Chemical companies riding high

Higher value: A worker checks valves at the Al-Sheiba oil refinery in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The prices of petrochemicals and polymer in Asia had increased between 10 to 40 in the last one year, reflecting firmer crude oil prices. — Reuters

But momentum will likely slow as prices are coming under pressure

THE continued global economic recovery and rebound in crude oil prices from their multi-year lows have helped much of the chemical industry to register favourable sales and earnings over the last one year.