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.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/braskem-sa-record-free-cash-flow-of-r7-1-billion-in-2018--advancing-187-from-2017--300812118.html

SOURCE Braskem S.A.