據安迅思倫敦5月6日消息，根據英國化學工業協會(CIA)的數據，英國化工行業在連續7個季度擴張的基礎上，預計第二季度銷售額將繼續增長，但利潤率面臨壓力。

CIA表示：“由于動蕩的經濟氣候，在一些人認為做生意很艱難的時期，英國化工行業短期內仍相對樂觀。然而，由于成本壓力、短缺和持續的危機，長期前景不太樂觀。”

CIA稱，一項定期商業調查的最新結果突顯出該行業的韌性，多數受訪者第一季銷售收入增長，出口和國內市場的強勁增長推動了生產。然而，超過90%的受訪者抱怨原材料和能源價格上漲，超過85%的受訪者表示進出口成本上漲。CIA補充稱，雖然成本傳遞程度很高，但利潤率繼續下降。

CIA首席執行官史蒂夫·艾略特表示：“在能源價格和原材料成本急劇上漲且幾乎沒有緩解跡象的情況下，我們的行業再次展示了非凡的表現。但我們正面臨日益嚴峻的資源和能力挑戰。”

龐曉華 摘譯自 ICIS

原文如下：

UK chemicals sales to grow in Q2 but margins continue to fall

The UK chemical sector expects sales to continue to grow in the second quarter, building on seven successive quarters of expansion, but margins are under pressure, according to the country’s trade body Chemical Industries Association (CIA).

“In what has been regarded by some as a ‘brutal time to do business’, due to the volatile economic climate, the UK chemical sector remains relatively optimistic in the short term,” CIA said.“However, with cost pressures, shortages and the ongoing crisis ，the longer-term outlook is less optimistic,” it added.

Latest results of a regular business survey underscore the sector’s resilience, the CIA said, showing sales growth for most respondents in the first quarter, with strong growth in the export and domestic markets driving up production.More than 90% of respondents reported increases in raw material and energy prices, however, and over 85% reported increases in the cost of importing and exporting.There was a high level of cost pass-through, but margins continued to fall, the CIA added.

“Yet again our industry has demonstrated an extraordinary performance in arduous times, with energy prices and raw material costs rising steeply and showing little sign of easing,” said the CIA’s CEO, Steve Elliott.“We are seeing an increasing resource and competence challenge,” he said.