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, the government statistics office, Indec, said Thursday.
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, Indec said, 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.
Output of urea and other chemicals for fertilizers rose 12.7% in April compared with April 2012 and was down 6.5% compared with March. Production rose 1.5% in the January-April period of this year compared with the year-earlier period.
Production of industrial gases fell 2% in April on the year and was up 1.6% compared with March. In the first four months of this year, output fell 3.1% on year.
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.
Production of tires, a sign of demand for synthetic rubber and its polymer feedstock, rose 25% in April on the year and 2.9% compared with March. Output in the first four months of 2013 was up 19.8% compared with the January-April 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.
