Soaps and detergents

The soap and detergent industry's achievements for 1996 included tackling such issues as product development, cost pricing and environmental issues. However, rising raw material prices and operation costs lessened the year's profit margin. For 1997, the $9.8 billion domestic market will focus on product development, customer service, new materials, production, expansion and cost-effective processes. FMC, for example, aims to enhance customer relations by being customer-driven.