Brazilian petrochemical maker Braskem reported that its sales of recycled resins and chemicals increased in the third quarter of 2020. During the period, Braskem sold 1.402 million tons of recycled resins and chemicals globally, surging 133% from the previous quarter and 43% from the same quarter in 2019. Braskem attributed the increase to the economic recovery after the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the constant growth of the recycled resins and chemicals markets.
Recycled resins sales increased 51% year-on-year to 381,000 tons in the third quarter in Brazil. Sales of green chemicals in Brazil were down 2% year-on-year to 412,000 tons. However, it represents an 18% increase from the second quarter. Resins sales reached 324,000 tons in the US and 285,000 tons in Mexico.
Braskem’s sales of green polyethylene made of feedstock ethanol were down 2% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter due to maintenance turnaround in the third quarter. The turnaround resulted in a lower Green Ethylene utilization rate of 79% in the third quarter, falling from 90% in the second quarter and 94% in the corresponding period in 2019.
