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Raw materials
The availability of raw materials and supplies is a primary consideration in the
specialty chemicals sector.
West Virginia is well positioned to support the industry with more than 77 suppliers
of key inputs in-state and 1,865 within a 250-mile radius.
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Raw Materials Required
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D&B Code
|
W.Va. Supply
|
Total within 250 miles
(No. of companies)
|
|
Bulk surface active agents
|
2843
|
1
|
31
|
|
Plastics containers
|
3089-01
|
3
|
237
|
|
Paperboard containers, boxes
and corrugated paperboard
|
2653
|
3
|
441
|
|
Industrial inorganic chemicals
|
2819
|
22
|
392
|
|
Perfume oil mixtures and
blends
|
2844-03
|
1
|
24
|
|
Refined petroleum products
(mineral oil, naphtha solvents, etc.)
|
2911-02/04
|
3
|
19
|
|
Powdered metals and minerals
|
3295
|
11
|
142
|
|
Parts and attachments for
machinery and equipment
|
5084-9902
|
3
|
44
|
|
Phosphoric acid, excluding
spent (100 percent P205)
|
2874-0104
|
|
|
|
Synthetic organic materials
|
2869
|
22
|
346
|
|
Synthetic rubber
|
2822
|
5
|
89
|
Paper and paperboard boxes
(incl. fiber cans, tubes and drums)
|
2655
|
1
|
86
|
|
Polyvinyl acetate resins,
purchased
|
2821-0219
|
2
|
14
|
|
Total
|
|
77
|
1,865
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Source: D&B Marketplace,
First Quarter 2006
Major products
The specialty chemicals cluster consists of four North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)
groups:
- Specialty chemicals for the pharmaceuticals, agricultural, electronics, automotive
industries (325188)
- Soaps and cleaning compounds (3256)
- Coatings and adhesives (3255)
- Scientific and technical consulting services to the chemical industry (541690)
Approach:
A comparative analysis of operating costs and profitability was prepared for a national
average specialty chemicals establishment in West Virginia versus the 10 surrounding
states considered the state’s principal competitors: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The average was based on industry average operating and financial characteristics
derived from the most current Annual Survey of Manufactures, published by the U.S.
Census Bureau; Annual Statement Studies, published by Robert Morris Associates,
and national input/output coefficients for various factor costs. This information
was used to develop a detailed annual operating expense statement that served as
a baseline for estimating costs for West Virginia and the comparison states.
These national baseline costs were adjusted by state-specific cost differentials
for various factors (wage rates, utility rates, etc.) to derive operating costs
for West Virginia and the comparison states.
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