Organic Commodity

Chemicals

USITC Publication 3590

March 2003

OFFICE OF INDUSTRIES

U.S. International Trade Commission

Washington, DC 20436
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

This report was prepared principally by

Gary F. Stolz

Organic and Inorganic Chemicals Branch

Energy, Chemicals, and Textiles Division

Additional input provided by

Elizabeth R. Nesbitt

Chief, Organic and Inorganic Chemicals Branch

Vern Simpson

Robert A. Rogowsky

Address all communications to

Secretary to the Commission

United States International Trade Commission

Washington, DC 20436

Director of Operations

Director of Industries

COMMISSIONERS

Marcia E. Miller

Deanna Tanner Okun, Chairman

Jennifer A. Hillman, Vice Chairman

Stephen Koplan

Under the direction of

John J. Gersic

Chief, Energy, Chemicals and Textiles Division
 1

 The information and analysis provided in this report are for the purposes of this report only.

Nothing in this report should be construed to indicate how the Commission would find in an

investigation conducted under statutory authority covering the same or similar subject matter.

i

PREFACE

In 1991 the United States International Trade Commission initiated its current Industry and

Trade Summary series of informational reports on the thousands of products imported into

and exported from the United States. Each summary addresses a different

commodity/industry area and contains information on product uses, U.S. and foreign

producers, and customs treatment. Also included is an analysis of the basic factors affecting

trends in consumption, production, and trade of the commodity, as well as those bearing on

the competitiveness of U.S. industries in domestic and foreign markets.1

 This report on

organic commodity chemicals covers the period 1997-2001.

iii

CONTENTS

Page

Preface ................................................................... i

Abstract ................................................................. 1

Introduction ........................................................... 3

U.S. industry profile ................................................. 7

U.S. market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Consumer characteristics and factors affecting demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

U.S. trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

U.S. imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Principal suppliers and import levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Tariff and nontariff measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

U.S. government trade-related investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

U.S. exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Principal markets and export levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Foreign trade measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Foreign industry profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Middle East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
iv

CONTENTS-Continued

Page

Appendixes

A. Tariff and trade agreement terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

B. Statistical tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Figures

1. Benzene chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. Xylene chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3. Chemical mergers and acquisitions worldwide, 1997-2001 .......................... 8

Tables

1. Organic commodity chemicals: Harmonized Tariff Schedule 

classification, 2001 .................................................... 7

2. Organic commodity chemicals: import-to-consumption ratio, 1997-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3. Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. production, exports of domestic 

merchandise, imports for consumption, and apparent consumption, 

1997-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

4. Organic commodity chemicals: productivity and unit labor costs, 1997-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . 15

5. Relative price history of crude petroleum and natural gas, 1987-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6. Trade balance of certain commodity chemicals, 1997-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7. Organic commodity chemicals: Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading; 

description; U.S. column 1, Special, and column 2 rates of duty 

as of Jan. 1, 2002; U.S. imports, 2001; and U.S. exports, 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

B-1. Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. imports for consumption, by 

principal sources, 1997-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2

B-2. Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, 

by principal markets, 1997-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7
OMB No.: 3117--0188

03/03

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Industry and Trade Summary: Organic Commodity Chemicals

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ITS: Organic Commodity Chemicals
1

ABSTRACT

This report addresses trade and industry conditions for the organic commodity

chemicals, also known as petrochemicals, a category of chemicals derived from

crude petroleum. These chemicals are used primarily as intermediates in the

production of a wide variety of downstream goods, including plastics and

apparel. The period of study is from 1997 through 2001.

• The U.S. organic commodity chemicals industry produced an

average $18.9 billion of these goods each year during 1997-2001.

The average annual trade surplus during this period was

$600 million.

• The largest U.S. export markets of these products were Mexico and

Canada, which accounted for approximately 41 percent of all

exports by value (or $3.17 billion) in 2001. Major U.S. import

sources included Canada, Venezuela, and Nigeria, which together

accounted for approximately 53 percent of these imports by value

(or $2.49 billion) in 2001.

• Consumers of these chemicals typically use them as intermediates

in numerous products, including plastics, adhesives, and nylon

fibers. There is little or no quality differentiation between

domestically-produced commodity chemicals and U.S. imports. The

global market is highly competitive and large fluctuations in

domestic production, imports, and exports regularly occur. These

fluctuations are caused by a variety of factors that include demand

for downstream goods, cost of feedstocks, transportation costs, and

producer efficiency. In particular, the general economic decline in

2001 contributed to the decline in U.S. production levels for that

year.

 1

 Although the xylenes are usually produced directly from crude petroleum or toluene rather than from

benzene, they share the aromatic ring structure of the other benzene derivatives and are sold in a similar

fashion, and are thus included in the scope of this report. Highly specialized benzene derivatives, usually

produced in smaller quantities, are not included in the organic commodity chemicals classification and are

not considered in this report.

 2

 “Ethylbenzene,” Apr. 30, 2001, found at http://www.chemexpo.com/news/ profile010430.cfm, retrieved

Jan. 7, 2002.

 3

 Commission telephone conversations with industry sources.

3

INTRODUCTION

The organic commodity chemicals are a group of petroleum-derivative chemicals (also

known as petrochemicals) used as intermediates to produce other chemicals, which, in turn,

are used to manufacture a wide variety of end-use products, including construction materials,

apparel, adhesives, plastics, and tires (figures 1 and 2). The majority of the organic

commodity chemicals are derived from benzene, a petroleum derivative itself, which has an

unsaturated ring of six carbon atoms (also known as an aromatic ring).1

 Examples of specific

compounds in this group include ethylbenzene, styrene, cumene, phenol, cyclohexane,

aniline, ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, and terephthalic acid.

As commodities, the chemicals produced by one manufacturer are virtually indistinguishable

from those of another manufacturer, given the same levels of purity. This fungibility of

goods allows consumers to purchase similar product from a wide variety of suppliers,

making price the dominant economic factor in purchasing decisions. Total domestic

production of the organic commodity chemicals in 2001 approached $18.2 billion. A brief

summary of the six largest organic commodity chemicals, ranked by domestic production

value in 2001, follows (for more information on production levels, see the section later in

this report entitled “U.S. Market”).

Ethylbenzene is an intermediary chemical, 99 percent of which is used in the production of

styrene monomer,2

 which is itself a precursor of polystyrene and other materials.

Ethylbenzene is commonly produced by the alkylation of benzene with ethylene in the

presence of aluminum chloride catalyst. Recently, several manufacturers have begun using

zeolite catalysts in place of aluminum chloride to improve yields and purity levels. In

addition to the various manufacturing processes, it can also be separated directly from crude

petroleum, although industry sources state that this method of production is seldom used

because of typically higher production costs.3

 Ethylbenzene is primarily used captively, with

little reaching the merchant market. As a result, U.S. price data are not readily available,

although some plants use an internal charge to allocate costs. Domestic production in 2001

was valued at $2.5 billion. 
4 

Figure 1 

Benzene Chain 

 

Source: American Chemistry Council (ACC). Modified by staff of the U.S. International Trade Commission. 

Reprinted with permission of the ACC. 

Crude 

Oil 

Ethylene 

Cracker 

Benzene

Ethylebenzene Styrene

Polystyrene 

Resins 

Insulation, 

Cups, 

Models 

Styrene 

Acrylonitrile 

Resins 

Instrument 

Lenses, 

Houseware

Styrene 

Butadiene 

Rubber 

Tires, 

Footwear,

Sealants

Styrene 

Butadiene 

Latex 

Carpet 

Backing, 

Paper 

Coatings 

Miscellaneous 

Cumene 

Acetone 

Phenol 

Bisphenol 

A 

Phenolic 

Resins 

Miscellaneous 

Polycarbonate 

Resins 

Epoxy 

Resins 

Football 

Helmets, 

Eyeglasses, 

Computers 

Protective 

Coatings,

Adhesives 

Plywood, 

Coatings, 

Housings 

Cyclohexane 

Adipic 

Acid 

Caprolactam 

Miscellaneous 

Nylon Fibers 

& Resins 

Miscellaneous 

Nylon Fibers 

& Resins 

Aniline 

Isocyanates 

Rubber Chemicals 

Pesticides 

Dyes 

Miscellaneous 

Chlorobenzenes 

Miscellaneous

Pesticides, Dyes
5 

Figure 2 

Xylene Chain 

Source: American Chemistry Council (ACC). Modified by staff of the U.S. International Trade Commission. 

Reprinted with permission of the ACC.

Plastic 

Products 

Crude Oil Xylene 

o-Xylene 

m-Xylene 

p-Xylene 

Phthalic 

Anhydride 

Isophthalic 

Acid 

Terephthalic Acid/Dimethyl Terephthalate 

Plasticizer 

D.O.P. 

Alkyd 

Resins 

Solvents & 

Misc. Alkyd 

Resins 

Auto Parts, 

Coatings, 

Furniture 

Solvents 

Dyes 

TV 

Parts 

Polyester Fibers 

for Apparel, PET 

Resins for Bottles, 

Tapes & Films 

Polyester 

Polyol Urethanes Foams, 

Insulation 

Polyamide 

Resins 

Adhesives 

Unsaturated 

Polyesters 
 4

 “Styrene,” May 14, 2001, found at http://www.chemexpo.com/news/profile010430.cfm, retrieved 

Jan. 7, 2002.

 5

 “PTA/DMT,” Chemical Market Reporter, Oct. 22, 2001.

 6

 Isomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas.

 7

 “Paraxylene,” May 11, 1998, found at http://www.chemexpo.com/news/ profile980515.cfm, retrieved

Jan. 7, 2002.

 8

 “Cumene,” Mar. 22, 1999, found at http://www.chemexpo.com/news/profile990322.cfm, retrieved Jan.7,

2002.

6

Styrene monomer (or simply “styrene”) is made predominantly through dehydrogenation of

ethylbenzene, although a major producer uses an alternative method of oxidation of

ethylbenzene, which produces co-products propylene oxide and styrene. Uses for styrene are

varied, including the production of polystyrene (accounting for 66 percent of styrene

consumption), plastics, rubber, and resins.4

 These secondary products are then used in the

manufacture of automotive interiors, boat hulls, paper coatings, pipes, and CD cases.

