According to the data released by the National Development and Reform Commission recently, the added value of the chemical industry increased by 5% year-on-year in the first quarter, with an growth rate of 2.1%. Among the major products, the output of ethylene reached 5.06 million tons, an increase of 8.4%; the output of primary plastic reached 22.14 million tons, rose by 6.5%; and 1.35 million tons of synthetic rubber were produced, up by 1.1%; the output of synthetic fibers was 11.39 million tons, up by 14.8%; caustic soda reached 9.1 million tons, up by 3.5%; while soda production was 6.4 million tons, decreased by 0.1%. The output of fertilizer was 13.31 million tons with an increase of 2.4%. Nitrogen fertilizer and potash fertilizer increased by 2.2% and 20.9%, respectively, while phosphate fertilizer decreased by 3.3%. Pesticide production was 490,000 tons, down by 3.7%. The output of rubber outer tire was 187 million pieces, down by 4.3%. Calcium carbide output was 6.69 million tons, up by 3.4%.

Among those chemical products which were monitored mostly, compared with the prices of last month, the prices of fertilizer and other products were rose. In March, the average price of caustic soda (caustic soda tablets) was 3,520 yuan/ton, down by 3.6% from the previous month and 27.9% from the previous year. Soda ash was 1,950 yuan/ton, down by 1% from last month but up by 6% from last year. Urea, 1990 yuan/ton, up by 6.4% from last month, and 4.2% year on year. Domestic diammonium phosphate 2,710 yuan/ton, up by 0.7% from last month, and 0.4% year-on-year. Calcium carbide, 2,890 yuan/ton, up by 6.6% from last month, and 3.6% from last year.