As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2021

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

☐       REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR

12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

☒       ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

OR

☐       TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

☐       SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 001-14862

BRASKEM S.A.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Rua Lemos Monteiro, 120 – 24° andar
Butantã – São Paulo, SP – CEP 05501-050 – Brazil

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Pedro van Langendonck Teixeira de Freitas

Braskem S.A.

Rua Lemos Monteiro, 120 – 24° andar

Butantã – São Paulo, SP – CEP 05501-050 – Brazil

Telephone: + 55 11 3576-9000

Fax: + 55 11 3576-9532

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

6.450% Notes due 2024, issued by Braskem Finance Limited

The total number of issued shares of each class of stock of Braskem S.A. as of December 31, 2020 was:

451,668,652 Common Shares, without par value

345,049,672 Preferred Shares, Class A, without par value

500,230 Preferred Shares, Class B, without par value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes  ☒     No   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒ Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    ☐  Item 17    ☐  Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

All references herein to “real,” “reais” or “R$” are to the Brazilian real, the official currency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, or Brazil. All references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars” or “US$” are to U.S. dollars, the official currency of the United States. All references to “CHF” are to Swiss francs, the official currency of Switzerland.

All references herein to (1) “we,” “us,” “the Company” or “our Company” are references to Braskem S.A., its consolidated subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities, and (2) “Braskem” are references solely to Braskem S.A. All references herein to “Braskem Europe” are to Braskem Europe GmbH and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Braskem America, Inc., or Braskem America.

Financial Statements

We maintain our books and records in reais. Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the three years ended December 31, 2020 have been audited, as stated in the report appearing therein, and are included in this annual report. These financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report are collectively referred to as our audited consolidated financial statements herein and throughout this annual report.

We have prepared our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS.

Change to Reportable Segments

Until December 31, 2019, our five reportable petrochemical segments were: Chemicals, Polyolefins, Vinyls, USA and Europe, and Mexico. As from January 1, 2020, we made changes to our macro structure to seek synergies in all of the regions in which we operate to achieve a more integrated operational performance. As a result of these changes, our management revised the structure of our internal reporting with a focus on our petrochemical operational expansion and internationalization with a view to simplifying and streamlining the work and decision-making processes, which led us to adopt a new structure for petrochemical reporting segments by region. As from January 1, 2020, our three reporting segments are as follows:

Information by segment is generated from accounting records, and is reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

The eliminations stated in the operating segment information, when compared with the consolidated balances, are represented by transfers of inputs between segments that are measured as arm’s length sales.

Market Share and Other Information

We make statements in this annual report about our market share in the petrochemical industry in Brazil and our production capacity relative to that of other petrochemical producers in Brazil, other countries in Latin America, the United States and the world. We have made these statements on the basis of information obtained from third-party sources that we believe are reliable. We have calculated our Brazilian market share with respect to specific products by dividing our domestic net sales volumes of these products by the total Brazilian domestic consumption of these products. We derive information regarding the production capacity of other companies in the Brazilian petrochemical industry and the estimated total Brazilian domestic consumption of petrochemical products principally from reports published by the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Associação Brasileira da Indústria Química), or ABIQUIM. We derive information regarding the production capacity of other companies in the global petrochemical industry, international market prices for petrochemical products and per capita consumption in certain geographic regions, principally from reports published by IHS, Inc., or IHS. We derive information relating to Brazilian imports and exports from the ComexStat (http://comexstat.mdic.gov.br), produced by the Brazilian Ministry of the Economy (Ministério da Economia). We also include information and statistics regarding economic growth in emerging economies obtained from the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, and statistics regarding gross domestic product, or GDP, growth in Brazil, the United States, Europe and Mexico obtained from independent public sources such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), or the IBGE; the U.S. Department of Commerce; the statistical office of the European Union, or Eurostat; and the Mexican Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía).

We have no reason to believe that the information described above is inaccurate in any material respect. However, we have not independently verified the production capacity, market share, market size or similar data provided by third parties or derived from industry or general publications.

We provide information regarding domestic apparent consumption of some of our products based on information available from the Brazilian government, the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada) and ABIQUIM. Domestic apparent consumption is equal to domestic production plus imports minus exports. Domestic apparent consumption for any period may differ from actual consumption because this measure does not give effect to variations of inventory levels in the petrochemical supply chain.

Certain Industry Terms

Glossary of Selected Terms in the Petrochemical Industry and in the Context of Our Business

Certain Other Selected Terms Used in This Annual Report

As used in this annual report:

Rounding

We have made rounding adjustments to some of the amounts included in this annual report. As a result, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the amounts that precede them.

Currency Conversion

Solely for the convenience of the reader, we have translated certain amounts included in “Item 3. Key Information— Selected Financial and Other Information” and elsewhere in this annual report from reais into U.S. dollars using the selling rate as reported by the Brazilian Central Bank as of December 31, 2020 of R$5.1967 to US$1.00. These translations should not be considered representations that any such amounts have been, could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at that or at any other exchange rate.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains forward-looking statements. Some of the matters discussed concerning our business operations and financial performance include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “would,” or the opposite of these terms or other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these statements are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. Our actual outcomes and results of operations may differ materially from what we have expressed or forecast in the forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements may be influenced by numerous factors, including the following:

Our forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and our actual results or other developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. As for forward-looking statements that relate to future financial results and other projections, actual results will be different due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections. Because of these uncertainties, potential investors should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

PART I

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Exchange Rates

The current laws and regulations governing the Brazilian foreign exchange system allow the purchase and sale of foreign currency and the international transfer of reais by any person or legal entity, regardless of the amount, subject to certain regulatory procedures. Since 1999, the Central Bank has allowed the U.S. dollar-real exchange rate to float freely, and, since then, the U.S. dollar-real exchange rate has fluctuated considerably.

