BEIJING — China’s chemical sector saw faster value-added growth in the first quarter, official data showed.

The value added for the Chinese chemical industry grew 5 percent year-on-year in the first three months, 2.1 percentage points faster than the same period 2018, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Output of ethylene reached 5.06 million tons in the first quarter, up 8.4 percent year-on-year. Fertilizer output totaled 13.31 million tons, up 2.4 percent year-on-year.

The prices of fertilizer and calcium carbide in March edged up from the previous month, while soda fell.