Domestic styrene production in 2001 was valued at $1.9 billion.

Terephthalic acid is produced primarily from para-xylene feedstocks. As an intermediate

chemical, it is further processed into purified terephthalic acid (PTA). Approximately

50 percent of PTA is used for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins and

43 percent is used for the production of polyester fibers.5

 Domestic production in 2001 was

valued at $2.1 billion.

Para-xylene (p-xylene) is one of three distinct isomers6

 of the xylene molecule, the other two

being ortho-xylene (o-xylene) and meta-xylene (m-xylene). p-Xylene is used almost

exclusively for production of purified terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate, which,

in turn, are used in polyester fiber for textiles, PET resins for beverage containers, and a

variety of films and other resins.7

 Domestic production in 2001 was valued at $1.8 billion.

Virtually all domestic cumene production is oxidized to cumene hydroperoxide, which is

then cleaved catalytically to produce phenol and acetone.8

 This method results in

approximately 0.62 pounds of acetone per pound of phenol produced. Domestic cumene

production in 2001 was valued at $1.5 billion. End-uses for phenol include bisphenol-A

(primarily used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonates), phenolic resins, and

caprolactam. Domestic phenol production in 2001 was valued at $1.4 billion.
 9

 William J. Storck, “Top 100 Shrinks to 75,” Chemical & Engineering News, May 3, 1999, p. 19.

7

U.S. INDUSTRY PROFILE

Organic commodity chemicals, as defined in this report, are classified in chapter 29 of the

Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States. A complete listing can be found in

table 1. Applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) U.S. National

Industry codes include 325110, Petrochemical Manufacturing, and 325199, All Other Basic

Organic Chemical Manufacturing. 

Table 1

Organic commodity chemicals: Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification, 2001

HTS

subheading Chemical name

2902.11.00 Cyclohexane

2902.19.00 Dicyclopentadiene and other cyclanes, cyclenes, and cycloterpenes

2902.41.00 ortho-Xylene

2902.42.00 meta-Xylene

2902.43.00 para-Xylene

2902.50.00 Styrene

2902.60.00 Ethylbenzene

2902.70.00 Cumene

2902.90.10 Pseudocumene

2902.90.20 Acenaphthene, chrysene, cymene, dimethylnapthalenes, fluoranthene, fluorene, indene,

mesitylene, methylanthracene, methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene

2902.90.30 Alkylbenzenes (including dodecylbenzene) and polyalkylbenzenes

2902.90.40 Anthracene; and 1,4-di-(2- methylstyryl)benzene

2902.90.60 Biphenyl (diphenyl), in flakes

2902.90.90 Other cyclic hydrocarbons

2906.12.00 Cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanols and dimethylcyclohexanols

2907.11.00 Phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts

2917.35.00 Phthalic anhydride

2917.36.00 Terephthalic acid and its salts

2917.37.00 Dimethyl terephthalate

2921.41.10 Aniline

2921.41.20 Aniline salts

2933.71.00 6-Hexanelactam (epsilon-caprolactam)

Source: USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2002.

Producers of these chemicals include a combination of petroleum refineries and traditional

chemical manufacturers. For example, refineries are the major producers of the xylene

isomers, which are direct derivatives of crude petroleum, and of the immediate downstream

products of crude petroleum. Chemical manufacturers are the major producers of styrene,

caprolactam, and aniline. However, both types of firms do produce both groups of products.

The domestic chemical industry has undergone significant consolidation via mergers and

acquisitions during 1997-2001. In this period, Chemical and Engineering News changed its

annual overview of domestic chemicals producers from the top 100 producers to the top 75.9

This change was a result of the extensive consolidation in the chemicals industry of

companies of all sizes. The annual value of mergers and acquisitions among chemical

producers worldwide ranged from $33 billion in 1997 and 2000 to $38 billion in 1999 (see
 10 Joseph Chang, “The Forecast for Petchems,” Chemical Market Reporter, Oct. 15, 2001, 

p. e32.

 11 Sean Milmo, “Taking on the Petchems Challenge,” Chemical Market Reporter, Oct. 15, 2001, p. e22.

8

Figure 3

Chemical mergers and acquisitions worldwide, 1997-2001

figure 3). The largest acquisition in the United States during this period was Dow’s

$9 billion purchase of Union Carbide, which was announced in 1999 but did not close until

2001. Other notable consolidations among the petrochemical producers included the creation

of ExxonMobil Chemical (1999), Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition of Arco Chemical (1998),

and the creation of two joint ventures (Chevron Phillips Chemical LP (2000) and Equistar

Chemicals LP (1997)).10 Because of economies of scale and the highly competitive

marketplace, midlevel companies are often unable to compete effectively in the

petrochemicals markets.11 Small companies (corporations with sales under $200 million)

often do not produce organic commodity chemicals but instead produce specialty chemicals.

These specialty chemicals are marketed on factors other than price. Specialty chemicals are

not included in the scope of this summary.
 12 “Healthy Demand Is Boosting Fibres on the Mend,” Chemical Market Reporter, Oct. 2, 2000, pp. 62-

63. The facility is a joint venture between Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC (CPChem) and Saudi

Industrial Investment Group. CPChem, in turn, is a joint venture of ChevronTexaco Corp. and Phillips

Petroleum Co. “Saudi Chevron Phillips Company Expands Cyclohexane Capacity,” Chevron Phillips

Chemical Company LLC, press release, Mar. 7, 2002.

 13 “Aniline,” Chemical Week, Dec. 12, 2001, p. 31. The planned project would be a joint venture between

BASF, Huntsman, Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical, Shanghai Hua Yi, Sinopec, and Sinopec Shanghai Gao

Quiao.

 14 Sean Milmo, “Taking on the Petchems Challenge,” p. e22.

 15 U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, NAICS subsector code 325 -- Chemical Manufacturing.

 16 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Domestic Product by Industry in

Current Dollars As a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product, 1994-2000, Nov. 2, 2001, p. 4.

 17 U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, NAICS U.S. National Industry code 325110 --

Petrochemical Manufacturing.

 18 Ibid.

 19 McGraw Hill Companies and U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration,

U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook 2000, p. 11-6.

9

In addition to consolidation within the domestic industry during 1997-2001, there was also

an increase in joint ventures in foreign production facilities, particularly in the Middle East,

given the large indigenous supplies of crude petroleum. Two examples of such investment

include the startup in 2000 of Saudi Chevron’s cyclohexane facility in Al Jubail, Saudi

Arabia,12 and the prospective startup in 2004 of an aniline production facility in Shanghai,

China.13 Globalization is likely to continue because of economies of scale and to ensure

reliable access to crude petroleum.14

Most of the organic commodity chemicals have more than 10 domestic producers, even after

the recent increase in mergers. No single company is a major producer of all of the organic

commodity chemicals. Instead, firms tend to focus on a few of the related products. For

example, the largest producers of styrene are also the largest producers of ethylbenzene, a

precursor of styrene. The petroleum refineries, such as BP, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Sunoco,

tend to be the major producers of the xylene isomers, since these products are usually

produced directly from crude petroleum. 

Domestic manufacturing of organic commodity chemicals is centered in the Louisiana/Texas

area. Close proximity to a deep water port, natural stores of crude petroleum, and refining

facilities all serve to minimize transportation costs and allow for multiple processing steps

to take place in a single location. A large majority of the major domestic producers have

production facilities in this area. 

Overall, the domestic chemical manufacturing industry produced $420 billion in industry

shipments in 1997.15 Chemicals and allied products ranged from 1.9 percent to 2.0 percent

of gross domestic product (GDP) between 1997 and 2000.16 The domestic petrochemical

manufacturing sector produced $20.5 billion in industry shipments in 1997, with

54 establishments within the United States.17 The U.S. petrochemical manufacturing industry

had 10,943 paid employees and an average payroll of $60,611 per employee.18

Many of the commodity chemicals are available for purchase at specific purity levels, which

minimizes the difficulty of switching supply sources. As a result, pricing and currency

fluctuations are major determinants in choosing suppliers.19 Because most product is sold

free on board, freight costs and, by extension, distance between buyer and seller, are also
 20 T. Kevin Swift et al, Guide to the Business of Chemistry, American Chemistry Council (ACC), 2001,

p. 85.

 21 Neil Franz, “Economic Woes Hurt Investment in R&D,” Chemical Week, Dec. 5, 2001, p. 57; also

based on conversations with industry sources.

 22 Guide to the Business of Chemistry, ACC, 2001, p. 84. 

 23 Ibid.

 24 Based on Commission telephone conversations with industry sources.

 25 Malini Hariharan, “Demand Rises as Economies Recover,” Chemical Market Reporter, May 22, 2000,

p. S52.

 26 T. Kevin Swift and Martha Moore, “US Chemical Industry Outlook: Trade and Domestic Demand,”

Chemical Market Reporter, June 18, 2001, p. 33.

 27 “Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, is the generic term for a group of highly reactive gases, all of which contain

nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts. Many of the nitrogen oxides are colorless and odorless. However,

one common pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) along with particles in the air can often be seen as a

reddish-brown layer over many urban areas. Nitrogen oxides form when fuel is burned at high temperatures,

as in a combustion process. The primary sources of NOx are motor vehicles, electric utilities, and other

industrial, commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

“NOx: What Is It? Where Does It Come From?”, Mar. 22, 2002, found at Internet address

http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/what.html, retrieved Mar. 14, 2003.

10

relevant. Pricing of the organic commodity chemicals products is often closely tied to

benzene prices, which are similarly tied to crude petroleum feedstock prices. The industry

uses a combination of long-term pricing contracts and a spot market to conduct sales. Several

periodicals regularly publish trade list prices for a variety of these chemicals; however, these

prices do not always accurately reflect true contract prices, as many companies consider

purchasing terms to be confidential information.

