Perstorp, Sweden -- Speciality chemicals company Perstorp has reported sales up 19 percent to SEK 7428 million ($1018 million) for the first six months of 2010, compared to the same period last year.
Volumes rose 21 percent and prices increased by 10 percent, partly driven by rising raw material prices, Perstorp said in a 26 July company statement. Almost all markets and product segments reported "very favourable volume trends," the company added.
Total sales were up to SEK 3821 million in the second quarter of 2010 (Q2), compared to SEK 3607 million in Q2 2009. Operating earnings before depreciation totalled SEK 927 million, compared to SEK 432 million for the first six months of 2009.
Perstorp ceo Martin Lundin said demand remained high for most of the company's key products in Q2, especially the company's speciality polyols portfolio, HDI (hexamethylene diisocyanate) derivatives, TNP (trinitrophenol), NEO (neopentyl glycol), 2-EHA (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) and in the caprolactones business. "The rise in demand for the latter will be responded to by a significant capacity expansion by Perstorp in 2010," the ceo said in the statement.
Lundin highlighted polyurethanes as one market where the company seeks to expand its offerings in the future.
"The positive trajectory emerging thus far in 2010 thrusts the company into a promising outlook for the rest of the year, with many interesting new projects ahead, adding to the excitement. I look forward to building upon our results as the Perstorp group drives forward," Lundin added. (RD)
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