The polymer market overall, characterized in recent years by overcapacity, is firming as personal care products manufacturers continue designing diapers using more polymer and less fluff pulp. In addition, the market has geographically broadened as personal care products become mainstream instead of luxury items. Asia is among the fastest growing of these expanding geographic markets, and the most probable site for a new Chemdal facility. Growth opportunities are such that we will likely resume our program of adding new capacity, as we see that capacity growth via debottlenecking is virtually complete. Our metalcasting sector, the largest of our minerals businesses, performed particularly well, propelled by rising demand as the U.S. foundry industry experienced one of its strongest years in the past decade.
Cat litter is our second largest minerals market.
We made substantial gains in this sector during 1997, growing total sales by approximately 22 percent. In December, we further boosted our global market share by acquiring the cat litter business of Laporte PLC, a United Kingdom-based company. This acquisition has positioned us for better utilization of our production facility in Birkenhead, England, as well as increased market presence outside the United States. This acquisition moves us into a prominent position in the U.K. market and a more meaningful position in Continental Europe. This segment was a disappointment, reporting sales growth of 9 percent and an operating profit decline of 15 percent.