据安迅思伦敦5月6日消息，根据英国化学工业协会(CIA)的数据，英国化工行业在连续7个季度扩张的基础上，预计第二季度销售额将继续增长，但利润率面临压力。

CIA表示：“由于动荡的经济气候，在一些人认为做生意很艰难的时期，英国化工行业短期内仍相对乐观。然而，由于成本压力、短缺和持续的危机，长期前景不太乐观。”

CIA称，一项定期商业调查的最新结果突显出该行业的韧性，多数受访者第一季销售收入增长，出口和国内市场的强劲增长推动了生产。然而，超过90%的受访者抱怨原材料和能源价格上涨，超过85%的受访者表示进出口成本上涨。CIA补充称，虽然成本传递程度很高，但利润率继续下降。

CIA首席执行官史蒂夫·艾略特表示：“在能源价格和原材料成本急剧上涨且几乎没有缓解迹象的情况下，我们的行业再次展示了非凡的表现。但我们正面临日益严峻的资源和能力挑战。”

庞晓华 摘译自 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.