Arkema reports Q1 sales up by 20%

$0$0$0$0$0ERJ staff report (RD)$0$0Paris -- French company Arkema, which sells self-healing elastomers and chemicals for the cross-linking and rubber industry, has reported sales up by 20 percent to Euro 1308 in the first quarter of 2010 (Q1), compared to the same period last year. $0$0Volumes increased by over 20 percent in Q1 over the first quarter of 2009 due to sustained strong demand in Asia, signs of recovery in North America and expanding new energy markets, a recent company statement said. $0$0The company's Industrial Chemicals business, which represents 51 percent of sales, reported year-on-year sales up 30 percent to Euro 661 million in Q1, notig that “developments in Asia, in hydrogen peroxide and in fluorogases, continued to bear fruits.”$0$0Representing 28 percent of sales, Arkema's Performance Products business reported year-on-year sales up 15 percent to Euro 372 million in Q1, reflecting a rebound in volumes from sustained demand in automotive and in Asia for high performance polymer and organic peroxides, the statement said. $0$0“Arkema is pleased with the performance of the Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products segments, which accounted for 80 percent of our sales and generated a 14.5 percent EBITDA margin in the quarter,” said Arkema ceo, Thierry Le Hénaff. $0$0“The quarter was also marked by two major and highly positive events for the Company: the closing of the acquisition and the integration of the acrylic assets purchased from Dow in a steadily improving market, and the successful startup of our new fluorogas plant at Changshu in China,” Le Hénaff said.$0$0“For the full year 2010, Arkema is confident in its ability to generate an EBITDA very significantly above 2009 while continuing to closely monitor the developments of still volatile market conditions,” the ceo added.$0$0$0This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.$0$0Press release from Arkema$0$0$0