The slowdown in production for the French chemical industry was confirmed in the third quarter of 2010, with production levels down 0.8% compared to the second quarter. However, production volume for the first nine months of 2010 was 12.7% higher than during the same period in 2009.

Production levels for Inorganic Chemicals went up 6.5% in the third quarter despite having gone down 8.1% quarter-on-quarter during the second quarter. The recovery experienced by Organic Chemicals was halted as the increase in production levels slowed down for Plastics, while production for Petrochemical Products went down.

Similarly for Speciality Chemicals, after two quarters of increasing production levels, the trend reversed, but with significant differences between segments. Improvements were made quarter-on-quarter for Paints and Varnishes, and Glues. Production growth for Soaps, Perfumes and Household Products was stifled, with a 0.6% drop in production in the third quarter, after 3.9% and 5.5% growth in the first two quarters, quarter-on-quarter.