Research and development (R&D) spending in the basic industrial chemicals industry, which

includes both organic and inorganic chemicals, increased from $3.95 billion in 1994 to $5.69

billion in 2000.20 However, R&D spending in 2001 decreased by 7 percent to $5.3 billion,

primarily as a result of the poor market conditions in that year.21 Typically, R&D spending

is approximately 5 percent of annual sales and is divided into three different categories: basic

research aimed at discovering new scientific facts in the general realm; applied research

performed with the intent of using known compounds to achieve a specific goal or result;

and developmental research converting scientific knowledge into a form usable by

consumers.22 From 1991 to 2000, total research expenditures in the chemical industry have

been divided as follows on average: 11 percent toward basic research, 33 percent toward

applied research, and 56 percent toward developmental research.23

Feedstock costs are the highest variable cost in production of the organic commodity

chemicals.24 The larger producers integrate feedstocks and derivatives production in order

to minimize production costs and price fluctuations. Smaller firms do not possess this

integration flexibility, making them more susceptible to variations in feedstock price swings.

When feedstock prices rise, manufacturers often lower operating rates or suspend production

if price increases are not possible.25 Some producers have the ability to switch feedstocks in

order to obtain better market prices. 

The industry has faced numerous challenges during the past few years, many of which

continue today, including issues related to the environment, fluctuations in energy prices,

varying global demand levels, and changes in the strength of the U.S. dollar.26 One ongoing

environmental challenge that could affect domestic producers’ competitiveness in world

markets is the required reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in Texas.27 In 2000, the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asked the Texas Natural Resources Conservation

Commission (TNRCC) to develop a state implementation plan for the Houston, Dallas-Fort
 28 Carol Cole, “Lawmakers Propose Tax Break for NOx Reduction Effort,” Octane Week, Apr. 23, 2001,

p. 1.

 29 Suzanne McElligott, “TNRCC to Decide NOx Emission Cuts Soon,” Chemical Week, May 15, 2002,

p. 21; and Peck Hwee Sim, “ ”Gulf Coast: Will Environmental Costs Crimp Growth?”, Chemical Week, May

15, 2002, p. 19.

 30 “Texas Expects Swift EPA Approval of New Clean Air Rules,” Platt’s Oilgram News, Dec. 18, 2002,

p. 6; and “New Ozone Findings Drive Strong Pollution Reduction Plan,” Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality, Press Release, Dec. 13, 2002. The revised plan, which was expected to be approved

by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would also call for a reduction of 64 percent in emissions of

certain highly reactive volatile organic compounds.

 31 Peter Fairley, “Canadian Chemicals: Running on Empty,” Chemical Week, July 19, 2000.

11

Worth, Beaumont, and San Antonio areas to improve air quality.28 The initial TNRCC

proposal to cut NOx emissions by 90 percent by 2007 would, according to some sources,

require significant expense for chemical producers with no corresponding return on

investment.29 In December 2002, however, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

passed new regulations calling for an 80 percent reduction in NOX emissions.30

U.S. MARKET

Consumer Characteristics and Factors Affecting Demand

Consumers of the organic commodity chemicals are producers of downstream chemical

derivatives. Most of the commodity chemicals are available on the merchant market,

although some of the these chemicals, such as ethylbenzene, are consumed almost entirely

on a captive basis. The markets utilize a combination of long-term contracts and a spot

market. In times of excess supply, consumers will utilize the lower-priced spot market to

build up inventory levels. 

Demand for organic commodity chemicals is closely tied to demand for derivative products,

including end products such as nylon, coatings, rubber and plastics. The demand for these,

in turn, is linked to established business sectors, such as automobiles and tires, whose

economic viability is linked to gross domestic product (GDP) and the state of the world

economy. Therefore, the GDP in any year can result in substantial changes in demand for

the chemicals covered in this report. 

Consumption

Because of the globalization of the markets for organic commodity chemicals, buyers are

able to purchase virtually identical product from many different producers, domestic or

foreign. As shown in table 2, the import-to-consumption ratio increased from 4.9 percent in

1997 to 5.9 percent in 2000, before declining to 5.8 percent in 2001. According to one

industry source, much of the increase from 1997 to 2000 was due to increased imports of

styrene. These imports, primarily from Canada, were the result of increased investment in

petrochemical manufacturing in Canada in the mid-1990s because of newly discovered stores

of natural gas.31 Ethylbenzene and terephthalic acid have import-to-consumption ratios of

1.2 percent or less because consumers are more likely to import the precursor chemicals

(benzene and para-xylene, respectively) and then produce the two products onsite. 
 32 Peck Hwee Sim, “Warning: Styrene Capacity Shortage Ahead,” Chemical Week, Sept. 13, 2000, p. 68.

 33 “Styrene Industry to Recover after Dismal 2001," Oil & Gas Journal, Feb. 4, 2002, p. 52.

 34 Ibid.

 35 Robert Brown, “PET Market is Resilient Despite U.S. Economic Drop,” Chemical Market Reporter,

July 2, 2001, p. 16.

 36 “PTA/DMT,” Chemical Market Reporter, Oct. 22, 2001, p. 31.

 37 “Phenol,” Chemweek, Jan. 9, 2002, p. 31.

12

Table 2

Organic commodity chemicals: import-to-consumption ratio, 1997-2001

(Percent, based on dollar values)

Item 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Styrene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8 5.1 8.9 15.9 24.7

Cumene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.3 9.6 11.7 14.0 12.4

para-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.2 14.2 10.0 12.7 9.4

Cyclohexane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.7 1.5 1.4 0.1 4.1

Ethylbenzene .................... (

1

) (1) (1) (1) 0.8

Phenol (hydroxybenzene) . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 5.4 6.0 1.8 0.6

6-Hexanelactam (epsiloncaprolactam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 4.3 1.6 1.0 0.5

Terephthalic acid and its salts . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.2

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 3.4 3.2 3.0 2.5

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 4.3 4.5 5.9 5.8

 1

 Less than 0.05 percent.

Source: Based on official statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce, American Chemistry Council, National

Petrochemical & Refiners Association, and U.S. International Trade Commission staff estimates.

Future demand for the organic commodity chemicals depends on the conditions of the world

economy. As an example, in September 2000, industry analysts predicted a styrene growth

rate of 4.6 percent for the next 5 years, with operating rates as high as 99 percent of

capacity.32 However, the international economic downturn in 2001 resulted in an unforseen

decline in demand of 2.6 percent, the first decline in demand in almost 20 years.33 Operating

rates for styrene production declined from 92 percent to 86 percent. Demand decreased to

such an extent that industry sources estimate that operating rates and consumption volume

in this market will not recover until at least 2006.34

Production

Production levels vary in relation to changes in supply and demand. Production levels

increased irregularly during 1997-2000, from $19.0 billion to $21.3 billion, before

decreasing to $18.2 billion in 2001. Most of the chemicals followed this trend (see table 3),

with the exceptions of terephthalic acid, phenol, and cyclohexane. 

As noted previously, half of the domestic terephthalic acid output is used in the production

of PET resins, and these resins continued to maintain their historical annual growth rate of

15 percent in 2000.35 As a result, purified terephthalic acid maintained an annual growth rate

of 7.4 percent from 1997 through 2000, with a projected rate of 6 percent annually through

2004.36 Phenol production reached $1.7 billion in 1997, but ranged between $1.2 and

$1.6 billion for the period 1998 through 2001.37 Industry sources state that producers are

trying to keep production levels as low as possible because of high feedstock costs in
13

Table 3

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. production, exports of domestic merchandise,1

 imports for

consumption,2

 and apparent consumption, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Ethylbenzene:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,200,000 3,192,500 3,291,500 3,302,500 2,505,560

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,003 19,227 5,561 18,745 3,758

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,545 269 54 97 19,129

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,169,542 3,173,542 3,285,994 3,283,851 2,520,932

Terephthalic acid and its salts:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,999,998 1,553,698 1,671,891 2,032,262 2,105,340

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191,064 190,060 144,939 89,492 128,262

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,613 3,489 10,857 20,481 24,971

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,816,546 1,367,127 1,537,809 1,963,251 2,002,048

Styrene:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,192,000 2,856,500 2,981,500 3,465,500 1,857,473

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391,039 351,068 627,894 922,257 432,977

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173,427 135,127 231,177 482,223 466,679

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,974,388 2,640,560 2,584,784 3,025,466 1,891,175

para-Xylene:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,720,400 1,273,800 1,501,100 2,035,500 1,750,000

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234,965 227,558 260,747 440,708 343,664

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226,199 172,838 138,277 232,310 145,758

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,711,634 1,219,080 1,378,631 1,827,102 1,552,094

Cumene:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,270,500 1,400,700 1,317,840 1,763,000 1,495,887

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,793 69,482 62,537 123,284 68,371

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188,130 141,985 165,704 265,954 201,185

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,413,837 1,473,203 1,421,008 1,905,670 1,628,701

Phenol (hydroxybenzene):

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,704,010 1,555,840 1,182,500 1,515,000 1,431,000

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96,797 108,867 82,512 157,939 171,069

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,916 82,689 70,319 25,045 7,793

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,689,129 1,529,662 1,170,307 1,382,106 1,267,725

6-Hexanelactam (epsilon-caprolactam):

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,222,500 1,260,000 1,216,800 1,332,100 1,224,000

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119,004 108,172 86,205 96,867 98,916

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,362 52,207 18,582 12,282 6,213

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,161,858 1,204,035 1,149,177 1,247,515 1,131,297

Cyclohexane:

Production ....................... 487,256 419,566 457,812 516,250 585,000

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,208 67,304 78,461 137,584 87,343

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,718 5,452 5,241 526 21,127

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454,766 357,714 384,592 379,192 518,784

All others:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,225,376 4,320,826 4,328,869 5,303,220 5,231,380

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115,524 124,540 124,667 159,389 159,972

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159,857 146,601 137,568 161,754 127,927

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,277,097 4,348,801 4,344,296 5,309,152 5,203,098

Total:

Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,022,040 17,833,430 17,949,812 21,265,332 18,185,640

Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,283,396 1,266,276 1,473,522 2,146,265 1,494,331

Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922,767 740,657 777,781 1,200,671 1,020,782

Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,661,411 17,307,811 17,254,071 20,319,738 17,712,091 1 FAS value. 2 Customs value.