In the past, the Central Bank has intervened occasionally to control unstable movements in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Central Bank or the Brazilian government will continue to permit the real to float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market through the return of a currency band system or otherwise. The real may depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar substantially. Furthermore, Brazilian law provides that, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or there are serious reasons to foresee a serious imbalance, temporary restrictions may be imposed on remittances of foreign capital abroad. We cannot assure you that such measures will not be taken by the Brazilian government in the future. See “—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Brazil—Brazilian government exchange control policies could increase the cost of servicing our foreign currency-denominated debt, adversely affect our ability to make payments under our foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and impair our liquidity” and “—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Equity and Debt Securities—If holders of the ADSs exchange them for class A preferred shares, they may risk temporarily losing, or being limited in, the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and certain Brazilian tax advantages.”

Risk Factors 

Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry

Global or regional health pandemics or epidemics, including that related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was reported to have surfaced in China in December 2019 and spread to the rest of the world, or by other pandemics or epidemics of similar nature. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted economic activity and markets around the world, and its severity, magnitude and duration are highly uncertain, rapidly changing and difficult to predict. At this time, our management cannot fully predict with certainty the final effects that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business, financial condition and results of operations and whether these effects will be material to us. The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to modify certain of our business practices, and we may take further actions as required by government authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and suppliers. Based on operating data for the year 2020 and the publicly reported expected impact on certain industries that are customers to our products (such as automotive and construction), we believe that COVID-19 has affected our business in numerous ways, including, but not limited to, reduction of our production, sales volume and net revenue, increase of some of our costs, and decrease of our gross margin.

We have closely monitored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the communities located in the regions in which we operate. On March 20, 2020, we formed a crisis committee to establish procedures focusing on the health and safety of our employees and the continuity of our operations. To that end, we have adopted the following measures: (i) ordered all of our employees and contractors who were most vulnerable to COVID-19 to work remotely until criteria for a safe return to their worksite were met; (ii) ordered all of our employees and contractors who were not directly related to the safe continuity of our operations to work remotely until criteria for a safe return to their worksite were met; (iii) reduced the number of employees and contractors working at our industrial plants and prioritized operations with fewer people, while ensuring that all rules relating to ensuring personal safety and operational reliability were followed; (iv) restricted visits by non-routine third parties and suppliers to our facilities; (v) created agendas jointly with our customers and local communities to assess whether products on our portfolio could be used to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic; and (vi) created, implemented and monitored the indicators of the Plan for Safe Return to Braskem plants and offices.

During the second quarter of 2020, the capacity utilization rates of our plants in Brazil and the United States were temporarily reduced to 70% and 90%, respectively, to adjust to the weaker demand for our products and to the destocking trend in the petrochemical and plastics production chains. The capacity utilization rates followed market demand and export opportunities that arose in other regions, especially with the restart of economies in Asia, which occurred before other regions of the world.

During the third quarter of 2020, there was strong recovery in demand for resins in Brazil and in the United States that led the capacity utilization rates of the petrochemical plants to return to normal levels. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the demand for resins remained strong and the capacity utilization rates in Brazil and the United States remained at levels similar to those of the previous quarter.

In Europe and Mexico, the capacity utilization rates returned to their normal levels in the second quarter of 2020, following the gradual recovery in demand, resulting in capacity utilization rates of 83% and 80%, respectively. With regard to the fourth quarter of 2020, despite the recovery in demand that began in the previous quarter, the capacity utilization rate in Europe was 64% due to the scheduled shutdown of our European plant.

During 2020, we adopted cash-preservation measures to ensure the financial stability and resilience of our business, which included: (i) drawing down a revolving credit facility in the amount of US$1.0 billion in April 2020, which comes due in 2023; at the end of July 2020, we Company prepaid the facility in full, in an amount corresponding to R$5.5 billion; (ii) issuing bonds in the international market by our subsidiary Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V., in July 2020, in the amount of US$600.0 million (R$3.2 billion); (iii) reducing fixed costs by 9% compared to the same period of 2019; (iv) reducing investments planned for 2020, from US$721.0 million (R$3.9 billion) to US$555.0 million (R$2.8 billion); and (v) optimizing our working capital.

We continue to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business and geographies, including how it may impact our customers, team members, suppliers, business partners and distribution channels. We are at this time unable to fully predict the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our financial position and results of operations due to numerous uncertainties that we are unable to predict or control, such as the severity of the virus, the duration of the outbreak, governmental, business or other actions, which could include additional limitations on our operations or mandates to provide products or services, impacts on our supply chains, the effect on customer demand, plant closures or changes to our operations. We cannot predict the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our customers, suppliers and other business partners, and any material effect on these parties could also adversely impact us. The effects on the health of our workforce, and our ability to meet staffing needs in our plants, distribution facilities, sale operations and other critical functions cannot be predicted. Further, the impacts of the expected worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets, consumer and corporate spending as well as other unanticipated consequences remain unknown. The pandemic has resulted in, and may continue to result in, significant disruption of global financial markets, which may reduce our ability to access capital or our customers’ ability to pay us for past or future purchases, which could negatively affect our liquidity.

While we are actively managing our response to potential impacts that are identified, we may not be able to respond to all impacts on a timely basis to prevent adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The cyclical nature of the petrochemical industry may reduce our net revenue and gross margin.

The petrochemical industry, including the global markets in which we compete, is cyclical and sensitive to changes in global supply and demand. This cyclicality may reduce our net revenue, increase our costs and decrease our gross margin, including as follows:

Historically, the international petrochemical markets have experienced alternating periods of limited supply, which have caused prices and profit margins to increase, followed by expansion of production capacity, which has resulted in oversupply and reduced prices and profit margins. Prices in the petrochemical industry follow the global petrochemical industry, and we establish the prices for the products we sell in Brazil, other countries in Latin America, the United States and the world with reference to international market prices. Therefore, our net revenue, feedstock costs and gross margin are increasingly linked to global industry conditions that we cannot control, and which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Adverse conditions in the petrochemical industry may adversely affect demand for our products.

