The re-industrialization began in the United States, supported by cheap energy thanks to shale gas, a large market for French industry, but is also a threat to the most vulnerable sectors to competition, as . basic chemistry
“We see the re-industrialization at two levels: first he will impact the activity of extraction of shale gas and then its impact on sectors such as construction or automobile, or the global economy, “he told AFP Marc Schuller, CEO of chemical company Arkema, whose American sales increased from 25 to 34% since 2005 total sales, more than two billion euros.
The same trend towards Air Liquide. “Our customers are in full swing in a growing market that reflects the revival of dynamism of American industry,” says does one side of French industrial gas specialist, which grew 10% in the first half in the Americas with the United States “tonic.”
With a Europe that has stalled, restart the American economy attracts groups such as ArcelorMittal, which this year acquired a plant in Calvert, Alabama (south), to benefit from the rebound in steel demand in the United States, where it has almost reached its pre-crisis much more quickly than in Europe where it has stagnated at . nearly 30%
European presence manifest
The European presence is apparent in Alabama, one of the states that benefit most from the re-industrialization: the steel of ArcelorMittal is close to a Arkema site, a few miles from Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico.
With steel and chemicals, two leading indicators of the economy which are green in the United States. And it’s not about to stop: the American Chemistry Council (ACC) estimates the investment potential for the chemical industry due to shale gas to more than $ 120 billion over the next decade <. / p>
“The American situation is significantly better than that of Europe,” said Jean-Luc Gaffard, research director at the French Economic Observatory (OFCE).
“Monetary policy has been accommodative faster, there is no budget constraint and the reduction of energy prices is also an important element” for the industry, he said.
On the energy side, there is actually no comparison. “The United States enjoys a significant thanks to the shale gas revolution advantage,” admitted the CEO of ArcelorMittal for the Americas, Lou Schorsch, who believes that the gas bill has dropped by 50% compared in there eight years.
Radu Vranceanu economics professor at ESSEC, American industry regain its competitiveness not only with a “more abundant and cheaper energy, but also through a labor market that has a very high flexibility. “
The American re-industrialization can only be good for the European industry, says Gaffard. “If there is a revival of economic activity in the United States, there will be no other effect than to increase our European exports,” he said. “But it mainly depends on the possibilities of European industry to meet this demand,” he warned.
Reindustrialisation worrying
This re-industrialization but worries some sectors in France, the point that the former Minister of Economy, Arnaud Montebourg, had even denounced production “low cost” last spring.
The Union of Chemical Industries (UIC) continues to warn of danger for basic chemistry competition from the United States and lower prices. To be able to fight on equal terms, the area boasts exploring French basements for hidden shale gas and calls for measures to protect basic chemistry so that it does not relocating overseas.
“Like all European societies, we must re-examine some of our product lines in Europe that may be threatened by American imports,” said Mr. Schuller. Arkema but is less concerned because the group is active “lines specialty products with high added value,” a downstream sector that competed much less upstream.
Finally, if the costs of energy is lower, the fact remains that the investment in the United States is still very heavy. “The investment costs are now blazing,” admitted Mr. Schuller. And according to him, there has “a limit to the phenomenon of the” re-industrialization.
(With AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment