Sales – production – prices

In 2013 sales of chemical products (3,785 ktonnes) decreased by 168 ktonnes from 2012 (down by 4.2%) against of backdrop of weakness demand reflecting the current economic downturn in the main reference markets. The steepest decline was registered in elastomers (down by 9.7%) and in intermediates (down by 4.2%). Lower reduction was reported in polyethylene (down by 3%) and in styrene (down by 2.9%).

Average unit sales prices decreased by 3.2% from 2012, with different trends for the various businesses: olefines prices were affected by a sharp decline in butadiene quotations (down 23%) driven by consumption crisis in Europe, while average styrene prices reported an increase (up 7.5%). Less significant improvement were registered in derivatives (up 1.4%) and in polyethylene (up 1.1%).

Chemical production amounted to 5,817 ktonnes, with a decrease of 273 ktonnes or 4.5% from 2012. This was mainly due to a decrease in elastomers (down 11%). Lower decreases were registered in styrenes (down 2.8%), in polyethylene (down 6%) and in intermediates (down 3.7%). The main decreases in production were registered at the Priolo plant (down 8.4%) due to the planned standstill of olefine cracking plant and the definitive shutdown of Ragusa polyethylene plant (down 12.5%) due to lower volumes of polyethylene and at Dunkerque (down 5.3%) driven by the weakness of polyethylene market as well as planned standstill in the second half of the year. These reductions were partly offset by higher production at Sarroch (up 11.6%), which in 2012 was impacted by the standstill for the planned upkeeping as well as higher levels of benzene and xylene production.

Nominal capacity of plants declined from the previous year due to rationalization measures, with an average plant utilization rate calculated on nominal capacity of 65.3% (66.7% in 2012).