Emerging markets may be where the revenue growth is, but Western chemical companies are starting to produce the best shareholder returns thanks to feedstock advantages in North America and significantly improved operating performance in Europe. In this special report, BCG analyzes what’s changed over the last 20 years.
In recent years, escalating operating costs and falling commodity prices have eroded the stellar returns mining companies enjoyed from 2002 through 2012. With no end in sight to these pressures, companies must now focus on productivity—in new areas and new ways—to achieve healthy shareholder returns.