Braskem to approach full capacity on stronger Brazil demand

09 March 2010 18:49  [Source: ICIS news]

SAO PAULO (ICIS news)--Braskem will operate near full capacity this year due to strong domestic demand for petrochemical products, the CEO said on Tuesday.  

Braskem will operate at over 97% capacity due mainly to demand for thermoplastic resins, Braskem CEO Bernardo Gradin said in Portuguese during an event in Sao Paulo.

Braskem's plants operated at 55% capacity in January 2009 and increased gradually during the year. In the fourth quarter, Braskem’s ethylene production lines were operating at a capacity of 93%, the company said.

Braskem estimates that Brazil’s GDP should grow by approximately 6% this year, a rate that would increase resins demand by around 9% year over year.  

According to Gradin, the projection does not consider any major market instabilities or the incorporation of Quattor assets, which is expected to take place by May 2010.

ICIS has launched weekly pricing reports in Africa for polyethylene and polypropylene. For more information contact Nadine Spoeri
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By: Hellen Berger
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