Has the chemical industry declined?
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A few days ago, I watched a program about the economic development of the Northeast. It is mentioned that one of the reasons for the slow economic recovery in the Northeast is that the region’s economic pillars are heavy industries such as steel and chemicals, and these industries are no longer considered high-tech sectors (chemicals were high-tech industries in the 1940s and 1950s); the technical barriers have **decreased**, and more people are gradually gaining mastery over these technologies, which leads to fierce global competition. Regardless of whether this view is correct or not, it is common in real life to see a situation in the chemical industry where there are many workers, fierce competition, and relatively low incomes. Has the chemical industry declined? For individuals, whether to persevere or switch industries is definitely a question that many people are pondering.
It is indeed a problem, but what should one do if they leave this industry? Which other industry is doing well? It’s okay for those with short experience, but it’s indeed more difficult to make a change for those with longer experience
This is a problem throughout the entire manufacturing sector; the replacement rate in the chemical industry is relatively low
The slow development of the Northeast region has little to do with the chemical industry; rather, it is because the chemical industry in that region is relatively old and outdated. Take the popular Yangtze River Delta region as an example – it is a key area for the chemical industry
“The technical barriers have **decreased**, and more people are gradually mastering these technologies; as a result, competition on a global scale is fierce. I’m speechless – is Chinese technology truly the most advanced in the world? Has the technological blockade imposed by the United States and others on China led to even more advanced technology? I remembered \"Deng Xiaoping at a Historical Turning Point\", Episode 29: Americans visit the BAIC assembly plant; the plant manager disapproves of the Americans, saying that advanced technology should not be shown to them. Shamer then asked how many cars that American capitalist produces per year The American replied: 2 million. I ask the manager of BAIC, what about you? Answer: 5,000 vehicles. Director Xia Mo said, “Look at the United States; they are at an advanced level. Don’t stop Americans from visiting there.” The manager of BAIC was speechless
The entire physical goods industry is weak at the moment, so wealthy people are investing their money in real estate. I personally think this is a transitional period for the industrial sector. There are countless small chemical plants in China, and now that more emphasis is being placed on environmental protection, more of those small enterprises that do not meet environmental standards will be shut down. This will lead to a reorganization of the industry, and things should improve once that process is complete. One thing is certain: we must not give up on the real economy. Speculating in real estate isn’t sustainable either; otherwise, it will end like in Japan in 1990 – people became rich overnight only to go bankrupt just as quickly.
After the reform and opening up, the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and the coastal areas developed at a rapid pace, drawing away from the old industrial bases in the three northeastern provinces all their technology, talent, and other resources, leaving behind only the elderly and weak. The Northeast is like a snail carrying a heavy shell, while the coastal areas are lightly equipped; how can the Northeast compete under such circumstances? So this means that, regardless of what the economic backbone industry is, those sectors will inevitably be left behind.
Every industry goes through a period of restructuring; it’s just a matter of time. With economic transformation, there used to be an emphasis on economic growth alone, **without proper regulation, which led to excess production capacity. Coupled with a deteriorating external investment environment, companies with poor competitiveness gradually get eliminated
“I disagree with the view that the chemical industry has declined. The chemical industry goes through downturns, but synthetic chemistry is the inevitable path for sustainable development.