On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Braskem (BRKM5) released its production and sales report for the second quarter of 2026, highlighting an increase in petrochemical spreads in its main markets. In Brazil, the resin spread reached US$ 653 per ton, the spread for main chemicals was US$ 620 per ton and the U.S. PE spread (polyethylene used as a reference for Brazil) was US$ 866 per ton in 2Q26.
Compared to the first quarter of 2026, the U.S. PE spread in Brazil rose 101%, while the main chemicals spread increased 98% and the resin spread advanced 82%. Versus 2Q25, these spreads grew 103%, 67% and 69%, respectively. In Mexico, the North America PE spread (difference between U.S. PE and U.S. ethane prices) reached US$ 1,425 per ton, up 73% compared to 1Q26 and 98% year over year.
In the Brazil/South America segment, the average ethylene utilization rate stood at 70% in 2Q26, 1 percentage point higher than in 1Q26 and 4 points lower than in 2Q25. Resin sales totaled 763 thousand tons, down 2% versus 1Q26 and 8% compared to 2Q25, while sales of main chemicals came to 598 thousand tons, a decline of 4% quarter over quarter and 5% year over year. Resin exports reached 175 thousand tons, a decrease of 4% versus 1Q26 and 23% compared to 2Q25, whereas exports of main chemicals came to 60 thousand tons, an increase of 55% in both comparisons.
In the renewable products business, the average utilization rate of green ethylene was 66% in 2Q26, 2 percentage points higher than in 1Q26 and 5 points lower than in 2Q25. Sales of Green PE (polyethylene from renewable sources) totaled 39 thousand tons, up 49% from the previous quarter and down 19% year over year.
In the United States and Europe, the average utilization rate of PP (polypropylene) plants fell to 76% in 2Q26, 3 percentage points below 1Q26 and 2 points above 2Q25, with sales of 499 thousand tons, virtually flat quarter over quarter and 1% lower than a year earlier. The average U.S. and Europe PP spread reached US$ 469 per ton, an increase of 28% versus 1Q26 and 24% compared to 2Q25. In Mexico, the average utilization rate of PE plants was 43%, a drop of 12 percentage points versus 1Q26 and 1 point below 2Q25, with sales of 125 thousand tons, down 11% in the quarter and 20% year over year.
