据欧洲化学工业协会 (Cefic)预测 ,2 0 0 1年西欧化工生产增长率将由 2 0 0 0年的 4.5 %减至 3.6 %。其原因是世界贸易增长率的减慢 ,特别是较呆滞的美国经济将影响欧洲的化学品出口 ;另一原因是欧盟经济也疲软。事实上西欧化工产量自 1999年 4季度达到最高点以后 ,一直在减速? According to the European Chemical Industry Association (Cefic), the growth rate of chemical production in Western Europe in 2010 will be reduced from 4.5% in 2000 to 3.6%. The reason is that the slowdown in the growth rate of world trade, especially the more sluggish U.S. economy will affect European chemical exports, and the other reason is that the EU economy is also weak. In fact, chemical production in Western Europe has been decelerating since reaching the highest point in the fourth quarter of 1999.