Sales of our petrochemical and chemical products are tied to global production levels and demand, which can be affected by macro-economic factors such as interest rates, international oil prices, shifts to alternative products, consumer confidence, employment trends, regulatory and legislative oversight requirements, trade agreements, as well as regional disruptions, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, or other global events. Therefore, our net revenue, feedstock costs and gross margin are increasingly linked to global conditions that we cannot control, and which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial position. For example, the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively impact supply chains worldwide and demand for our products. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, actions to contain it or treat its impact, among others.

Our revenue from certain of our customers is significant, and the credit risks associated with these customers could adversely affect our results of operations.

We engage in a number of transactions where counterparty credit risk is a relevant factor, including transactions with certain of our customers and those businesses we work with to provide services, among others. These risks are dependent upon market conditions and also the real and perceived viability of the counterparty. The failure or perceived weakness of any of our counterparties has the potential to expose us to risk of loss in certain situations. Our revenue from certain of our customers is significant, and the credit risks associated with these customers could adversely affect our results of operations. Certain contracts and arrangements that we enter into with counterparties may provide us with indemnification clauses to protect us from financial loss. To the extent the credit quality of these customers deteriorates or these customers seek bankruptcy protection, our ability to collect our receivables, and ultimately our results of operations, may be adversely affected. In addition, delays in payment cycles by significant customers may adversely affect our liquidity and working capital.

In addition, we are dependent on certain of our customers and their economic or competitive weaknesses. If the viability of the business of certain of our customers deteriorates, it could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations.

Our results may be adversely affected by increases in expected credit losses.

We have a large balance of accounts receivable and have established a reserve for the portion of such accounts receivable that we estimate will not be collected because of our customers’ non-payment.

If the viability of the business of certain of our customers deteriorates or our credit policies are ineffective in reducing our exposure to credit risk relating to such customers, additional increases in expected credit losses accounts may be necessary, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations. We record expected credit losses in an amount we consider sufficient to cover estimated losses on the realization of our trade accounts receivable, taking into account our loss experience and the aging of our accounts receivable, but we cannot assure you that these amounts will be sufficient to cover eventual losses. In addition, delays in payment cycles by significant customers may adversely affect our liquidity and working capital.

As of December 31, 2020, our total trade accounts receivable, net of expected credit losses (R$173.0 million) was R$4,755.2 million.

Global macroeconomic factors have had, and may continue to have, adverse effects on the margins that we realize on our products.

Our results of operations may be materially affected by adverse conditions in the financial markets and depressed economic conditions generally. Economic downturns in geographic areas or jurisdictions in which we sell our products may substantially reduce demand for our products and result in decreased sales volumes. Recessionary environments adversely affect our business because demand for our products is reduced.

According to the IMF, the world’s GDP contracted by 3.5% in 2020, a decrease of 6.8 percentage points as compared to the world’s GDP growth during 2019. In 2020, Brazil’s GDP contracted by 4.1%, compared to growth of 1.1% in 2019, 1.3% in 2018 and 1.0% in 2017.

According to the IMF, the U.S. GDP contracted by 3.4% in 2020 as compared to growth of 2.3%, 2.9% and 2.3% in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In addition, according to the IMF, European GDP contracted by 7.2% in 2020 and the Mexican GDP contracted by 8.5% in 2020.

Our ability to export to other countries depends on the level of economic growth in those countries and other economic conditions, including prevailing inflation and interest rates. In addition, disruptions in the global balance between supply and demand may impair our ability to export our products in response to a decline in domestic demand for these products. Prolonged volatility in economic activity in our key export markets, such as South America, Europe and Asia, could continue to reduce demand for some of our products and lead to increased margin pressure by importers into Brazil, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

We face competition from producers of polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and other products.

We face strong competition across all of our products. Our U.S. operations face competition in the United States from other U.S. producers of polypropylene and the other foreign producers of polypropylene that serve the United States. Our German operations face competition in Europe and the other export markets that it serves from European and other foreign producers of polypropylene. Our Mexico operations face competition from Mexican and U.S. producers of polyethylene producers. Competitors from South America are able to export to Brazil with reduced or no import duties. In addition, producers of almost all continents have regular or spot sales to trading companies and direct customers in Brazil for our products, including resins.

We generally set the prices for our second generation products sold in Brazil with reference to the prices charged for these products by foreign producers in international markets. We generally set the prices for our second generation products exported from Brazil based on international spot market prices. We set the prices for polypropylene sold in the United States and Europe based on regional market pricing. The price for polyethylene in Mexico is based on prices for the polymer in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.

As a result of the recently commissioned gas-based ethylene capacity and of the expected new capacity for production of resins and petrochemicals, coupled with the competitive pricing of the ethane as feedstock for petrochemicals production, we anticipate that we may experience increased competition from producers of thermoplastic resins, especially from North American, Middle East and Chinese producers, in the markets in which we sell these products.

In addition, the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar may increase the competitiveness of prices of imported products in reais, which may increase the competition in Brazil from other producers of second generation products. Some of our foreign competitors are substantially larger and have greater financial, manufacturing, technological and/or marketing resources than us. Also, the appreciation of the Euro against the U.S dollar may increase the competitiveness of prices of imported products denominated in Euro and, as a consequence, increase competition from imports and the appreciation of Mexican peso against the U.S dollar may increase the competition in Mexico from other producers of second generation products.

We may face competition from producers of substitutes for our products as a result of evolving technology, consumer and industry trends and preferences, and regulatory changes.

We compete in a market that relies on technological innovation and the ability to adapt to evolving consumer and industry trends and preferences. Petrochemical products and other products produced with our petrochemical products, such as consumer plastic items, are subject to changing consumer and industry trends, demands and preferences, as well as stringent regulatory and environmental requirements. Therefore, products once favored may, over time, become disfavored by consumers or industries or no longer be perceived as the best option, which may, therefore, adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Plastic waste and climate change are global environmental concerns that receive growing attention from the population, national and local governments, private companies, trendsetters, and consumers worldwide. There has been a growing trend to attempt to move away from the use of plastic products, which has been backed by governmental and lawmaking initiatives.

