4 月份，化工行业运行虽依旧缓慢，但工业增加值增 速稳步回升；1～4 月，化学原料和化学制品制造业工业增加值同比 增长 5%；出厂价格指数总体延续上年末下滑趋势，略有回升，4 月 化学原料和化学制品制造业出厂价格指数为 98.1 点；行业投资增速 出现一定程度回落，1～4 月化学原料和化学制品制造业固定资产投 资同比增长 5.5%；化工行业营收增速大幅放缓，利润终结增长势头， 1～4 月行业利润同比大幅减少 16%，较一季度收窄 1.6 个百分点。 

The industry value chain of all the engineering plastics, ranging from oil to plastic products, is becoming increasingly complex, as many countries are setting up stringent quality standards concerning the commercial use of plastics. The value chain is initiated by raw material suppliers, who supply petrochemicals and chemical feedstock, along with the additives required to make plastic resins. The raw materials undergo processing, to make plastic resins through different methods. The production of thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystal polymers is carried out by the processing of either main-chain polymers or side-chain polymers.

As of 2019, brands, such as Paula’s choice, Colorescience’s, and Brush On Block have introduced a set of shielding powdered sunscreen, with an SPF content of 30 and 50. Powdered sun screens are a relatively new innovation, and they offer a convenient, less messy alternative to the standard liquid sun protection. This sunscreen gives a light-feel, and has the ability to replace the current set of available sun care products.

In the market studied, major raw materials include fluoropolymers and silicone resins. These materials are essentially dispersed in binders, including fluoropolymer and urethane. Furthermore, nanoparticles, such as titanium dioxide, cerium oxide, and silicon dioxide, are a part of the process. The techniques used for manufacturing coatings are conventional, with no special equipment or process. However, the production process of raw materials is complex, and requires highly sophisticated equipment and process technology. This increases the cost of raw materials. Sourcing of raw materials is easier, owing to the abundant availability of petrochemical industries. Additionally, in the market studied, various research activities are in progress, primarily to develop superhydrophobic coatings from natural sources, such as plant-based filler materials, like lycopodium and cellulose. These plant-based filler materials are free from silanes and fluorine.

Fuel cells are currently one of the most efficient technologies that converts fuel to electricity. Fuel cells are used in a wide range of applications, including transport and emergency backup power applications. Typically, a conventional combustion-based power plant generates electricity at efficiencies of 33% to 35%, while fuel cells can generate electricity at efficiencies up to 60% and even higher with co-generation. Fuel cells are expected to be a major driver of distributed power, allowing homes and businesses to generate/produce their energy efficiently, as, and when, required.

Thin-film photovoltaic module is considered to be a breakthrough in solar technology, and is rapidly increasing its share in the solar power sector. The thin-film (TF) solar panels consist of solar cells with light absorbing layers, which are more than 350 times smaller than a standard silicon panel. They are considered to be the lightest PV cells, owing to their narrow design and efficient semiconductor built into the cells.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software is a computer-based tool that analyzes, stores, manipulates, and visualizes geographic information, usually in a map. The GIS software market is anticipated to grow at a significant rate due to factors such as increase in demand for GIS solutions in the transportation & logistics sector, rise in role of GIS software in development of smart cities projects & urban planning, and proliferation of spatial data around the world. The scope of the global GIS software market comprises market segmentation by component, type of GIS software, functions, end user, and region. The report includes the study of the GIS software market focusing on various growth prospects and restraints, based on regional analysis. In addition, the study highlights Porter’s five forces analysis for the market that comprises the impact of suppliers, competitors, new entrants, substitutes, and buyers.

Based on product, the global mineral cosmetics market is categorized into face cosmetics, lips cosmetics and eye cosmetics. The lips cosmetics segment accounted for the largest market share of 43.6% in 2018, and is anticipated to grow at the significant growth rate during the forecast period. However, the face cosmetics segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period, owing to rise in trend among women regarding appearance modification and attractiveness.

