欧洲化工协会对1997年欧洲化学工业抱有乐观期望。1996年，西欧化学品产量比上年增长2％，预计1997年将比1996年增长3％以上；同时，化学品需求量也将以3％的速度增长。1996年，由于西欧化学品需求疲软，其化学品价格比上年下降了1．7％。分析家认为，此价格已为谷底，1997年将 The European Chemical Industry Association holds optimistic expectations for the European chemical industry in 1997. In 1996, the production of chemicals in Western Europe increased by 2% over the previous year. It is expected that in 1997 it will increase by more than 3% from 1996; at the same time, the demand for chemicals will also increase at a rate of 3%. In 1996, due to the weak demand for chemicals in Western Europe, its chemical prices fell by 1.7% from the previous year. Analysts believe that this price has been at the bottom and will be in 1997