In 2019, the European Union parliament approved regulations banning single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds sticks from 2021 and adopting a strategy for disposal of plastic products in a circular economy that aims to significantly increase recycling and targets the plastic products most often found on beaches and in seas. In addition, state and local governments in other countries, for example in China and Brazil, have proposed or implemented bans on single-use plastic products. The expansion of regulation or the prohibition of plastic products use could increase the costs incurred by our customers or otherwise limit the application of these products, and could lead to a decrease in demand for PE, PP and other products we make. Such a decrease in demand could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In response to these developments, we are supporting several initiatives to foster a “circular economy” (reusing and repurposing resources within the economy), including: (i) partnerships to develop new products and applications to improve efficiency and promote recycling and reuse (circular design); (ii) investing in the development of new renewable products to support the circular economy at the beginning of the value chain; (iii) supporting and developing new technologies, business models and systems for recycling and improving recycling chains and recovery of materials; (iv) engaging consumers in recycling and recovery programs, especially through educational programs in connection with responsible consumerism to further knowledge on the value of plastic waste to the economy; (v) supporting and using life cycle assessment tools to select the most sustainable option, considering the economic, social and environmental impacts of plastic; (vi) supporting the measurement and communication of recycling and recovery indicators for plastic packaging materials; (vii) engaging in partnerships to understand, prevent and solve issues associated with mismanagement of plastic residues, especially debris in oceans; and (viii) supporting public policies to improve solid waste management and recycling chains, especially of plastic waste and other initiatives carried out within our industry. There are still many goals to be accomplished to reduce plastic waste and marine litter, which may lead to decreased interest in our products by our customers and consumers, and impact our results of operations and financial condition. Our continued success depends on our ability to continue to differentiate ourselves and our products, and to react to changes in these trends.

Factors that may affect consumer perception of our products, or of consumer goods produced with our products, may include health trends and attention to substitute products perceived as more environmentally friendly. For example, in recent years, we have witnessed a shift in consumer preference moving away from plastic straws and in favor of straws made from other materials, such as paper or other compounds. A failure to react to similar trends in the future could enable our competitors to grow or secure their market share before we have a chance to respond.

In addition, regulations may be amended or enacted in the future that would make it more difficult to appeal to our customers, end consumers, or to leverage the products that we produce. For example, failure to comply with applicable policies, which could lead to lower demand for our products, banning of plastic products without allowing the search for alternatives employing efficient solutions, including resins produced by Braskem, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Also, even if we are able to continue to distinguish our products, there can be no assurance that our competitors (including producers of substitutes) will not be successful in persuading consumers of our products to switch to their products. Some of our competitors may have greater access to resources than we do, which may better position them to react and adapt to evolving trends, preferences, and regulatory changes. Any loss of interest in our products, or consumer products produced with our products, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Higher raw materials costs would increase our cost of products sold and may reduce our gross margin and negatively affect our overall financial performance.

Naphtha, a crude oil derivative, is the principal raw material used by our Brazil Segment (formerly our Chemicals Unit). Naphtha accounted, directly and indirectly, for 35.1% of our consolidated cost of products sold in 2020 and 40.7% in 2019, respectively.

Ethane and propane are the principal raw materials that we use to produce our basic petrochemical products in our petrochemical complex located in Duque de Caxias, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, or the Rio de Janeiro Complex, and represent the principal production and operating cost of such Complex. Ethane and propane accounted, directly and indirectly, for 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively, of our consolidated cost of products sold in 2020 and for 0.5% and 1.0%, respectively, of our consolidated cost of products sold in 2019.

Propylene is the principal raw material that we use to produce polypropylene in the United States and Europe and represents the principal production and operating cost of our USA and Europe Segment. We also purchase propylene in the Brazilian market for certain of our Brazilian polypropylene plants. Propylene accounted, directly and indirectly, for 20.9% and 20.1% of our consolidated costs of products sold in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Ethane is the principal raw material that we use to produce ethylene in the Mexico Complex and represents the principal production and operating cost of the Mexico Complex. Ethane accounted, directly and indirectly, for 1.7% and 1.3% of our consolidated costs of products sold in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In Brazil, we purchase the naphtha used by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment at prices based on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp naphtha price, or the ARA price, and the ethane and propane at Mont Belvieu market prices. We purchase ethane used by our Mexico Segment at prices based on international reference prices. We purchase the propylene used in Brazil and USA plants at prices based on U.S. Gulf reference price, or the USG price. We purchase the propylene used in our Europe plants as reported by ICIS-LOR based on monthly contract price for propylene for Europe. We purchase refinery off gas at a price related to imported natural gas price.

The ARA price of naphtha fluctuates primarily based on changes in the U.S. dollar-based price of Brent crude oil on the Intercontinental Exchange based in London. In 2020, the ARA price of naphtha decreased 29.7% from US$505.3 per ton in 2019 to US$355 per ton in 2020, which was the result of lower oil prices due to the lower oil demand that was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the Mont Belvieu prices of ethane averaged US$0.19 per gallon, or US$140.7 per ton, decreasing 12.3% from 2019, driven by higher supply associated with the: (i) startup of new gas fractionators and pipelines for transportation; and (ii) delays in the startup of new petrochemical crackers.

In 2020, the USG price for propylene averaged US$734 per ton, 10.5% lower than 2019, mainly due to lower oil price in the international market.

The European price reference for propylene averaged US$827 per ton in 2020, or 19.3% lower than in 2019, mainly due to lower oil price in the international market. The price of naphtha, ethane, propane and propylene in U.S. dollars has been, and may continue to be, volatile. In addition, fluctuations of the U.S. dollar in the future may effectively increase our naphtha, ethane, propane and propylene costs in reais. Any increase in naphtha, ethane, propane or propylene costs would reduce our gross margin and negatively affect our overall financial performance to the extent we are unable to pass on these increased costs to our customers and could result in reduced sales volumes of our products.

We do not hedge against price changes in our raw materials and, as a result, we are exposed to such fluctuations.