Source: Based on official statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce, American Chemistry Council, National

Petrochemical & Refiners Association, and U.S. International Trade Commission staff estimates.
 38 John Hoffman, “Phenol and Acetone Under Pressure,” Chemical Market Reporter, Feb. 19, 2001, p. 3.

 39 “Cyclohexane,” Chemical Market Reporter, May 28, 2001, p. 27.

 40 William J. Storck, “Productivity Boost For Chemical Firms,” Chemical & Engineering News, Mar. 18,

2002, p. 16.

 41 “US Chemical Industry Outlook: Trade and Domestic Demand,” p. 33.

 42 Ibid.

 43 Ibid.

 44 John Hoffman, “U.S. Petrochemical Industry Continues to Face Structural Challenges,” Chemical

Market Reporter, Aug. 13, 2001, p. 22; and T. Kevin Swift and Martha Moore, “US Chemical Industry

Outlook: Trade and Domestic Demand,” p. 33.

14

upstream cumene, weak demand, and increased global capacity in 1999 and 2000.38

Although demand for nylon fibers has decreased, demand for nylon resins has increased,

creating a balanced market for cyclohexane.39

Worker productivity levels for the organic chemicals industry varied over the 5-year period

(table 4). Using a base level of 100 in 1992, productivity ranged a low of 104.4 in 1998 to

a high of 120.1 in 2000 before declining to 106.4 in 2001. The decrease from 2000 to 2001

resulted primarily from a 14.5-percent decrease in production, despite only a 2.5-percent

reduction in production employment levels.40

The basic feedstocks and energy source for production of the organic commodity chemicals

include naphtha and natural gas. Whereas natural gas historically has been the lower priced

feedstock for domestic industries, with supplies readily available, many foreign producers

rely on naphtha, or crude petroleum, as a feedstock. For example, 70 percent of domestic

ethylene producers have the ability to use natural gas; in comparison, 70 percent of foreign

producers utilize naphtha.41 Although prices for both are variable, industry sources state that

natural gas historically has been a relatively less expensive domestic feedstock, allowing

U.S. producers a competitive advantage in world markets.42 However, since 1997, the

relative price of natural gas has increased compared to that of crude petroleum (table 5).

Higher natural gas feedstock prices reportedly have made the domestic gulf coast-based

producers less competitive than producers that use naphtha.43 In addition, the economic

downturn in many of the world markets has reduced, or at least slowed, the growth rate of

global demand for organic commodity chemicals. Because of high feedstock costs, slowing

demand, and overseas competition, domestic producers have faced a challenging

environment in recent years.44
 45 Patricia Short, “Europe’s Nexus,” Chemical & Engineering News, May 28, 2001, p. 18.

15

Table 4

Organic commodity chemicals: productivity and unit labor costs, 1997-2001

(1992=100)

Item 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

All manufacturing:

Productivity ...................... 121.8 129.5 137.1 145.4 150.3

Unit labor costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.3 90.9 88.4 86.3 86.1

Organic chemicals:

Productivity ...................... 113.1 104.4 114.6 120.1 106.4

Unit labor costs ................... 101.6 113.6 105.2 105.0 119.1

Source: “Productivity Boost For Chemical Firms,” Chemical & Engineering News, Mar. 18, 2002.

Table 5

Relative price history of crude petroleum and natural gas, 1987-2001

Average for

1987-1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Crude petroleum annual average 

price1 ........................

15.69 17.23 10.87 15.56 26.72 22.35

Natural gas annual average price 2 . . . . 1.77 2.32 1.96 2.19 3.68 4.27

Ratio of crude petroleum price to 

natural gas price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.9 7.4 5.5 7.1 7.3 5.2

 1

 Price is in dollars per barrel, domestic first purchase price. 2Price is dollars per thousand cubic feet, wellhead price.

Source: Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review.

U.S. TRADE

Overview

Trade in organic commodity chemicals is intrinsic in today’s global marketplace. Because

these chemicals are usually transported by ship, proximity to a deep water port is said to be

a major determinant in the ability of producers in a given region to compete. For example,

the United States ships most imports and exports through Houston, while northern Europe

primarily uses Rotterdam and Antwerp.45 From these and other ports worldwide, truck and

rail are used to transport product to and from manufacturing plants. 
 46 John Hoffman, “Styrene Demand and Prices Remain Weak,” Chemical Market Reporter, Sept. 10,

2001, p. 1.

 47 Ibid.

 48 “CMAI Publishes Results of 2002 World Styrene Analysis,” PRNewswire, Dec. 28, 2001.

16

The domestic organic commodity chemicals industry maintained a positive net trade balance

throughout the period 1997-2001, increasing from $361 million in 1997 to $946 million in

2000, before declining to $474 million in 2001. A significant part of this variation reflects

the trade balance in styrene. The styrene trade balance increased from $218 million in 1997

to $440 million in 2000, only to decrease to a negative trade balance of $34 million in 2001.

Although the styrene market averaged 4 percent annual growth through 1999, industry

sources estimated a 10-percent decline in demand in 2001.46 Polystyrene demand, which

accounts for two-thirds of styrene demand, slowed in the second half of 2000 to match the

slowdown in the domestic economy.47 Some analysts suggest, however, that styrene demand

in 2000 was artificially high, and demand in 2001 was artificially low because of buildups

in inventory in 2000 and subsequent depletions in 2001.48 Table 6 shows the trade balance

for several major commodity chemicals. 

Table 6

Trade balance of certain commodity chemicals, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

para-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,050 105,203 130,228 209,354 197,904

Phenol (hydroxybenzene) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,588 12,364 4,057 111,611 145,884

Terephthalic acid and its salts ........... 192,805 190,681 134,307 69,947 124,242

6-Hexanelactam (epsiloncaprolactam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60,640 55,963 67,623 84,584 92,705

Cyclohexane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,489 61,852 73,221 137,056 66,216

Aniline and its salts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11,027) (516) 3,346 13,056 12,310

meta-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7,168) 20,303 16,915 18,120 10,908

Phthalic anhydride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,568 3,766 6,619 6,867 7,803

Dicyclopentadiene and other cyclanes,

cyclenes, and cycloterpenes . . . . . 11,506 (3,934) (17,976) (4,840) 6,545

Cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanols and dimethylcyclohexanols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8,415) (4,988) (4,451) (968) 700

Dodecylbenzene ..................... (737) (2,649) (3,053) (3,133) (3,669)

Dimethyl terephthalate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,102 3,541 918 835 (3,722)

ortho-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (31,940) (37,899) (35,245) (26,300) (13,445)

Ethylbenzene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,457 18,959 5,508 18,650 (15,373)

Styrene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217,611 215,941 396,716 440,034 (33,701)

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
 49 “Cumene,” Chemical Week, Mar. 20, 2002, p. 47.

 50 Nigerian exports from 1997 through 2000 ranged from $65 million to $127 million.

17

U.S. Imports

Principal Suppliers and Import Levels

U.S. imports of organic commodity chemicals increased irregularly during 1997-2001, from

$923 million in 1997 to $1.2 billion in 2000, before declining to $1.0 billion in 2001. The

principal organic commodity chemicals imported into the United States during this period,

based on value, were styrene, cumene, and para-xylene. Together, these three products

accounted for 72 percent of the imported organic commodity chemicals during 1997-2001.

Styrene imports account for a significant portion of the fluctuation in the overall import

levels of the organic commodity chemicals. Styrene imports grew from $173 million in 1997

to $482 million in 2000 before declining to $467 million in 2001. Cumene mirrored the

overall import level fluctuations, increasing irregularly from $188 million in 1997 to

$266 million in 2000, before declining to $201 million in 2001. Phenol production, which

accounts for 95 percent of cumene demand, experienced a significant decline in demand in

2001.49

The primary suppliers of U.S. organic commodity chemical imports were Canada,

Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, all countries with domestic reserves of crude

petroleum. Canada exported $514 million of these goods in 2001 to the United States,

$462 million of which was styrene. Venezuela exported $83 million, including $47 million

in cumene and $21 million in para-xylene. Saudi Arabia exported $81 million, $40 million

of which was para-xylene. Nigeria exported $21 million in 2001, $13 million of which was

cumene.50 Combined, these four countries contributed a minimum of 51 percent of

U.S. imports of these products in 1997 to a maximum of 70 percent of imports in 2000. See

table B-1 for a list of imports by country.

Tariff and Nontariff Measures

Table 7 shows the tariff rates of duty as of January 1, 2002, for imports of the organic

commodity chemicals under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States.

The United States currently has zero tariffs on eight of the organic commodity chemicals

imported from countries with normal trade relations status; these eight products accounted

for 87 percent of imports of organic commodity chemicals in 2001. Eligible imports from

Canada, which accounted for 50 percent of organic commodity chemical imports in 2001,

enter the United States duty free under the North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA). Eligible goods from Venezuela and Nigeria, accounting for 8.1 percent and

2.1 percent respectively of 2001 U.S. imports of these products, enter duty free under the

Generalized System of Preferences. Saudi Arabia supplied 7.9 percent of U.S. imports of
Table 7

Organic commodity chemicals: Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading; description; U.S. column 1, Special, and column 2 rat

2002; U.S. imports, 2001; and U.S. exports, 2001 HTS Description

Column 1 rate of duty as ofJan. 1, 2002–

Special

Column 2 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 2002–

General 

AVE forCompoundRates

2902.11.00 Cyclohexane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4¢/kg + 2.5% 3.48% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, 

J, MX)

15.4¢/kg + 40% 

2902.19.00 Cyclanic hydrocarbons (except

cyclohexane), cyclenic hydrocarbons and cycloterpenes . . . . . . Free 25% 

2902.41.00 o-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Free 2902.42.00 m-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Free 

2902.43.00 p-Xylene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Free 

2902.50.00 Styrene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free 15.4¢/kg + 45% 2902.60.00 Ethylbenzene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2¢/kg +3.5% 3.89% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, J) 

0.1¢/kg +1.7% (MX)

15.4¢/kg + 55% 

2902.70.00 Cumene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Free 2902.90.10 Pseudocumene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Free 

2902.90.20 Acenaphthene, chrysene, cymene,

dimethylnaphthalenes,fluoranthene, fluorene, indene,mesitylene, and other specifiedcyclic hydrocarbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Free 

2902.90.30 Alkylbenzenes and polyalkylbenzenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2¢/kg + 3.5% 3.78% Free (A+, CA, D, E, IL, 

J) 0.1¢/kg +1.7% (MX)

15.4¢/kg + 55% 

2902.90.40 Anthracene and 1,4-di-(2-

methylstyryl)benzene . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, J) 

1% (MX)

15.4¢/kg + 68.5% 

2902.90.60 Biphenyl (diphenyl), in flakes . . . . . . . 2.1% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, J) 15.4¢/kg + 68.5% 2902.90.90 Cyclic hydrocarbons, nesoi . . . . . . . . . 2.1% Free (A+, CA, D, E, IL, 

J, K) 1% (MX)

15.4¢/kg + 68.5% 

See footnote at end of table.

