Q1 2026 Chemicals and Materials Quarterly Review

This document is a quarterly review focusing on the chemicals and materials sector for the first quarter of 2026. It provides an overview of market intelligence, including economic momentum, market updates, and public company valuation statistics. The review notes a modest improvement in U.S. economic activity, with a real GDP increase of 2.0% supported by various factors such as investment and consumer spending. It highlights the challenges faced by the chemicals sector, including inflationary pressures and uneven industrial demand. The document also discusses the advanced materials market, which is experiencing growing demand due to performance requirements across various industries. It outlines the competitive landscape, emphasizing the importance of supply chain resiliency and the ongoing mergers and acquisitions activity in this sector. Additionally, it presents key statistics regarding trade balances and the impact of global capacity additions on the U.S. chemicals market, along with notable developments in the global chemical sector.