Currently, we do not hedge our exposure to feedstock price changes beyond transit periods when buying cargoes from foreign sources. We believe there is a natural hedge in the petrochemical industry operations, mainly due to the historical correlation observed between naphtha, the principal feedstock of a marginal producer, and its final products (PE, PP, PVC, and others). Historically, naphtha price fluctuations show a high correlation with changes in the first- and second-generation petrochemical products. Therefore, any hedge solely with respect to naphtha’s price would break this natural protection, most likely making our results more volatile. However, in light of our ongoing feedstock diversification, with ethane and propane representing a more significant portion of our variable costs, the natural hedge described above has weakened. Compared to naphtha and propylene, ethane and propane prices show a lower correlation to our final products. As a result, final consumer prices may not reflect feedstock cost fluctuations.

We depend on Petrobras to supply us with a substantial portion of our naphtha, ethane, propane and propylene needs.

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras, or Petrobras, is the only Brazilian supplier of naphtha and has historically supplied up to 70% of the naphtha consumed by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment. In 2020, Petrobras supplied 54% of the naphtha consumed by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment. Currently, Petrobras is also our primary supplier of ethane, propane and refinery off gas and has historically supplied the ethane, propane and refinery off gas consumed at our petrochemical complex located in the Rio de Janeiro Complex and our chemical complex located in Capuava, in the State of São Paulo, or the São Paulo Complex.

We are a party to several propylene contracts with Petrobras refineries, which have historically supplied 40% of our propylene need to produce polypropylene in Brazil. As a result of limited infrastructure in Brazil to allow the importation of propylene in large quantities and substantial costs associated with the storage and transportation of the product.

One of our propylene agreements with Petrobras will expire in 2021 and others will expire between 2026 and 2029. As of the date of this annual report, we cannot assure you that these agreements will be renewed and, if renewed, whether we will be able to keep the same terms and conditions currently in force, including with respect to pricing, volume, pipeline and other infrastructure access.

In June 2020, we entered into new agreements with Petrobras for the supply of petrochemical naphtha to our industrial units in Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul. The agreements, with a term of five years following the expiration of the prior agreement with Petrobras, establish the supply of a minimum annual volume of 650,000 tons and, at the option of Petrobras, an additional volume of up to 2.8 million tons per year, at the price of 100% of the international reference ARA. In addition, to guarantee access to the naphtha logistics system in Rio Grande do Sul, we also renewed the storage agreement with Petrobras and the transport and storage agreement with Petrobras Transporte S.A.

In December 2020, we concluded the renewal of our feedstock supply agreements in Brazil with Petrobras for the supply of petrochemical naphtha to our industrial unit in São Paulo and ethane and propane to our industrial unit in Rio de Janeiro. The agreements, with a term of five years following the expiration of the prior agreements, establish the supply of up to 2.0 million tons per year of petrochemical naphtha to our industrial unit in São Paulo and up to 580,000 tons of ethylene equivalent (volume of ethylene per ton of ethane and propane) per year to our industrial unit in Rio de Janeiro, with prices based on international reference prices

Petrobras controls a substantial portion of the pipeline infrastructure used to transport naphtha across Brazil and is our primary supplier of naphtha, ethane, propane and propylene. A failure to renew or extend our existing agreements for the supply of raw materials or pipeline infrastructure use, or a termination of such agreements with Petrobras could lead to difficulties in accessing Petrobras’ pipeline infrastructure. The alternative would be to access pipeline infrastructure through the National Petroleum Agency, or the ANP, which would grant access to the pipeline infrastructure at a cost defined by the ANP.

Therefore, our production volumes and net revenue would likely decrease, while our costs would likely increase, and adversely affect our overall financial performance in the event of the occurrence of one or more of the following:

In addition, although regulatory changes have ended Petrobras’ monopoly in the Brazilian naphtha market and have allowed us to import naphtha, any restrictions imposed on the importation of naphtha into Brazil could increase our production costs which would reduce our gross margin and negatively affect our overall financial performance. For a discussion of additional risks related to sole-source suppliers, see “—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof.”

We depend on propylene supplied by third parties in the United States and Europe.

Our reliance on third party suppliers poses significant risks to our results of operations, business and prospects. We rely upon third parties to supply our plants with propylene. We acquire propylene for our polypropylene plants in the United States under several long-term supply agreements and through the spot market. As of December 31, 2020, we had fourteen long-term supply agreements with multiple suppliers. The pricing formulas for propylene under these supply agreements are generally based on market prices. As of the date of this annual report, we cannot assure you that these agreements will be renewed and, if renewed, whether we will be able to keep the same terms and conditions currently in force, including with respect to pricing, volume, pipeline and other infrastructure access.

We acquire propylene for our polypropylene plants in Germany under long-term supply agreements that provide for the supply of 91% of the propylene requirements of these plants. We have two main supply agreements in Germany. One will expire in September 2021 and will be replaced by a new five-year agreement effective as of October 1, 2021 with a term until September 30, 2026, and thereafter will automatically be renewable for consecutive one-year terms, unless terminated by one of the parties. The other agreement expires in December 2024, and thereafter will also be automatically renewable for consecutive one-year terms, unless terminated by one of the parties. We have entered into a third contract that will expire at the end of 2022 increasing the supply of our plants to 94% of the propylene required. The pricing formula for propylene under these supply agreements is based on market prices. As of the date of this annual report, we cannot assure you that these agreements will be renewed and, if renewed, whether we will be able to keep the same terms and conditions currently in force, including with respect to pricing, volume, pipeline and other infrastructure access.

Delays in the availability of propylene of acceptable quality, or our inability to obtain such acceptable propylene in the quantities we need over what has been contracted, or at all, may adversely affect our revenue and results of operations.

We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.

