PLASTICS ADDITIVES

Plastics additives continue to be one of the most rapidly changing and unpredictable businesses within the specialty chemicals segment. Because of the economic crisis in Asia and pricing pressures, particularly in antioxidants, light stabilizers, and plasticizers, the global market in dollars actually declined 1% from 1996 to 1998 to $15 billion, although volume increased nearly 6%. "This slight pause will not affect future growth estimates for this dynamic market," says Fred Gastrock, Project Manager for a new study entitled Chemical Additives for Plastics - 1999. "We still expect to see market growth in the 5% per year range over the next five years, with total worldwide volume exceeding 20 billion pounds by 2003."

For more information, regarding the study, contact Lou Kattas or Fred Gastrock, TownsendTarnell, Inc., P.O. Box 90327, Houston, TX 77290, 281-873-8733, Fax: 281-875-1915, E-mail: lkattas or fgastrock@townsendtarnell.com, Web: www. townsendtarnell.com.