Sabic profits slump 35 per cent

26 July 2002

Net profits at Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic)reached SR 985 million ($263 million) in the first half of 2002, a 35 per cent fall over the corresponding period last year. The decrease came despite a stronger second quarter, with net profits climbing by 123 per cent to SR 680 million ($181 million - MEED 26:4:02).

The fall in profits has been attributed to the depressed state of the global petrochemical market. However, Sabic says that that the situation is improving, as highlighted by the large increase in profits in the second quarter over the first.

During the first half of the year, production was up by 4 per cent at 17.8 million tonnes a year (t/y) and sales volumes increased by 5 per cent to 14 million t/y. Total profits in 2001 were SR 1,782 million ($475 million), a fall of 51 per cent on the record of 2000, when the oil price, and therefore the comparative feedstock price advantage, was at its highest.

The company's acquisition of DSM Petrochemicals, which was completed at the start of July, is not expected to have an impact on reported profits until the end of the year, the company says.

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.