Venda de resinas
Brazilian petrochemical company Quattor’s CEO Vítor Mallmann expects domestic sales volumes of resins to be higher in the second quarter this year than in the first, the executive said at a meeting with journalists.
In Q1, the company increased resin exports in response to weaker domestic demand. “In the period, we exported 40% of our total output, a record amount,” Mallmann said.
In the first three months of 2009, Quattor’s resin export volumes increased 116% compared to the previous quarter. “The logic of the petrochemical industry is to operate at full speed, as operating at reduced capacity is very expensive,” Mallmann said.
The petrochemical chain has suffered from a drop in demand and destocking since the onset of the crisis. “As high-priced stocks are depleted, there is a natural trend for a recovery in consumption levels,” he said.
The executive also said that now would be a good time to start building up stocks again, given lower raw material prices. However, resin prices both domestically and internationally have increased slightly since the beginning of the year. “Quattor has increased prices in 2009 as our prices are always aligned with international trends,” Mallmann said.
Quattor says it is optimistic for the coming months. According to the company, consumer goods, which use polyethylene in their packaging, have been affected less by the economic slowdown. “The reduction in the [industrial products tax] IPI is also a good sign for polypropylene, which is largely used in the electronic and automotive industries,” Mallmann added.
