EU chemicals production softened in August by 0.1% on the month, weighed down by lower activity levels in Germany, Italy and the UK, initial data from statistical agency Eurostat showed Wednesday.
The seasonally adjusted sector index for the 27-country bloc eased to 102.5 points and annual growth slowed to 0.5%. Across the 17-member eurozone, output firmed 0.1% to 104.4 points, standing 0.2% above the prior-year level.
Germany, Italy and the UK recorded on-month drops of 0.4%, 0.9% and 1.8% respectively, whereas production in France rose 0.4% and in Spain firmed 1.9%.
Versus the previous year, chemical output fell 1.2% in Germany and shrank 4% in Italy in an 8-month downtrend, while rises were recorded in France (5.7%), the UK (6.3%) and Spain (2%). Ireland continued to stand out with a 33.6% on-year jump, marking the fifth month of double-digit growth.
On the segment level, Eurostat's estimates indicate a 0.2% on-month decrease in EU base chemicals output, with a 1.9% drop in the inorganic base chemicals group, a 0.5% fall for plastics in primary forms and a 0.7% rise for organic base chemicals.
Over the first eight months, EU factories produced 2.7% more chemical products than a year ago and eurozone output was up 2.8%. European industry federation Cefic recently cut its full-year output forecast for the sector to 2.5% from 4.5%.
