Chemours has blamed illegal refrigerant imports for a 6.15% drop in sales of its fluoroporoducts in the first quarter of the year.
In figures released today, Chemours reports that net sales for its fluoroproducts segment in the first quarter of 2019 were $687m in comparison to $732m in the same quarter last year.
Higher demand for R1234yf was said to have been more than offset by illegal imports, softer base refrigerant demand in North America, and supply constraints in fluoropolymers.
Earnings of the Fluoroporoducts division were 23% down on the previous quarter at $159m, due to lower net sales and higher than anticipated costs related to operating issues, including the startup of the company’s Corpus Christi R1234yf facility.