18
Table 7–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading; description; U.S. column 1, Special, and column 2 rat

2002; U.S. imports, 2001; and U.S. exports, 2001 HTS Description

Column 1 rate of duty as ofJan. 1, 2002–

 Special Column 2

General 

AVE forCompoundRates

2906.12.00 Cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanols

and dimethylcyclohexanols- . . . . . . 0.7¢/kg + 7.8% 7.80% Free (A+, CA, D,

E, IL, J, MX)0.9¢/kg + 6% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 53.5% 

2907.11.00 Phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts 5.5% Free (A*, CA, E, IL,

J, MX) 2.7% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 44% 

2917.35.00 Phthalic anhydride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5¢/kg + 6.9% 7.76% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, J, K, 

MX) 0.5¢/kg + 3.6% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 49% 

2917.36.00 Terephthalic acid and its salts . . . . . . 0.7¢/kg + 8.8% 16.24% Free (A+, CA, D, E, IL, J) 

0.3¢/kg +1.7% (MX) 0.5¢/kg + 3.6% (JO) 

15.4¢/kg + 57% 

2917.37.00 Dimethyl terephthalate . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6¢/kg + 7.8% 7.99% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, J, 

MX) 0.7¢/kg +5.4% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 42% 

2921.41.10 Aniline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7¢/kg + 7.9% 9.37% Free (A+, CA, D, E, IL, J)

 0.3¢/kg +1.3% (MX) 

0.9¢/kg + 5.5% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 43.5% 

2921.41.20 Aniline salts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5¢/kg + 9% 9.04% Free (A+, CA, D, E, IL, J) 

0.2¢/kg +1.8% (MX) 0.6¢/kg + 6.8% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 60% 

2933.71.00 6-Hexanelactam (epsilon-caprolactam) 0.7¢/kg + 7.2% 7.83% Free (A*, CA, E, IL, J, MX) 

0.6¢/kg +3.9% (JO)

15.4¢/kg + 40% 

1 Official statistics for U.S. exports of the products classified under this HTS subheading are not collected at a similar level of aggregat

Programs under which special tariff treatment may be provided and the corresponding symbols for such programs as they are indicated i

are as follows: Generalized System of Preferences (A or A*); North American Free Trade Agreement, eligible goods of Canada (CA); AfrOpportunity Act (D); Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (E); United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement (IL); the Andean Trade PStates-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act (JO); Agreement on Trade in Pharmaceutical Products (K); and the North American eligible goods of Mexico (MX).Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. U.S. import and export data compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Depart

19
 51 Based on Commission telephone conversations with industry sources.

20

these products in 2001, although products with zero tariffs accounted for 97 percent of these

imports, including para-xylene, cumene, and styrene. No nontariff measures restricting

imports have been reported to Commission staff.

U.S. Government Trade-Related Investigations

During the period 1997 through 2001, there were no trade investigations conducted by the

Commission on any of the organic commodity chemicals addressed in this report. 

U.S. Exports

Because of the establishment of specific grade and purity levels, the organic commodity

chemicals are of uniform quality and move in a global market. As a result, export levels can

fluctuate because of a variety of factors, including the choice of feedstock and currency

valuations. As previously mentioned, because U.S. producers can avail themselves of lower

cost natural gas, U.S. commodity chemicals often are priced competitively, making them

attractive internationally. However, because of the relatively strong valuation of the

U.S. dollar in recent years, domestic producers reportedly have found it more difficult to

export goods in a profitable manner.51
 51 Simon Webb, “Pemex Shake-up,” Business Mexico, Apr. 2001, p. 26.

 52 Robert Westervelt and Kara Sissel, “Pemex to Invest $1 Billion in Petchems,” Chemical Week, Apr. 3,

2002, p. 9.

 53 Malini Hariharan, “Looking Up,” Chemical Market Reporter, May 22, 2000, p. 45.

 54 Ibid.

21

Principal Markets and Export Levels

Total U.S. exports of organic commodity chemicals increased from $1.28 billion in 1997 to

a high of $2.15 billion in 2000 and then decreased to $1.49 billion in 2001. The four largest

U.S. export markets for these products in 2001 were Mexico (35 percent of exports), Canada

(21 percent), Taiwan (9 percent), and the Netherlands (6 percent). From 1997 through 2001,

these four countries accounted for 63 to 70 percent of U.S. exports of organic commodity

chemicals. The two largest organic commodity chemical exports were styrene and paraxylene, which together accounted for 55 percent of all exports of commodity chemicals in

the period 1997-2001. 

Mexico accounted for 42 percent of U.S. styrene exports in 2001. Although the country

possesses indigenous stores of crude petroleum, the Mexican Government has recognized

the need to increase efficiency and productivity within Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the

state-owned crude petroleum producer.51 For example, Pemex Petroquimica president Rafael

Beverido Lomelin cited the need to improve Pemex’s cost structure in order to reduce

Mexico’s dependency on chemical imports.52

Asia has also been a large market for U.S. exports of these products. For example, strong

polyester demand in Asia contributed to U.S. para-xylene exports to this region in the past.

Increased Asian production capacity and decreasing global polyester demand, however, may

affect the future trade balance of this chemical.53 See table B-2 for a list of exports by

country.

Foreign Trade Measures

In general, duty rates on the organic commodity chemicals worldwide are low or free. Under

NAFTA, qualifying U.S. exports enter Canada and Mexico free of duty. The European

Union (EU) has no tariffs for cyclohexane, styrene, xylene isomers, cumene, or

ethylbenzene. The remainder of the organic commodity chemicals entering the EU are

dutiable at rates ranging from 3.0 to 8.5 percent. Japan’s duty rates for the major organic

commodity chemicals for World Trade Organization (WTO) members range from free to

5.3 percent. In 2001, China maintained rates of 6 to 14 percent for their “normal trade

relations” partners, and rates of 20 to 30 percent for other countries. However, the Chinese

Government, under its WTO accession agreement, has committed to lowering chemical

tariffs to 6.9 percent by 2004.54 Taiwan currently imposes tariff rates of 5 percent or less on

most organic commodity imports. 
 55 Neil Franz, “Huge Chemical Markets Hinge on WTO Decisions,” Chemical Week, Dec. 1, 1999, p. 50.

 56 Sean Milmo, “European Chem Industry Is Wary of Trade Talks,” Chemical Market Reporter, Nov. 29,

1999, p. 6.

 57 Ibid.

 58 Canadian Chemical Producers Association, “Think Investment - Chemicals,” Oct. 29, 1999.

 59 Trade balances are based on official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce for the HTS

numbers at the six-digit level of the chemicals covered in this report. Imports are imports for consumption

value and exports are domestic exports FAS value.

 60 Based on official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. imports from Canada averaged

276 million kilograms of styrene in 1997-1998 and 505 million kilograms between 1999-2001. The customs

unit value per first unit of quantity averaged $0.527 per kilogram in 1997-1998 and $0.748 between 1999-

2001.

 61 Peter Fairley, “Canadian Chemicals: Running on Empty,” Chemical Week, July 19, 2000, 

p. 20.

22

In the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations, the Chemical Tariff Harmonization Agreement

(CTHA) was developed, which would reduce maximum chemical tariffs to levels between

5.5 and 6.5 percent.

55 North America, Europe and Japan have committed to eliminating

chemical tariffs by 2010, but with the condition that all other WTO members make similar

commitments, even if such a commitment is phased in over a longer period of time.56

Countries that have not agreed to the CTHA account for approximately 30 percent of

worldwide chemical production, including Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, and Venezuela.

These countries appear to want similar agreements in textiles and agriculture before agreeing

to the chemicals proposal.57

FOREIGN INDUSTRY PROFILE

Major producers of the organic commodity chemicals typically are located either near large

sources of crude petroleum or near major markets of industrialized and rapidly

industrializing nations. As a result, the dominant countries in this market are in North

America, western Europe, and the Asian rim. The members of the Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries (OPEC) are also major producers. 

North America

The Canadian organic chemicals industry depends on large petroleum reserves in Alberta

and Saskatchewan and is an export-oriented industry. The Canadian Chemical Producers

Association reported that 55 percent of chemical gross output was exported in 1998.58 A new

set of production facilities in 2000 was designed for 80 percent of the output to be exported,

primarily to the United States and Southeast Asia. The organic commodity chemicals trade

deficit with Canada was $20.7 million in 1997 and $201 million in 2001.59 U.S. styrene

imports from Canada ranged from $170 million in 1997 to $223 million in 1999. However,

these imports increased to $449 million in 2000 and $462 million in 2001. This increase is

a result of both increased volume and higher unit values.60 Canadian ethane feedstock costs

rose in 1999 and 2000, but this increase was less than the increase of U.S. gulf coast ethane,

increasing the Canadian producers’ competitiveness versus that of the U.S. producers.61
 62 “Pemex Teeters on the Edge,” Chemical Market Reporter, Mar. 25, 2002, p. N27.

 63 Ibid.

 64 Webb,“Pemex Shake-up,” p.26.

 65 Ibid; “Pemex Teeters on the Edge,” p. N27.

 66 Webb, “Pemex Shake-up,” p. 26.

 67 Natasha Alperowicz, “Asia Still Offers the Most Growth,” Chemical Week, Mar. 20, 2002, p. 34.

 68 Eleanor Van Savage, “Asia Petrochemical Industry Faces Challenges in 2001 and Beyond,” Chemical

Market Reporter, Jan. 1, 2001, p. 4.