Increasing dental problems among children and adults, due to poor eating habits, and the rise in popularity for herbal oral care products are the factors primarily driving the global toothpaste market. Moreover, rising premiumization and consumers seeking more targeted solutions are accelerating the growth of the market studied. The rise in consciousness of oral health has helped vendors introduce oral hygiene product categories, such as teeth-whitening products. One of the popular products used for teeth whitening is whitening toothpaste. Manufacturers offer toothpaste with teeth-whitening functionality that differs from ordinary toothpaste.

The raw materials used for the manufacturing of boiler water treatment chemicals include a combination of organic and inorganic chemical compounds for producing corrosion and scale inhibitors, oxygen scavengers, biocides, cleaning chemicals, etc. Customers of industrial water treatment solutions are mostly dependent on water service providers and distributors. Only a small number of end-user industries directly buy chemicals from manufacturers. In developed nations, over 80% of the chemicals manufactured by industrial water-treatment chemical manufacturers are sold to service-providing companies or distributors, giving them the power to bypass any scope of negotiation from the customer’s end, and only 20% of the chemicals are sold directly to the end users.

Wood coating is widely used in the protection and refinement of wood or wood-made structures. Protecting wooden surfaces helps to increase their utilization properties. Moreover, the use of wood coating enhances the visual cues of wooden object, thereby helping in marketing of the product. Depending on the technology used to manufacture the wood coating, various types of wood coatings are available in the market such as varnish, stains, water-based coatings, and oil finishes.

The increased prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases and increase in life expectancy has resulted in consumers’ shift toward the principle of “prevention is better than cure”, driving the hyaluronic acid market growth in segments, such as dietary supplements for joint health. Baby boomers want products that help to prevent or mitigate conditions that relate to aging, while women are taking supplements and functional food due to recommendations from a health practitioners. Developed markets, like the United States and Europe are importing the compound from Asia-Pacific countries, such as China.

维生素行业的研究主要集中在供给端：维生素是生物体所需的微量营养元素，是维持机体正常代谢和机能的必须物质。其下游需求主要为饲料，虽然在个别年份养殖行业的冲击将短期对维生素需求产生影响，但平滑之后来看维生素需求仍呈现平稳增长态势，因此对于维生素行业的研究主要集中于供给端。

巴斯夫装置意外停产，维生素板块大涨。7 月4 日BASF 通知部分客户VA装置事故影响，因为冷却装置问题导致VA1000NXT 产品停产，预期无法在9-10 月检修期之前恢复。作为维生素行业龙头，巴斯夫的停产很大程度上将导致维生素A 产品供求紧张。这对国内维生素生产企业来说，大概率是重大利好，5 日VA 市场报价上涨5 元/公斤。VA 行业供需紧平衡，价格上涨预期强烈，供应端寡头垄断，市场掌控力较强，企业开工率较高。新和成和安迪苏VA 产能分别为10000 吨（全球最大）/4200 吨，受益明显。另外VE 供方格局重塑，价格触底回暖，处于涨价初期。推荐维生素行业龙头新和成和安迪苏。

非欧佩克产油国加入欧佩克延长减产协议。第六届石油输出国组织（欧佩克）和非欧佩克产油国部长级会议7 月2 日在维也纳举行。俄罗斯等10 个非欧佩克产油国决定加入欧佩克此前作出将原油减产协议延长9 个月至2020 年3 月底的决定。另外，欧佩克与非欧佩克产油国还签署了长期合作协议。沙特能源部长哈立德·法利赫称其为“历史性”协议，认为原油市场的不稳定性需要一个吸纳更多产油国的新合作框架。

维生素是人和动物维持正常生理功能而从食物中获取的微量有机物质，在生长、代谢、发育过程中发挥着重要作用。维生素不是构成身体组织的原料，也不提供能量，属于调节物质。动物体内无法自行合成绝大多数维生素，或合成量不足，不能满足机体需要，所以需要通过食物获取。虽然人体对维生素需求量很小（毫克、微克/日），可一旦缺失会对健康造成损害。