management report chemicals 31 key figures eur million 2003 2002 change in share sales 1 700 782 4 6 liquid crystals 438 377 16 2 26 electronic 180 192 0 11 pigments 315 327 3 7 18 analytics & reagents 453 504 10 27 life science products 313 382 17 9 operating result 302 260 return on ros 8 14 ebit 208 45 chemical industry slow to recover the slight economic recovery of at beginning was initially curbed middle year only improve again by end factors such as weak consumer de mand and high crude oil prices impacted growth with a market around one third european union is leading global manufacturer strong euro put check export there although volume being produced europe stagnated increased slightly business united states achieved an increase increas ing maintaining constant production level its
