Production Nearly Flat In January But Down In February '05

SALES AND CAPTIVE USE NEARLY FLAT FOR PERIOD WHEN COMPARED TO 2004

ARLINGTON, Va. (May 3, 2004) – U.S. production of plastic resin totaled 7.1 billion pounds in January 2005 and 6.7 billion pounds in February 2005, an increase of 1.9 and a decrease of 0.1 percent respectively when compared to the same months in 2004, according to statistics released today by the American Plastics Council (APC). January 2005 production was up 0.1 percent from December 2004, but February 2005 production was down 5.3 percent from January 2005. Overall production during the first two months of 2005 totaled 13.8 billion pounds, a 0.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2004.

Sales and captive (internal) use of plastic resins in January 2005 totaled 6.7 billion pounds, a decrease of 3.8 percent from the same month one year earlier. Sales and captive use of plastic resins in February 2005 totaled 6.6 billion pounds, an increase of 3.6 percent from the same month in 2004. January 2005 sales and captive use were up 0.4 percent from December 2004, but February 2005 sales and captive use were down 1.5 percent from January 2005. Sales and captive use in the first two months of 2005 totaled 13.2 billion pounds, a decrease of 0.3 percent compared to the same period in 2004.

The January and February figures are based on primary data for selected major plastics materials as compiled by VERIS Consulting, LLC, for APC's Plastics Industry Producers' Statistics Group.

Source: The American Plastics Council