Carolina to Surf City North Carolina.

NASA satellites are flying above Hurricane Irene, providing forecasters at NHC with temperature, pressure, wind, and cloud and sea surface temperature data. All of those things are critical in helping forecasters determine how Irene will behave and track.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Hurricane Irene's eye directly over Crooked Island in the southern Bahamas on August 24, 2011 at 18:15 UTC (2:15 p.m. EDT).

By 11 a.m. EDT on August 25, Irene had moved north and was 75 miles (105 km) east-northeast of Nassau near 25.9 North latitude and 76.8 West longitude. Irene's winds dropped slightly from 120 mph (195 kmh) to 115 mph (kmh) and it was moving to the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 kmh). The NHC, however, noted that some further strengthening is possible today and tonight.

Irene's minimum central pressure has fallen from 954 to 951 millibars since the day before, indicating the storm is still intensifying despite the slight temporary drop in maximum sustained winds.

click to enlarge NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Hurricane Irene's eye directly over Crooked Island in the southern Bahamas on August 24, 2011 at 12:15 p.m. EDT. Photo: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response

Hurricane-force wind gusts were already reaching Nassau at 8 a.m. EDT. Hurricane force winds are spreading over the northwestern Bahamas this morning and the central Bahamas are still being battered by hurricane or tropical storm force winds, which will diminish later today as Irene moves away.

Residents in South Florida are also under warnings for dangerous rip currents and high surf along the eastern shores through Friday, August 26. A tropical storm warning in effect for the offshore marine waters of Palm Beach County, Florida beyond 20 nautical miles, and at 5:30 a.m. EDT this morning, rainbands spreading west over the adjacent Atlantic waters. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected along the south Florida coast today and tonight.

Far in the eastern Atlantic, Tropical Depression 10 formed about 435 miles (700 km) west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. It was centered near 12.4 North and 30.4 West, and moving to the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 kmh). Tropical Depression 10 (TD10) has maximum sustained winds near 35 mph (55 kmh) and may become a tropical storm in the next day or two. It is not expected to be a threat to the U.S. and is expected to remain at sea.

In the meantime, evacuation plans are already under way in North Carolina for the massive Hurricane Irene.

Updates on Irene's strength and forecast track can be found at the National Hurricane Center's website:www.nhc.noaa.gov. Follow NASA's Hurricane coverage on Facebook and Twitter and at the NASA Hurricane Web page: www.nasa.gov/hurricane.