China's Output of Major Chemicals on Steady Growth

BEIJING, August 9 (Xinhua) -- China's chemical industry has maintained its growing momentum with the output of most major products on the rise in the first five months of this year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The production of chemical fertilizers from January to May increased by 16.3 percent on an annual basis to 13.5 million tons, and that of chemical pesticides surged 16.8 percent to 323,600 tons.

During the period, 2.3 million tons of chemical fiber were produced, surging 18 percent, while 3.4 million tons of plastic products were turned out, up 12.9 percent on an annual basis.

The output of ethylene grew 14.9 percent year-on-year to 1.8 million tons and that of plastic resin rose 18.7 percent to 3.3 million tons.

Production of caustic soda edged up 2.2 percent to 2.3 million tons, and that of sulfuric acid surged 13.1 percent to 9.1 million tons.