Braskem(US:BAK)2025-02-27 18:50Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, Braskem reported a consolidated recurring EBITDA of US$102 million, with operating cash generation of US$204 million and recurring cash generation of US$45 million [7] - For the full year 2024, consolidated EBITDA reached US$1.1 billion, a 46% increase compared to 2023, with operating cash generation of approximately US$788 million [8] - The company's leverage ratio improved to approximately 7.42 times, a reduction of 0.7 times compared to the previous quarter [9][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Brazil, the recurring EBITDA for the petrochemical segment was US$889 million, a 1% increase over the previous year, driven by higher sales volume of main chemicals [14] - The green polyethylene sales increased by 24% in Q4 2024, with annual sales reaching an all-time high of 191,000 tons, a 23% increase year-over-year [16] - The United States and Europe segment's recurring EBITDA was US$177 million, a 34% decrease compared to 2023, attributed to lower production and sales volumes [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average global accident frequency rate improved to 0.91 events per million hours worked, a 16% reduction compared to 2023 [10] - The Mexican segment saw a 5% increase in polyethylene sales for the year, while Q4 sales decreased by 6% due to seasonality [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Braskem's strategic focus includes enhancing financial health, optimizing asset utilization, and increasing the use of ethane as a feedstock to improve competitiveness [35][37] - The company plans to accelerate the growth of its green business and has announced a project to increase ethane capacity in Rio de Janeiro by 220,000 tons per year [39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the first quarter of 2025 is expected to show higher utilization rates across all segments, driven by stable feedstock supply and increased demand [32] - The company anticipates challenges in international spreads due to new capacities oversupplying the market, but expects potential improvements in global demand influenced by geopolitical resolutions [34] Other Important Information - Braskem increased its provision for the Alagoas event by US$1.3 billion, with a total provision balance of R$17.7 billion at the end of 2024 [25][27] - The company issued US$850 million in debt securities in October 2024, maturing in 2034, to maintain financial health [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company view the competitive scenario with respect to imports after the increase in import taxes? - Management emphasized the importance of balancing market share and price policy to ensure the quality of the Brazilian chemical industry, noting that the increase in tariffs has helped protect local producers [41][47] Question: What gains are expected from the newly acquired vessel for logistics optimization? - Management highlighted that owning the vessel will enhance competitiveness by reducing dependency on external shipping and improving operational efficiency for transporting ethane [62][72] Question: What is included in the 2025 CapEx and how does it compare to historical maintenance CapEx? - The company announced a 2025 CapEx of US$484 million, with maintenance CapEx expected to remain around US$550 million, focusing on strategic investments that generate positive cash flow [80][82]