Over the past five years (2001-2006), the EU chemical industry shows the lowest growth rate compared to the biggest world regions and it is, with 1.5%, well below the world average growth of chemicals of 4.6%. Latin America and the Asia Pacific region are booming, with average growth rates in chemicals of 4.3% and 6.9% respectively over the last five years. The latter region is heavily influenced by the extraordinary performance of the Chinese chemicals sector and a booming economy and industrial sector.