Abstract
Although the chemical industry is at present in a depressed state, this situation need not be permanent. The volume of raw materials used by the industry is already gigantic, but will grow even larger when the industry revives. A large part of the raw materials consists of lower olefins, at present produced from petroleum. The dependence of the chemical industry on this feedstock has been a weak point in the past, and there is no assurance of a continued supply in the future.