Según los datos de CEFIC, la producción química europea creció apenas un 0,2% entre enero y junio de 2015. Sin embargo, las previsionesson buenas.
La información de la Federación Europea de la Industria Química (CEFIC) apunta un estancamiento de la producción (+0,2%) en los seis primeros meses del año y una caída de los precios del 4,8%. EN cuanto a las ventas, CEFIC habla de una caída del 4,2% entre enero y mayo de 2015 y de un crecimiento interanual en junio del 1,1%, con descenso de los precios del 2,9%.
La balanza comercial de los productos químicos europeos alcanzó la cifra de 18.100 euros entre enero y mayo de este año, 370 millones de euros menos que en el mismo periodo de hace un año.
Desde CEFIC se apunta el efecto de la caída de las exportaciones a Rusia (cifrada en el -17%), pero las previsiones de producción para el conjunto de 2015 son de crecimiento.
Por lo que respecta a los polímeros, la producción disminuyó en junio un 3%, mientras que la de productos petroquímicos lo hizo un 0,9%. En el lado contrario se situaron los productos químicos inorgánicos, que crecieron un 5,3%, y de las especialidades químicas (+4,7%).
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European chemical output grew just 0.2 per cent during the first half of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, according to the latest Cefic Chemicals Trends Report, while producer prices fell 4.8 per cent, year-on-year. Sales were down 4.2 per cent during the first five months of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. Latest monthly data show output growth of 1.1 per cent in June 2015 compared with June 2014, while EU chemicals prices plunged 2.9 per cent. Confidence in chemicals increased somewhat in the second quarter of 2015 compared to first quarter of the same year. The EU net trade surplus narrowed to €18.1 billion during the first five months of 2015, down by €370 million compared to the same period one year ago.
Cefic Director General Hubert Mandery said: “While the public focus is very much on China these days, we see the biggest change in chemicals business related to Russia. Our exports to Russia are down by 17 per cent, while imports increased by 8 per cent. For now Cefic maintains its EU chemical production growth forecast for 2015”.
Stagnant output growth through June 2015
Polymers output continued to slide in June 2015, down a significant 3.0 per cent compared with June 2014. Petrochemicals fell slightly by 0.9 per cent during the same period. The drop was partially offset by 5.3 per cent growth in output of basic inorganics. Specialty chemicals generated significant output growth (4.7 per cent). Consumer chemicals grew by 0.2 per cent in June. Overall, EU chemicals output crept ahead – just 1.1 per cent in June 2015 year-on-year – and for the first six months was up just 0.2 per cent compared to same period of 2014. After recovering somewhat in the first quarter of 2015, output decreased in the second quarter by 0.7 per cent compared to the previous quarter of the same year.
Chemical prices slide 2.9 per cent in June 2015
Petrochemicals prices declined by 8.6 per cent in June 2015 compared to the same month of 2014. Plastics prices increased by 0.4 per cent in June 2015 compared to same month one year ago. Consumer chemicals prices recorded a modest increase of 0.2 per cent during the same month. All in all, producer prices in the EU chemicals sector declined 2.9 per cent in June 2015 (year-on-year). Last but not least, chemicals prices were down 4.8 per cent during the first half of 2015 compared to the same period one year ago.
Sales down 4.2 per cent during January-May 2015
Total EU chemical sales dropped 4.2 per cent during the first five months of 2015 compared to the same period one year ago. Sales in May 2015 declined by 1.6 per cent compared to May of 2014, remaining relatively unchanged compared to April of 2015.
Net trade surplus down by €370 million during first five month of 2015
The EU net trade surplus narrowed to €18.1 billion during the first five months of 2015, down by €370 million compared to the same period one year ago. The net positive trade balance through June 2015 with non-EU countries – a group including Russia, Turkey and Switzerland – was €3.3 billion, €1.6 billion lower than in the first five months of 2014. Underlying this figure was a sharp fall in net exports to Russia, an important EU chemicals trading partner. Net exports plunged significantly year on year, as exports to Russia fell 16.6 per cent, or €648 million, and imports jumped 8.0 per cent, or €259 million. The EU chemicals trade surplus with Asia – excluding Japan and China – increased by €201 million to €3.27.The EU’s net chemicals trade surplus with China contracted by €708 million. And the European Union widened its chemicals trade surplus with the United States by €1.11 billion to €3.63 billion during Jan-May 2015.
Confidence improves slightly in Q2-2015
The EU chemical industry confidence indicator (CCI) rose slightly in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of the same year. Production expectations for the months ahead decreased somewhat. The level of stocks continued to fall. However, the assessments of order book levels registered a minor improvement during the same quarter. The confidence of producers remains above the long-term average.
FUENTE: Cefic