 69 Sigmund Floyd, “Cracking the Chemical Sector,” China Business Review, Mar./Apr. 2002, p. 32.

 70 Ibid.

 71 Malini Hariharan, “Pull and Push of the West,” Chemical Market Reporter, May 28, 2001, p. S54.

 72 “Styrene Industry to Recover After Dismal 2001,” Oil & Gas Journal, Feb. 4, 2002, p. 52. As noted in

the article, however, some of this growth may have been a result of improved record-keeping of imports and

improved antismuggling efforts, rather than actual increase in demand.

 73 Ibid.

23

Between 1997 and 2001, the trade surplus in organic commodity chemicals with Mexico

increased 214 percent from $159 million to $499 million. A significant portion of this

increase resulted from increased exports of para-xylene (from $113 million in 1997 to

$252 million in 2001) and styrene ($78 million in 1997 to $182 million in 2002). Despite

ample crude petroleum resources, Mexican petrochemical production has declined in recent

years and Mexico faces the possibility of becoming a net importer of these goods in the near

future.62 The dominant producer in this market is Pemex, a national petroleum monopoly,

which varies between the third- and fifth-largest petroleum producer globally, depending on

output fluctuations. According to industry sources, Mexico’s President, Vicente Fox, has

made it clear that there are no plans currently in place to privatize Pemex,63 but he wishes

to improve the company’s competitiveness.64 These sources report that this will necessitate

increasing the company’s efficiency and productivity through various means, including fiscal

reform.65 Currently, for example, profits are returned to Mexico’s Government, and

reinvestment capital is distributed in annual budgets by the Mexican Government, reportedly

resulting in little incentive for the company to operate in an efficient and profitable manner.66

Asia

Asian Pacific countries currently account for one-third of global chemical consumption, but

industry sources predict this level will increase to one-half in the future.67 Capacity increases

coming onstream between 1998 and 2010, however, may satisfy some of the increased

demand in the region. Multi-national corporations, including Shell, BP, BASF, and Dow,

have invested in petrochemical projects in this region.68

With China’s entrance into the WTO in November 2001, the increased availability of

Chinese markets has major producers worldwide expressing interest.69 The planned removal

of reported de facto trade barriers, including restrictions on import, resale, and distribution

by existing foreign ventures, and the lowering of import tariffs are designed to open markets

to foreign producers.70 Chemical Market Associates, Inc., (CMAI) estimates that China’s

share of the world styrene market by weight grew from 2 percent in 1994-1995 to

approximately 8 percent in 1999-2000.71 In 2001, China’s styrene demand continued to

grow, increasing 22 percent (by weight), despite a decline in world styrene demand of

2.6 percent.72 The country is expected to account for 11 percent of the world’s styrene

consumption by weight in 2003, exceeding Asian production capacity by 1.2 million tons

($612 million based on 5-year average domestic price).73
 74 Ian Young, “China Launches Probe Into Alleged Caprolactam Dumping,” Chemical Week, Dec. 19-26,

2001, p. 16.

 75 John Richardson, “Some Spots Brighten Up for Asian Petrochemicals,” Chemical Market Reporter,

Jan. 21, 2002, p. 9.

 76 Andrew Wood, “Free Trade Secrets,” Chemical Week, Aug. 23, 2000, p. 3.

 77 Malini Hariharan, “Crossroads,” Chemical Market Reporter, May 28, 2001, p. S48. 

 78 Richardson, “Some Spots Brighten Up For Asian Petrochemicals,” p. 9.

 79 Stephen Moore, “Fighting the Tide: a Big Buildup in Singapore,” Chemical Week, Feb. 6, 2002, p. 21.

 80 Ibid.

 81 “Annus Horribilis,” Chemical Market Reporter, Mar. 25, 2002, p. N29.

 82 “Japanese Chemical Industry Turning to China Market,” Asiainfo Daily China News, 

Mar. 19, 2002.

24

With China’s average tariffs on chemical imports dropping from 14.7 percent to 6.9 percent,

imports of $30.2 billion in chemicals in 2000,74 and a predicted GNP growth rate of

7.6 percent in 2002,75 organic commodity chemicals producers worldwide are reportedly

examining the Chinese market closely for opportunities. One estimate by the American

Chemical Council shows an increase in U.S. exports to China of more than $300 million in

the initial years following China’s accession to the WTO.76 The U.S. organic commodity

chemicals trade balance with China has irregularly increased from $7.9 million in 1997 to

$11.5 million in 2001.

Taiwan has built several organic commodity chemicals production facilities in recent years.

As these plants have come online, U.S. exports of these goods to Taiwan have decreased. In

1999, U.S. exports of organic commodity chemicals to Taiwan were $239 million,

16 percent of total U.S. exports of these goods. In 2001, exports were $135 million,

accounting for 9 percent of exports. In 2000, Formosa Chemicals and Fibre Corporation

began production in a new aromatics plant capable of annual output of 450,000 metric tons

of para-xylene, 100,000 metric tons of ortho-xylene, 200,000 metric tons of phenol, and

250,000 tons of styrene.77 Taiwan was accepted into the WTO in 2001 with China, but

industry sources do not predict major changes from Taiwan’s entry. A decline of 2.5 percent

in Taiwan’s GDP in 200178 may have slowed the domestic demand for the organic

commodity chemicals as well. The U.S. trade balance with Taiwan was $183 million in 1997

and $134 million in 2001.

According to industry sources, Singapore has attracted significant foreign investment

because of its stable government and probusiness environment, despite a lack of domestic

feedstocks.79 Without a substantial home market, however, production is largely exportdominated and is dictated primarily by world demand for these goods.80 The U.S. trade

balance with Singapore for these products increased irregularly from $94 thousand in 1997

to $10 million in 2000, before declining to $2.7 million in 2001.

Japan has reportedly never concentrated on an export market, using only marginal tonnage

for exports.81 However, because of stagnant growth domestically, Japanese producers are

said to be exploring export opportunities, especially to China and other Asian countries.82

The U.S. trade deficit with Japan in these products declined from $58.4 million in 1997 to

$17.7 million in 2001.
 83 “European Petrochemicals Industry Appears in Need of Further Rationalization,” Chemical Market

Reporter, Feb. 25, 2002, p. 9.

 84 Ibid.

 85 “Europeans Question Impact of Major Petrochem Expansions in Middle East,” Chemical Market

Reporter, June 18, 2001, p. 6.

 86 “Facing Competition,” Chemical Market Reporter, Mar. 25, 2002, p. N33.

 87 “Europeans Question Impact of Major Petrochem Expansions in Middle East,” p. 6.

 88 “Facing Competition,” Chemical Market Reporter, Mar. 25, 2002, p. N33.

 89 Mike Corkhill, “Moving More Efficiently,” Chemical Week, Sept. 29, 1999, p. S56.

 90 Ibid.

 91 Ibid.

25

Europe

The European petrochemical industry has recently faced poor margins, excess capacity, and

weak demand growth.83 In addition, according to a CMAI analyst, current investment levels

in the Middle East petrochemicals industry are “a major factor stopping anyone putting any

money on the table for European expansions at the moment.”84 With an estimated 7 million

metric tons per year of ethylene production coming on stream between 2005 and 2010 in

the Middle East, industry sources state that it is likely that substantial amounts of this output

will be exported to Europe.85

The two major determinants in plant location are access to feedstocks and proximity to

growth markets. The European market for organic commodity chemicals is extremely

competitive, with very low margins. As a result, there are very few new facilities being

constructed in the area beyond 2004.86 European producers, including BP, Shell, and

TotalFinaElf, are entering into strategic alliances in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia

and Iran, rather than building new facilities in Europe.87 Industry sources predict continued

restructuring and rationalization in European production, supported by indications from

producers DSM and Eni that they are looking to divest their European petrochemicals

activities.88

The European transportation infrastructure has been described as operating with less-thanoptimal efficiency.89 For example, the rail infrastructure, built prior to European unification,

contains 15 different nationalized railroads. The majority of European chemical shipments

travel by road (88 percent); the remainder are shipped by waterway (4 percent) and by rail

(7 percent). In contrast, 56 percent of U.S. shipments travel by road, 15 percent by waterway,

and 29 percent by rail.90 The European Chemical Industry Council is seeking to increase

transportation efficiency by increasing use of rail and waterways.91
 92 Ibid.

 93 Sean Milmo, “Russia Emerges as a Potential Power in European Chemicals,” Chemical Market

Reporter, Mar. 26, 2001, p. FR6.

 94 Ibid.

 95 Ibid.

 96 Ibid.

 97 Ibid.

 98 Natasha Alperowicz, “Sibur: A New Power in the East,” Chemical Week, Aug. 1, 2001, 

p. 45.

 99 Ibid.

 100 Ibid.

26

Middle East

The Middle Eastern members of OPEC include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United

Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Each of these countries possesses significant crude petroleum

reserves. As a result, it is economically advantageous to base production of the organic

commodity chemicals near these reserves. Proximity minimizes transportation costs and

delays and permits vertical integration and reliable access to feedstocks. This area received

large influxes of capital investment recently by foreign multinationals such as BP,

ExxonMobil, and Shell, especially during the period 2000-2001.92 These new facilities, in

addition to new production facilities in the Asia/Pacific area, have contributed to significant

increases in worldwide capacity. 