We currently source most of our supply of ethane, which is the primary feedstock used in our polyethylene production process, from Pemex Transformación Industrial, or Pemex TRI, a state-owned Mexican entity, which is a subsidiary of Petróleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, the state-owned Mexican oil and gas company, pursuant to an ethane supply agreement, or the ethane supply agreement, entered into by Braskem Idesa S.A.P.I., or Braskem Idesa, which is our joint venture with Grupo Idesa, S.A. de C.V., or Idesa, with Pemex TRI under competitive commercial conditions at prices that reference: (i) the Mont Belvieu purity ethane price; and (ii) the Henry Hub price, which are both U.S. dollar-based international reference prices. As a result, our production volumes, net revenue and profit margins would likely decrease and materially adversely affect our overall financial performance in case one or more of the following events occur:

Under the ethane supply agreement with Pemex, any daily volume rejected by Braskem Idesa must be purchased in installments in subsequent deliveries until the deficit has been resolved and, if Pemex delivers to Braskem Idesa less than the volumes required under the ethane supply agreement, it needs to pay shortfall penalties to Braskem Idesa.

Regarding shortfall penalties due under the ethane supply agreement, the accumulated amount related to credit notes that Pemex should have delivered for the shortfall penalties for failing to supply ethane at the volume established in the ethane supply agreement was approximately US$119.1 million as of December 31, 2020. As of the date of this annual report, Pemex has yet to provide such credit notes or otherwise pay the shortfall penalties owed for its failure to deliver ethane and has therefore not fulfilled its contractual obligation on a timely basis.

At Pemex’s request, we are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with Pemex, Pemex TRI, and Pemex PEP to try and address the issues described above related to the ethane supply agreement. We can give no assurances as to the outcome of such discussions.

Furthermore, the ethane supply agreement could also be impacted by changes in laws and regulations, terminated or repudiated by Pemex TRI as a result of political pressure or be subject to expropriation or other adverse measures by the Mexican government or government entities. We may also renegotiate the terms of the ethane supply agreement, voluntarily or as a result of changes in laws and regulations, or otherwise.

The provisions for early termination by Pemex TRI under the Ethane Supply Agreement include: (i) our failure to pay that continues for more than six months after notice; or (ii) an emergency stoppage in operations or force majeure event due to which our insurers consider the complex to be a total loss, or after which we cannot or do not resume operations for 48 months.

If Pemex TRI (i) delivers less than an average of 70% of the 66,000 barrels of ethane per day over a six-month period, (ii) reaches the annual limit in respect of shortfall penalties owed by Pemex TRI to us and such limit is not waived by Pemex TRI, or (iii) materially breaches any of its obligations related to the supply of ethane thereunder; Braskem Idesa has the right to notify Pemex TRI trough a notice of breach. If such breach continues for more than six months after notice, or an extended period if the parties agree, Braskem Idesa has the right to terminate the ethane supply agreement and require Pemex TRI and Pemex PEP to repay certain outstanding debt and compensate Braskem and Idesa according to an agreed valuation formula including the repayment of certain of our debt in the form of a put option right under the ethane supply agreement.

Braskem Idesa and its operations in Mexico, including agreements entered into with state-owned or state-controlled entities, are subject to political interference by the Mexican government, which may lead to the termination or repudiation of certain contractual relationships and interference on Braskem Idesa’ s operations that may materially and adversely affect us.

In addition, legal measures have been initiated by Braskem Idesa, pursuant to the ethane supply agreement entered into between Braskem Idesa and PEMEX based on applicable international rules, to enforce legal and contractual rights of Braskem Idesa. Such measures include a remediation period during which Braskem Idesa will seek a resolution between the parties. Any termination, cancelation or modification of the ethane supply agreement or reduction in the amount of shortfall penalties owed to us by Pemex TRI for any other reason, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Mexico Segment—Supply Contracts of the Mexico Segment—Ethane” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Capital Expenditures—Joint Venture—Mexico Complex.”

In the first quarter of 2021, Braskem Idesa entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

Any termination, cancelation or modification of the ethane supply agreement or reduction in the amount of shortfall penalties owed to us by Pemex TRI for any other reason, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Mexico Segment—Supply Contracts of the Mexico Segment—Ethane” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Capital Expenditures—Joint Venture—Mexico Complex.”

We depend on services and products supplied by a Mexican state-owned company

Braskem Idesa has entered into agreements with Mexican state-owned companies for the transportation of natural gas and water supply, among others. Any termination, cancelation or modification of such agreements could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Furthermore, such agreements could also be impacted as a result of changes in laws and regulations, terminated or modified as a result of political pressure or be subject to expropriation or other adverse measures by the Mexican government or government entities. We may also renegotiate the terms of such agreements, voluntarily or as a result of changes in laws and regulations, or otherwise.

In early December 2020, Braskem Idesa received a notification from Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), a Mexican state-owned agency responsible for all natural gas pipelines and transportation in Mexico, related to the unilateral termination of the service of natural gas transportation, an essential energy input for the production of PE in our Mexico Segment. As a result, in compliance with safety protocols, Braskem Idesa initiated procedures for the immediate interruption of its operating activities. Later in January 2021, Braskem Idesa partially resumed its operations based on an experimental business model to produce PE. Braskem Idesa has taken legal measures pursuant to the ethane supply agreement entered into with Pemex. Braskem Netherlands B.V, which is Braskem Idesa’s direct shareholder, has also taken legal measures under applicable international investment protection standards to protect the interests of Braskem Idesa and its parent company with regard to their investment in Mexico. Such measures include a negotiation period to attempt to resolve the dispute between the parties.

In the first quarter of 2021, Braskem Idesa entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

Failure by Cenagas to renew the agreement for transportation of natural gas or any other agreement with a Mexican state-owned company could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For a discussion of additional risks related to sole-source suppliers, see “—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico,” “—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof” and “We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.”

For a discussion of additional risks related to sole-source suppliers, see “—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof.”

We have no control over the corporate actions or decisions of Pemex TRI and Cenagas, which are, respectively, our main supplier of ethane and provider of natural gas transportation services and Mexican state-owned enterprises subject to political interference and related risks.

