	german chemical industry sees lower profits west germany s chemical industry fears mounting risks will hurt ings but hopes turnover will stabilize around s billion marks josef strenger a board member of the industry association vci said strenger management board chairman of bayer ag bayg f told a news conference at the hanover trade fair the main dangers were stagnation in world trade the lower dollar as well as crude oil and commodity prices prospects of higher operating costs were also seen harming ings he said turnover took a considerable downturn at the start of after falling pct in the chemical industry which relies heavily on exports was badly hit by mark appreciation in and lower turnover was mainly due to foreign exchange losses strenger said exports fell pct to billion marks in and competition from u s and british firms increased savings from lower oil and commodity prices were eaten up by price competition and increased costs strenger said operating profits of german chemical firms were slightly worse than the year before but the improved financial and balance sheet structure after three good years neutralized the negative impact strenger said the industry would try to increase production in the u s to make up for lost export possibilities out of west germany the lower dollar was the main reason for an pct fall in exports to north america an pct drop to latin america and pct plunge to the middle east exports to western europe eased pct and far east exports due to an economic revival in japan dropped pct strenger noted that the industry had lost public confidence following several cases of chemical pollution of the rhine late last year reuter 
