The credit profiles of rated Latin American chemicals companies are expected to remain stable during 2016 despite low petrochemical prices.

The growth rate of the large and diverse chemical industry in North America tends to track GDP, but a confluence of factors is expected to accelerate the industry's growth relative to the overall economy during the next five to ten years. By the end of this period, the U.S. - representing more than 80 percent of the North American chemical market - will be a larger net exporter of chemicals than it is today.

Thanks to advancing capabilities and greater accessibility, the use of drones is continuing to increase. In fact, global drone sales reached $4.3m in 2015, a 167-percent jump from two years ago. This surge should come as no surprise as people find more and more useful ways to put drones to work.

Chemical tanker shipping faces another challenging year of falling freight rates in 2015, but the trade is expected to recover next year, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.