The Mexican government has exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over the Mexican economy. Accordingly, Mexican governmental actions concerning the Mexican economy and state-owned enterprises could have a significant impact on Mexican private sector entities in general and on our operations in particular. We cannot predict the impact that political conditions will have on the Mexican economy. We can give no assurances that changes in Mexican federal government policies will not adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. We currently do not have and do not intend to obtain political risk insurance, but the investment is subject to the protections provided under the bilateral investment treaty between the Netherlands and Mexico. For additional information, see “—Political events in Mexico could affect the Mexican economic policy and our business, financial condition and results of operations.”

Our main supplier of ethane, Pemex TRI, is a subsidiary of Pemex, a state-owned entity of the Mexican government, and, therefore, the Mexican government controls Pemex, as well as its annual budget, which is approved by the Mexican Congress. The Mexican government may cut spending in the future. These cuts could adversely affect Pemex’s annual budget and its ability to provide us with our contracted supply of ethane. In addition, Cenagas, which is a Mexican state-owned agency, has the monopoly of the transportation of natural gas in the region in which Braskem Idesa operates. As a result, the failure by Cenagas to renew the agreement for transportation of natural gas to our Ethylene XXI Project could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Pemex’s production, over which we have no control, nor over any other corporate action or decision, have decreased over the last years according to public disclosure by Pemex. As a result, it has led to a significant decrease in oil production and associated production of natural gas, which, in turn, is the feedstock used by Pemex in the production of ethane. Any further decrease in the amount of ethane currently being delivered by Pemex TRI to our petrochemical facility under the ethane supply agreement or any reduction in, or outright failure by, Pemex TRI to pay us the shortfall penalties owed under the ethane supply agreement, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, U.S. domestic bribery laws, and other anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws in the countries in which we conduct activities, including Mexico. We may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities in Mexico, such as Pemex TRI. We have been improving our compliance processes and controls to prevent the occurrence of any wrongdoing in such interactions. However, we could be held liable for the breach of such processes and controls and actions by our employees, representatives, contractors, partners and agents, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities. Detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations of anti-corruption laws can require a significant diversion of time, resources, and attention from senior management. In addition, noncompliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, or anti-money laundering laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, investigations, prosecution, enforcement actions, sanctions, settlements, fines, damages, other civil or criminal penalties or injunctions, suspension or prohibition from contracting with certain persons, reputational harm, adverse media coverage, and other collateral consequences. If any subpoenas or investigations are launched, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if we do not prevail in any civil or criminal proceeding that may be filed against us, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.

In light of the allegations of undue payments related to the Ethylene XXI project, which were originally published in the media in Mexico and were included in the testimony by the former CEO of Pemex to the Office of the Attorney General of Mexico, we, together with Braskem Idesa, in compliance with the standards established by Braskem’s Global Compliance System Policy and Braskem Idesa’s governance guidelines, approved the engagement of a U.S. law firm with proven experience in similar cases to conduct an independent internal investigation of the allegations. The investigation is ongoing, and we are unable to estimate a date for its conclusion or its outcome. If the investigation concludes that there is evidence supporting any of the allegations, such findings could materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, controls, and results of operations, as well as the liquidity and price of the securities issued by us.

We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof.

We rely on Petrobras for most or all of our supply of ethane, propane, refinery off gas and propylene in Brazil, a few companies for a large portion of our supply of propylene in our USA and Europe Segment, and Pemex TRI for most of our supply of ethane in Mexico. In Mexico, Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), which is a state-owned agency, is the sole provider of gas transportation services. We rely on Cenagas for the transportation of natural gas to our Ethylene XXI Project. For naphtha supply to Brazil we rely on several international suppliers for most of the purchases to the crackers in the states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, and we rely on Petrobras for the most of the supply only to the cracker located in the state of São Paulo and we rely on Petrobras for the major part of our supply of ethane and propane in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Also, we are subject to substantial risks because of our reliance on these and other limited or sole-source suppliers of raw materials, inputs and energy, including the following risks:

Delays in the availability of naphtha, ethane, propane, refinery off gas, propylene, sea salt, other inputs (including natural gas) or energy of acceptable quality, or our inability to obtain such acceptable naphtha, ethane, propane, propylene, sea salt, other inputs (including natural gas) or energy in the quantities we need or at all, may adversely affect our revenue and results of operations.

Our Brazil Segment depends on our chemicals operations to supply them with their ethylene and propylene requirements. In addition, our Brazil Segment depends on certain providers of environmental services for the treatment of effluents, industrial waste and water supply for industrial use.

Our chemicals operations are the only supplier of ethylene to our vinyls operations, the only supplier of ethylene to the polyethylene plants and the principal supplier of propylene to the polypropylene plants of our polyolefins operations. Because the cost of storing and transporting ethylene is substantial and there is inadequate infrastructure in Brazil to permit the importing of large quantities of ethylene and propylene, our polyolefins operations in Brazil and our vinyls operations are highly dependent on the supply of these products by our chemicals operations. Consequently, our production volumes of, and net revenue from, polyolefins and vinyls operations would decrease, and our overall financial performance would be negatively affected, in the event of the following:

Also, our production volumes of, and net revenue from, our chemicals operations products could decrease, and our overall financial performance would be negatively affected in the event of any significant damage to the facilities of our vinyls and polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment through which ethylene is consumed.

Our Brazil Segment depends on Cetrel S.A. (“Cetrel”), Água de Camaçari (“DAC”), both of which are our subsidiaries, Distribuidora de Água Triunfo (“DAT”), Companhia Riograndense de Saneamento (“CORSAN”), Aquapolo Ambiental S.A (“Aquapolo”), Refinaria de Paulínia (“REPLAN”) and Refinaria Duque de Caixas (“REDUC”) for the services such as: (i) treatment of effluents and industrial waste; (ii) supply of reuse water; (iii) supply of demineralized, clarified and potable water; and (iv) management of water reservoirs. An interruption in the operations of Cetrel, DAC, DAT, CORSAN, Aquapolo, REPLAN or REDUC may result in the shutdown of all of our plants at the Northeastern Complex, Southern Complex, São Paulo Complex, Paulinia plants and Rio de Janeiro Complex, in addition to increased environmental risks, which could lead to the shutdown of our entire petrochemical complex. If such a shutdown were to happen, our production volumes and net revenue from sales from our plants at the Camaçari Complex and the Rio Grande do Sul Complex would decrease, and our financial performance and results of operations would be adversely affected.

