Argentina's polymer output fell 14.7% in April on year

31-May-13

Argentina's production of polymer and synthetic rubber fell 14.7% in April compared with the year-earlier period, but was 4.1% higher than March, as per the government statistics office, Indec, as reported by Platts. Production of these petrochemicals in January-April was down 3.7% from the year-earlier period, Indec said in a report that did not give actual volumes. Chemical production fell 11.8% in April compared with a year earlier, but jumped 33.6% compared with March. Output in the first four months of 2013 was down 6.7% compared with the January-April period of 2012. Production of plastic goods by compounders, an indicator of demand for polymers, fell 13.3% in April compared with April 2012 and was down 1.5% compared with March. In the January-April period of this year, output was down 7.9% compared with the same 2012 period. Petrochemical producers used an average of 81.7% of installed capacity in April, down from 83.3% in April 2012 and up from 78.4% in March. Leading producers include state-run YPF and units of LyondellBasell, Dow Chemical, Petrobras and Solvay Group.