Others

According to industry sources, Russia has the potential to become an important factor in the

international chemicals marketplace.93 This region has only recently raised production levels

back to the levels of the 1980s.94 However, Russia possesses lower cost and reliable

feedstocks and generally incurs lower labor costs, which, under certain circumstances, are

said to be as low as 10 percent of labor costs in Western Europe.95 Industry sources state that

the two largest Russian petroleum and natural gas producers, Lukoil and Gazprom, have

begun integration efforts from crude petroleum exploration to aromatics production.96 With

strict government controls on energy prices, these firms have turned to the manufacture and

processing of downstream products in order to maximize profits.97 Gazprom currently owns

a 51-percent interest in the Siberian-Ural Petrochemical and Gas Company (Sibur), the

largest petrochemical group in Russia.98 Although its plants are based primarily on

technology from the 1970s and 1980s, Sibur is negotiating a joint venture with BASF and

plans an initial public offering on the New York Stock exchange in 2004.99 According to

company president Yakov Goldovskii, Sibur aims to become a leading petrochemicals player

in Central and Eastern Europe, with eventual plans of expanding into Asia.100
APPENDIX A

EXPLANATION OF TARIFF AND TRADE

AGREEMENT TERMS
A-2

APPENDIX A

TARIFF AND TRADE AGREEMENT

TERMS

In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), chapters 1through 97 cover

all goods in trade and incorporate in the tariff nomenclature the internationally adopted

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System through the 6-digit level of product

description. Subordinate 8-digit product subdivisions, either enacted by Congress or

proclaimed by the President, allow more narrowly applicable duty rates; 10-digit

administrative statistical reporting numbers provide data of national interest. Chapters 98 and

99 contain special U.S. classifications and temporary rate provisions, respectively. The HTS

replaced the Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS) effective January 1, 1989.

Duty rates in the general subcolumn of HTS column 1 are normal trade relations rates; many

general rates have been eliminated or are being reduced due to concessions resulting from

the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Column 1-general duty rates apply

to all countries except those listed in HTS general note 3(b) (Cuba, Laos, and North Korea)

plus Serbia and Montenegro, which are subject to the statutory rates set forth in column 2.

Specified goods from designated general-rate countries may be eligible for reduced rates of

duty or duty-free entry under preferential tariff programs, as set forth in the special

subcolumn of HTS rate of duty column 1 or in the general notes. If eligibility for special

tariff rates is not claimed or established, goods are dutiable at column 1-general rates. The

HTS does not list countries covered by a total or partial embargo.

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) affords nonreciprocal tariff preferences to

designated beneficiary developing countries. The U.S. GSP, enacted in title V of the Trade

Act of 1974 for 10 years and extended several times thereafter, applies to merchandise

imported on or after January 1, 1976, and before the close of December 31, 2006. Indicated

by the symbol "A", "A*", or "A+" in the special subcolumn, GSP provides duty-free entry

to eligible articles the product of and imported directly from designated beneficiary

developing countries (see HTS gen. note 4). Eligible products of listed sub-Saharan African

countries may qualify for duty-free entry under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

(AGOA) (see HTS gen. note 16) through September 30, 2008, as indicated by the symbol

“D” in the special subcolumn; see subchapter XIX of chapter 98.

The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) affords nonreciprocal tariff

preferences to designated Caribbean Basin developing countries. The CBERA, enacted in

title II of Public Law 98-67, implemented by Presidential Proclamation 5133 of November

30, 1983, and amended by the Customs and Trade Act of 1990, applies to goods entered, or

withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 1984. Indicated by the

symbol "E" or "E*" in the special subcolumn, CBERA provides duty-free entry to eligible

articles, and reduced-duty treatment to certain other articles, which are the product of and

imported directly from designated countries (see HTS gen. note 7). Eligible products of

listed beneficiary countries may qualify for duty-free or reduced-duty entry under the
A-3

Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) (see HTS gen. note 17), through

September 30, 2008, as indicated by the symbol “R” in the special subcolumn; see

subchapter XX of chapter 98.

Free rates of duty in the special subcolumn followed by the symbol "IL" are

applicable to products of Israel under the United States-Israel Free Trade Area

Implementation Act of 1985 (IFTA), as provided in general note 8 to the HTS; see

also subchapter VIII of chapter 99. 

Preferential nonreciprocal duty-free treatment in the special subcolumn followed by the

symbol "J" or "J*" in parentheses is afforded to eligible articles from designated beneficiary

countries under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), enacted as title II of Public Law

102-182 (effective July 22, 1992; see HTS gen. note 11) and renewed through December 31,

2006, by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act of 2002.

Preferential free rates of duty in the special subcolumn followed by the symbol "CA" are

applicable to eligible goods of Canada, and rates followed by the symbol "MX" are

applicable to eligible goods of Mexico, under the North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA), as provided in general note 12 to the HTS and implemented effective January 1,

1994, by Presidential Proclamation 6641 of December 15, 1993. Goods must originate in

the NAFTA region under rules set forth in general note 12(t) and meet other requirements

of the note and applicable regulations.

Preferential rates of duty in the special subcolumn followed by the symbol “JO” are

applicable to eligible goods of Jordan under the United States-Jordan Free Trade Area

Implementation Act, (JFTA) effective as of Dec. 17, 2001; see HTS gen. note 18 and

subchapter IX of chapter 99.

Other special tariff treatment applies to particular products of insular possessions (gen. note

3(a)(iv)), products of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (gen. note 3(a)(v)), goods covered by

the Automotive Products Trade Act (APTA) (gen. note 5) and the Agreement on Trade in

Civil Aircraft (ATCA) (gen. note 6), articles imported from freely associated states (gen.

note 10), pharmaceutical products (gen. note 13), and intermediate chemicals for dyes (gen.

note 14).

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), pursuant to the

Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, is based upon the earlier GATT 1947

(61 Stat. (pt. 5) A58; 8 UST (pt. 2) 1786) as the primary multilateral system of discipline and

principles governing international trade. The agreements mandate most-favored-nation

treatment, maintenance of scheduled concession rates of duty, and national treatment for

imported goods; GATT provides the legal framework for customs valuation standards,

"escape clause" (emergency) actions, antidumping and countervailing duties, dispute

settlement, and other measures. Results of the Uruguay Round of multilateral tariff

negotiations are set forth in separate schedules of concessions for each participating

contracting party, with the U.S. schedule designated as Schedule XX. Pursuant to the

Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) of the GATT 1994, member countries are

phasing out restrictions on imports under the prior "Arrangement Regarding International

Trade in Textiles" (known as the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA)). Under the MFA, a

departure from GATT 1947 provisions, importing and exporting countries negotiated

bilateral agreements limiting textile and apparel shipments, and importing countries could
A-4

take unilateral action to control shipments. Quantitative limits were established on textiles

and apparel of cotton, other vegetable fibers, wool, man-made fibers or silk blends in an

effort to prevent or limit market disruption in the importing countries. The ATC establishes

notification and safeguard procedures, along with other rules concerning the customs

treatment of textile and apparel shipments, and calls for the eventual complete integration

of this sector into the GATT 1994 and the phase-out of quotas over a ten-year period, or by

Jan. 1, 2005.
APPENDIX B

STATISTICAL TABLES
B-2

Table B-1

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Cyclohexane:

Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,282 4,569 3,321 0 6,793

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 6,688

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 16 0 0 3,225

Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 2,357

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 14 891 0 1,669

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 265

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,436 853 1,028 526 129

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,718 5,452 5,241 526 21,127

Dicyclopentadiene:

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,062 5,229 5,261 4,947 5,620

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,685 6,411 14,057 6,954 4,229

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 710 1,256 2,155 2,325 3,513

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 138 390 406 236

Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 29 18 34 54

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 5 0 49

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 797 332 11 2 39

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,254 13,394 21,898 14,669 13,740

Other cyclanes, cyclenes, and 

cycloterpenes:

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,598 4,846 8,653 8,444 7,081

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 592 799 974 621 1,270

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 80 1,500 4,189 1,260

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573 794 1,459 1,589 1,155

Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903 585 711 445 712

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447 437 641 666 506

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,114 8,575 5,885 2,764 1,735

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,353 16,116 19,823 18,719 13,720

ortho-Xylene:

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,519 3,127 11,845 26,788 11,913

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,168 7,425 6,413 7,779 7,935

Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2,495 7,005 2,611 5,211

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,667 1,355 3,241 5,174 4,500

Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,137 11,820 6,058 619 2,380

Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,655 8,742 3,967 12,695 2,318

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,367 11,375 4,881 3,615 3,091

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,513 46,339 43,409 59,282 37,349

meta-Xylene:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 104 75 484 3,808

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 22 0

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 1,016 0

Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 768 309 0

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1,079 0 0

Netherlands .................... 1 2 0 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,163 12,296 5,256 3,466 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,243 12,402 7,178 5,298 3,808
B-3

Table B-1–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

para-Xylene:

Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,155 21,201 9,174 41,135 40,325

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,074 6,719 17,000 48,051 21,281

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 19,841

Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 9,901 20,071 8,206 18,163

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,298 7,850 22,618 38,012 12,964

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 1,112 8,546

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175,672 127,167 69,415 95,794 24,638

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226,199 172,838 138,277 232,310 145,758

Styrene:

Canada ....................... 169,913 121,032 223,396 448,597 462,430

Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 4,134

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 3,986 468 45

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 28

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 44 0 0 18

Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 14

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,456 14,052 3,795 33,158 10

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173,427 135,127 231,177 482,223 466,679

Ethylbenzene:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826 255 35 97 16,108

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 3,016

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 5

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 14 0 0 0

Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 14 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719 0 5 0 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,545 269 54 97 19,129

Cumene:

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,643 34,081 29,466 62,552 47,174

Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,035 12,628 12,539 25,668 36,151

Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,146 22,536 22,019 35,952 31,483

Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 17,095 18,307 30,074

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,086 7,976 12,034 21,662 27,261

Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,106 32,479 46,486 68,735 13,339

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,115 32,285 26,064 33,079 15,703

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188,130 141,985 165,704 265,954 201,185

Pseudocumene:

Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1,287 971 1,289

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507 579 156 1,233 799

Algeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 172 0 386

Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 632 5,943 473 2,819 348

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536 643 334 700 31

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 209 688 14

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,131 1,493 484 1,537 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,806 8,658 3,114 7,948 2,868
B-4

Table B-1–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Acenaphthene, chrysene, cymene,

dimethylnaphthalenes,

fluoranthene, fluorene, indene,

mesitylene, and other specified

cyclic hydrocarbons:

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 178 0 5 3,665

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,879 2,885 1,351 2,612 2,046

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,621 2,089 474 1,436 937

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 632 1,207 1,097 2,284 465

Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 23

Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 11

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 323 237 55 27

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,339 6,682 3,159 6,392 7,175

Dodecylbenzene:

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,911 2,430 3,350 3,534 3,666

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 15 91 0 200

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 9 18 9

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 3 8

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 2 7

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 104 0 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 538 0 0 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,248 3,087 3,449 3,556 3,891

