Although ten states account for around two-thirds of U.S. chemical production, the business of chemistry has customers located throughout the United States and around the world. Chemicals are transported over the road, by rail, by water and by air within the U.S. and to foreign destinations.
Because each individual chemical has its own unique physical properties, the transport of chemicals can present unique challenges. Some chemicals, such as chlorine, are gases at normal temperatures and must be liquefied under pressure for transportation. Others, such as hydrochloric acid, are corrosive and require special materials to construct the shipping containers. Chemicals that require special handling tend to be shipped shorter distances, generally in large containers and high volumes.
