First Quarter 2008 Reported Chemical Processing Industry Spending Peaks in March

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--March was a standout month for the North American Chemical Processing Industry (CPI) with more than $2.5 billion in new project reports generated by the research staff of Industrial Info during the month. Nearly $790 million of that project activity was composed of 65 projects identified for the first time. Despite the economic woes felt by most during the first quarter related to the credit, finance and energy markets, the CPI continues to plan major projects aimed at expected growth in the global economy.

The largest of new projects reported last month include plans by Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) (Midland, Michigan) to add a new chlor-alkali unit at its Freeport, Texas, complex replacing older technology in operation in Plant B. Civil construction could begin this fall after a general construction partner is selected in the summer. Another very significant project identified this last month is plans by CF Industries Incorporated (Deerfield, Illinois) to build a uranium-extraction plant in Plant City, Florida. The studies for this project are very early as CF Industries evaluates technology and the potential for removing uranium from phosphoric rock producing an estimated 900,000 pounds per year of product.

In addition to the new reports generated in March, the research staff of Industrial Info updated or verified the status of more than 270 previously reported projects valued at more than $8.4 billion. This research resulted in the confirmation of more than 130 active projects valued at more than $3.8 billion in total investment value (TIV) that continue to move forward.

The new reports generated in March represent a wide spectrum of the sectors within the CPI. Spending in several of the core sectors including industrial gases, petrochemicals, plastics and agricultural chemicals gathered almost equal attention with each having spending that reached $200 million or more.

As the year continues to progress the effects of a political year, as well as the cost of crude oil and other feedstock, will show what influence they have on the long-term outlook for the CPI. So far spending and momentum of the industry doesn't appear to be greatly affected by any of these factors as the number of active projects appears to continue increasing each month.

View Plant Profile - 1017655 1007547
View Project Report - 01012060 05003122

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is a marketing information service specializing in industrial process, energy and financial related markets with products and services ranging from industry news, analytics, forecasting, plant and project databases, as well as multimedia services.