Other alkyl and polyalkyl benzenes:

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 124

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 112 194 0 76

Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 11 25 25

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434 13 471 16 19

Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 7 7 3 15

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,942 539 145 15 5

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,946 2,855 941 995 2

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,339 3,527 1,769 1,054 267

Anthracene and 1,4-di-(2-

methylstyryl) benzene:

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 13 20 14

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 4 3 6

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 3

Japan ......................... 0 0 0 0 3

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 12 12 5 0

Hungary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 106 82 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 118 110 28 26

Biphenyl (diphenyl), in flakes:

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 92 71 104 138

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 43 53 20 17

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 20 2 12

Lithuania ...................... 0 0 0 0 2

Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 0 0 0 0

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 0 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 59 0 0 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 199 144 126 170
B-5

Table B-1–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Other cyclic hydrocarbons:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,010 4,894 1,894 16,062 17,827

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,096 1,054 6,772 7,669 6,214

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,844 1,255 805 861 1,327

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 777 958 1,322 1,432 1,047

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 1,593 961 539 951

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 415

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,746 1,145 1,808 1,508 1,559

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,027 10,899 13,562 28,070 29,341

Cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanols

and dimethylcyclohexanols:

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 18 3 4 15

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 4

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 841 677 0 0

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,916 4,621 4,056 1,215 0

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841 0 0 0 0

Canada ....................... 0 9 0 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 23 4 0 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,794 5,512 4,739 1,220 19

Phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its

salts:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,748 11,456 7,522 12,848 5,779

South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 341 0 1,261

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,168 27,245 10,972 0 382

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 261 361 336 329

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 42 26 19

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 17 15 10 13

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,728 43,710 51,067 11,825 10

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,916 82,689 70,319 25,045 7,793

Phthalic anhydride:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,594 6,179 4,826 5,216 3,335

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,978 793 1,566 2,081 1,800

Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 0 25 1,243 1,205

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 0 32 845 654

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 10 0 0 113

Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 190 0 296 90

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 51 267 265 157

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,769 7,223 6,714 9,947 7,353

Terephthalic acid and its salts:

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 3 4 0 20,952

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,340 3,140 10,574 20,468 3,388

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 336

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 0 0 0 276

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 179 280 0 14

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 0 0 0 5

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 167 0 13 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,613 3,489 10,857 20,481 24,971
B-6

Table B-1–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources, 1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Dimethyl terephthalate:

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 4,672

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424 418 954 1,781 946

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 19 17 53 32

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 171 213 128 22

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 13 294 583 0

Netherlands .................... 0 0 0 4 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 40 24 7 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 661 1,502 2,556 5,672

Aniline:

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 908 0 2,473

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 42 25

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,868 7,596 6,062 0 9

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 6

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,405 4,176 13 6 3

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 0 0 0 0

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,757 0 3 2,835 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,360 11,772 6,987 2,884 2,517

Aniline salts:

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 10 10 0 5

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 3

Sweden ....................... 0 0 0 0 3

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 0 5 3

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 13 10 5 14

6-Hexanelactam (epsiloncaprolactam):

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,008 3,138 1,824 3,642 2,668

Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 1,629 1,780 837 2,097

Russia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,432 25,784 811 685 523

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,765 2,003 95 4,709 337

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 117 254 253 253

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,099 11,011 9,201 350 202

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,105 21 102 43 123

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,805 8,504 4,514 1,763 9

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,362 52,207 18,582 12,282 6,213

Grand totals ................. 922,767 740,657 777,781 1,200,671 1,020,782

Note.—Due to rounding, totals may not match the sum of all entries.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
B-7

Table B-2

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets, 

1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Cyclohexane:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,465 33,485 37,793 55,355 47,506

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,854 10,023 9,011 37,771 27,729

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,995 8,635 15,911 25,257 7,071

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 92 134 4,337 1,414

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878 10 1,269 430 1,368

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,226 11,576 12,201 12,847 928

All Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,755 3,483 2,143 1,586 1,327

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,208 67,304 78,461 137,584 87,343

Cyclanes, cyclenes and cycloterpenes 

(excluding cyclohexane):

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 1,526 536 2,534 6,967

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411 223 460 1,030 4,948

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,992 9,901 5,777 3,547 3,255

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,578 2,836 2,239 1,558 2,890

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,149 1,037 1,716 2,644 2,625

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,981 2,256 4,380 4,079 2,599

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,889 7,797 8,635 13,151 10,719

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,113 25,576 23,743 28,542 34,003

ortho-Xylene:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,686 2,027 2,546 15,741 16,577

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,460 2,107 1,300 12,623 2,646

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 570 3,099 2,496

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,469 1,547 990 0 1,315

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 575 496 518 831

El Salvador ................... 0 0 0 0 9

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,727 2,184 2,262 1,000 30

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,572 8,441 8,164 32,982 23,903

meta-Xylene:

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 21,615 16,297 23,193 14,644

Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 69 32

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 11,074 3,411 0 24

Canada ...................... 6 0 6 3 7

Trinidad and Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 8 17 6

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 3,094 6 3

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 10 1,278 130 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 32,705 24,094 23,418 14,716

para-Xylene:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112,815 98,628 121,167 239,020 251,845

Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,651 37,609 30,645 69,917 24,569

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,674 14,676 2,101 18,672 17,441

Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 3,972 3,632 4,831 12,277

Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,185 10,990 13,966 32,704 10,155

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,511 18,558 23,561 51,369 9,743

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,130 43,125 65,675 24,195 17,634

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234,966 227,558 260,747 440,708 343,664
B-8

Table B-2–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets, 

1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Styrene:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77,870 92,138 133,104 209,143 182,237

Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,050 38,361 154,230 168,763 59,997

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,562 39,377 38,999 57,473 44,277

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,484 21,646 32,596 42,984 36,289

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,871 12,876 18,199 29,237 25,816

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,297 75,939 117,636 125,832 24,804

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98,905 70,729 133,130 288,825 59,558

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391,039 351,068 627,894 922,257 432,977

Ethylbenzene:

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,488 14,229 1,790 4,713 2,956

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445 589 475 458 340

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 282 53 157 226

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 131 126 118 85

Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 136 109 147 82

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 63 34

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,768 3,860 3,009 13,090 33

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,003 19,227 5,561 18,745 3,758

Cumene:

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,762 2,892 4,834 15,184 24,258

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,108 28,072 22,340 41,993 11,928

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,143 10,900 17,505 22,786 10,392

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,263 1,455 6,235 11,031 8,639

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 5,575

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2,540 6,799 0 4,443

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,517 23,623 4,822 32,291 3,136

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,793 69,482 62,537 123,284 68,371

Dodecylbenzene:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,137 0 20 11 110

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 142 332 121 60

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 0 0 22 34

United Kingdom ................ 0 0 0 0 8

Japan ........................ 0 0 0 0 5

Barbados ..................... 0 0 0 0 4

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268 296 45 270 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,512 438 397 424 221

Other alkyl and polyalkyl

benzenes:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,333 422 3,934 49 15,923

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389 2,524 2,882 2,125 3,890

Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 2,222 90 3,756

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462 269 509 52 1,848

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 2,390 5 49 1,402

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 930 1,043 907 1,284 1,324

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,185 3,739 8,439 4,220 6,326

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,355 10,395 18,897 7,868 34,470
B-9

Table B-2–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets, 

1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Anthracene, biphenyl and cyclic

hydrocarbons not elsewhere 

specified or included:

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819 1,466 5,440 1,579 4,348

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,773 2,611 1,375 3,587 3,763

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,597 2,560 2,066 3,042 3,077

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414 89 648 5,977 1,796

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 229 76 1,102 1,574

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,107 1,162 1,332 2,432 1,418

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,140 11,325 12,048 12,035 4,013

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,056 19,441 22,985 29,755 19,989

Cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanols and 

dimethylcyclohexanols:

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 32 131 470

Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 10 0 0 157

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 97 49 13 50

Nauru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 16

Qatar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 10

Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 4

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 418 208 107 13

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380 525 289 251 721

Phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,144 68,547 49,820 61,367 79,808

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,933 9,971 4,183 24,126 21,251

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,012 829 140 12,898 12,324

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,249 950 3,103 7,814 11,111

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 924 0 3,323 8,783 8,232

Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,048 5,862 3,169 2,282 5,188

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,487 22,709 18,774 40,670 33,154

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96,797 108,867 82,512 157,939 171,069

Phthalic anhydride:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,122 9,477 12,740 14,779 12,444

Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,473 1,117 0 0 2,375

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 127 31 130 151

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 9 383 1,862 138

Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 15 6 26 20

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 0 6 12 18

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 244 169 4 10

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,338 10,990 13,336 16,813 15,157

Terephthalic acid and its salts:

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80,992 83,199 82,614 79,816 91,001

Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 10,744 21,115 0 36,350

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,989 397 0 0 523

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,752 8.969 5,776 2,713 363

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 11 0 24 14

Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 11

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88,329 86,740 35,434 6.940 0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191,064 190,060 144,939 89,492 128,262
B-10

Table B-2–Continued

Organic commodity chemicals: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets, 

1997-2001

(1,000 dollars)

Item/country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Dimethyl terephthalate:

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 9 52 12 985

Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 0 393 2,297 645

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 167 879 246

Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 33

Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 22

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 11 12

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,323 4,751 1,808 192 7

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,603 4,760 2,420 3,391 1,949

Aniline and its salts:

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 686 0 3,269 9,375 11,863

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2,206 0 42 690

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,854 3,584 2,594 3,291 483

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 767 0 0 474

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,783 1,517 1,770 893 433

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 1,402 1,987 1,431 359

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 829 1,793 722 912 538

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,526 11,269 10,343 15,944 14,842

6-Hexanelactam (epsiloncaprolactam):

Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,928 64,593 45,092 58,262 41,535

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,679 38,438 31,878 29,388 39,423

Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,303 5,022 4,668 3,043 11,834

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 3,111

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 3 540 6 1,624

Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 1,303 1,146

All others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 116 4,026 4,865 244

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119,004 108,172 86,205 96,867 98,916

Grand totals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,283,396 1,266,276 1,473,522 2,146,265 1,494,331

Note.—Due to rounding, totals may not match the sum of all entries.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.