Higher international sales boost 2015 earnings above forecast for many chemical leaders

摘要

Raw materials costs continue to stay low in the US thanks to the shale boom, but the global decline in oil markets has eroded selling prices for many of the nation's domestic chemicals and plastics producers. As it turns out, a high raw volume of sales to Asia and Europe has been the saving grace for chemical companies in 2015, as the cost advantages from US-sourced ethane and propane remain strong. Thus far, 2015 earnings reports for most of the industry have come in ahead of analyst expectations, with many leaders pointing to rising international volumes offsetting weaker prices.