Braskem S.A. record free cash flow of R$7.1 billion in 2018, advancing 187% from 2017

SÃO PAULO, March 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- BRASKEM S.A. (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK) announces today its results for 4Q18 and 2018.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Braskem - Consolidated:

    --  The Company posted free cash flow of R$7,068 million, or 187% more than
        in 2017.
    --  The Company posted EBITDA of US$ 3,105 million.
    --  Net income was R$2,867 million, down 30% from 2017, corresponding to
        R$3.60 per common share and class "A" preferred share.
    --  Financial leverage measured by the ratio of net debt to EBITDA in U.S.
        dollars ended 2018 at 2.06x.
    --  The Company's management is proposing to the Annual Shareholders
        Meeting, to be held on April 16, 2019, the distribution of dividends in
        the amount of R$2,670 million related to fiscal year 2018, equivalent to
        100% of the net income distributable to shareholders.
    --  The recordable and lost-time injury frequency rate (CAF+SAF) per million
        hours worked considering both Members and Partners was 1.07 in the year,
        which is 66% below the industry average.

Brazil:

    --  Demand for resins (PE, PP and PVC) came to 5.2 million tons, up 2.4%
        from 2017.
    --  In 2018, Braskem's crackers operated at an average capacity utilization
        rate of 91%, down 3 p.p. from 2017.
    --  In this scenario, resin sales in Brazil came to 3.4 million tons, down
        2% from 2017; and sales of key chemicals were 1% higher than 2017.
    --  In 2018, the units in Brazil (including exports) posted an EBITDA of
        US$1,905 million (R$6,985 million), accounting for 61% of the Company's
        consolidated EBITDA from all segments.

United States and Europe:

    --  PP demand in the U.S. market grew about 3% in comparison to 2017.
    --  Plants in the region operated at an average capacity utilization of 87%,
        down 10 p.p. from 2017.
    --  In the year, the units in the United States and Europe posted an EBITDA
        of US$608 million (R$2,208 million), representing 19% of the Company's
        consolidated EBITDA.

Mexico:

    --  PE Demand in Mexico was 2.1 million tons, representing growth of 2.7% in
        relation to 2017.
    --  The PE plants operated at a capacity utilization rate of 77%, down 11
        p.p. from 2017, due to the lower supply of ethane in the period and the
        scheduled shutdown in May.
    --  In the year, the Mexico unit posted EBITDA of US$617 million (R$2,251
        million), representing 20% of the Company's consolidated EBITDA.

The full earnings release is available on the Company's IR website: http://www.braskem-ri.com.br/home-en

Braskem will host conference calls to discuss its Results TOMORROW, March 14, at 01:00 p.m. US ET. See connecting details on the Company's IR website.

For further information, contact Braskem's Investor Relations Area:
braskem-ri@braskem.com.br, (+55 11) 3576-9531.

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SOURCE Braskem S.A.