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(basf) -- BASF Sales in the fisrt quarter of 2012 were higher than in the very good first quarter of the previous year and rose 6% to EUR20.6 billion. Income from operations (EBIT) before special items decreased as expected and, at EUR2.5 billion (down 7%), was slightly below the same quarter of the previous year.
"Increased raw material costs could not be fully passed on in all business areas, which put pressure on our margins. Our Oil & Gas and Agricultural Solutions segments increased their earnings significantly," said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting in the Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim.
Compared with the first quarter of the previous year, EBIT grew by 22% to EUR3.1 billion. Special items in EBIT resulted primarily from gains of EUR645 million on the disposal of thefertilizer business. EBITDA rose by EUR525 million to EUR3.9 billion.
MRC
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BASF took a solid start in 2012
BASF India increased sales increase of 14.8%
(plastemart) -- BASF India Limited has registered an increase in sales of 14.8 % in FY 2011-2012 as compared to the previous fiscal. The total sales figure has gone up to Rs. 35159 mln as compared to Rs. 30639 mln in the previous year.
⌠We achieved an increase in sales in FY 2011-2012 inspite of a difficult business environment, said Mr. Prasad Chandran, Chairman & Managing Director, BASF India Limited.
"Our focus on customers, cost-efficiencies and an integrated business approach, while increasing our engagement in high growth markets has been highly beneficial. We will continue to take advantage of improved demand from end-use industries and leverage our product innovations successfully in India", he concluded.
MRC
Russia's PhosAgro phosphorus fertilizer output up 4.9%
(Reuters) -- Russian fertiliser group Phosagro said on Thursday its first-quarter 2012 fertiliser sales volumes increased by 9.4 percent to 1.07 million tonnes, year-on-year.
Its production of phosphate-based fertilisers for the same period increased by 4.9 percent and reached 1.08 million tonnes, the company added.
PhosAgro controls Azot Cherepovets and Ammophos in the Vologda region of northern Russia, Balakovo Mineral Fertilizers in the Saratov region of central Russia, as well as the Apatit mining company in northern Russia.
New LDPE capacities to come onstream in the Middle East
(plastemart) -- Two new LDPE plants are slated to come onstream in the Middle East in June, according to market sources.
As the scheduled start-up dates draw near, some players have started to voice their opinion about the prospect of the LDPE market, arguing "The extra availability may put pressure on LDPE prices as these plants are coming online at a time when prices have already turned down."
Qatar Petrochemical Company is planning to start up its new 300,000 tpa LDPE plant at Mesaieed by the end of June while Saudi Kayan is set to commission its new LDPE plant with the same capacity in June as well.
MRC
As the scheduled start-up dates draw near, some players have started to voice their opinion about the prospect of the LDPE market, arguing "The extra availability may put pressure on LDPE prices as these plants are coming online at a time when prices have already turned down."
Qatar Petrochemical Company is planning to start up its new 300,000 tpa LDPE plant at Mesaieed by the end of June while Saudi Kayan is set to commission its new LDPE plant with the same capacity in June as well.
MRC
South American film maker adds BOPET line
(plasticstoday) -- OPP Film SA, headquartered in Lima, Peru, will begin offering biaxial oriented polyester (BOPET) film starting in early 2013, according to an announcement. Part of the Oben Holding Group, OPP Film has purchased a new Bruckner Maschinenbau line with a nameplate capacity of 35,000 MTPA. OPP Film is adding BOPET capabilities in response to customer demand.
The high-speed, 8.7m-wide BOPET line adds to OPP Film's current product offering of biaxial oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and case polypropylene (CPP) films. The company also recently started two new BOPP lines and started up its newest cast film line in July of this year.
"We are proud of these continuing advancements in our production capabilities," said Alfredo Barreda, VP, OPP Film SA. "The superior technology of this new BOPET unit will provide our customers with a highly desirable product, enabling them to gain more market share. Our BOPET films will be available with special treatments, metalized and favorable heat-sealing characteristics."