We may be materially adversely affected if our transportation, storage and distribution operations are interrupted or are more costly than anticipated.

Our operations are dependent upon uninterrupted transportation, storage and distribution of our products. Transportation, storage or distribution of our products could be partially or completely, temporarily or permanently shut down as the result of any number of circumstances that are not within our control, such as:

For example, in May 2018, Brazil experienced a national truck drivers’ strike that severely impacted the logistics operations of many companies throughout Brazil, including the delivery of our raw materials, our products, and other goods. In response to such strike, we gradually reduced the utilization rate of our petrochemical complexes in Brazil, which operated at 50% of their nominal capacity in May 2018. Following the strike, Brazil introduced a national freight cost schedule that set forth minimum prices for freight services provided by truck drivers and freight companies countrywide, which may have a lasting impact on freight prices in Brazil and lead to sustained increased transportation costs in the future in connection with our operations.

Any significant interruption at our distribution facilities, an inability to transport our products to or from these facilities, or to or from our domestic or foreign customers or suppliers, or an increase in transportation costs, for any reason, would materially adversely affect us.

In addition, as from January 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set a limit for sulphur in fuel oil used onboard ships of 0.50% m/m (mass by mass), aimed at significantly reducing the amount of sulphur oxide emissions by ships, down from the previous 3.50% m/m (mass by mass), which could increase our shipping costs and, as a consequence, decrease our gross margin.

We rely on access to third-party licensed technology and related intellectual property, particularly in the context of the manufacturing process of certain of our products. If the licensed third-party technology and intellectual property that we use cease to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or if any such third party ceases to provide us with technical support under license or technical services agreements that we have entered into with them to allow us to satisfactorily operate, certain of our production facilities, our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

We use technology and intellectual property licensed from third parties in the regular operation of our business, particularly in the operation of certain machinery and equipment required for the production of certain of our products such as our first and second generation products, and we may continue to rely on access to third-party technology and intellectual property in the future.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to obtain or renew any such necessary technology and licenses on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain or renew the right to use third-party technology or intellectual property on commercially reasonable terms, or to maintain access to satisfactory technical support, could ultimately lead to stoppages in our production processes and preclude us from selling certain products, which could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and financing condition.

Additionally, our inability to maintain existing access to third-party technology, licenses and technical support on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or to obtain additional technology, licenses or technical support necessary to manufacture current products or develop new ones, could require us to obtain substitute technology or licenses at a greater cost or of lower quality or performance standards, or require us to carry out unscheduled interruptions of our production facilities. Any of these circumstances could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to replace any such third-party technology, intellectual property or technical support service for any adequate substitute technology, intellectual property or technical support in a timely manner to avoid any unscheduled interruption of our production processes or facilities, or in a cost-efficient manner.

Capital projects can take many years to complete, and market conditions could deteriorate significantly between the project approval date and the project startup date, negatively impacting project returns. If we are unable to complete capital projects at their expected cost and in a timely manner, or if the market conditions assumed as a basis for our project economics deteriorate, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

Delays or cost increases related to capital spending programs involving engineering, procurement and construction of facilities could materially adversely affect our ability to achieve forecasted internal rates of return and results of operations. Delays in making required changes or upgrades to our facilities could subject us to fines or penalties as well as affect our ability to contract with our customers and supply certain products we produce.

Such delays or cost increases may arise as a result of unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

If we are unable to make up the delays associated with such factors or to recover the related costs, or if market conditions change, it could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our insurance coverage may be ineffective, either due to the lack of coverage for any claim, or due to insufficient coverage limits in the event of damage.

We maintain property, business interruption, general liability, environmental, construction, marine, credit and other types of insurance that we believe are appropriate for our business and operations as well as in line with industry practices. However, we are not fully insured against all potential hazards and incidents inherent in our business, including losses resulting from natural disasters, wars or terrorist acts in Brazil. Changes in insurance market conditions have caused, and may in the future cause, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies to increase substantially and, in some instances, for certain insurance to become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, we might not be able to finance the amount of the uninsured liability on terms acceptable to us or at all, and might be obligated to divert a significant portion of our cash flow from normal business operations.

Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit the ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and prevent us from meeting our obligations under our financing agreements.

Our level of indebtedness and our leverage, together with changes to our ratings and those of our debt securities by the main credit rating agencies, could have certain material consequences to us, including the following:

As a result of the factors listed above, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Any downgrade in the ratings of Brazil, our Company or our debt securities would likely result in increased interest and other financial expenses related to our borrowings and debt securities and could reduce our liquidity.

Currently, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings Ltd., or Fitch, maintain our ratings on a global and national basis. Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or Moody’s, only maintains our ratings on a global basis. On a global basis, we maintain ratings at: (i) Standard & Poor’s of BB+ with a stable outlook and (ii) Fitch Ratings of BB+ with a stable outlook. At Moody’s, our rating is Ba1 with a negative outlook. Our ratings are higher than the Brazilian sovereign rating by all these three main rating agencies. On a national basis, we maintain investment grade rating at: (i) Standard & Poor’s of brAAA with a stable outlook and (ii) Fitch Ratings of AAA with a stable outlook.

Our credit rating is sensitive to any change in the Brazilian sovereign credit rating. The credit rating of the Brazilian federal government was downgraded in January 2018 and has not been investment grade by all the main rating agencies for several years. Any decision by these agencies to downgrade the ratings of the Brazilian federal government, our ratings or those of our debt securities in the future would likely result in increased interest and other financial expenses relating to our borrowings and debt securities and the inclusion of financial covenants in the instruments governing new indebtedness, and could significantly reduce our ability to obtain such financing, on satisfactory terms or in amounts required by us, and our liquidity and would require us to post cash collateral pursuant to our obligations or to contract letters of credit to backstop guarantees provided by us in the context of the Mexican Complex.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted economic activity and markets around the world, and its severity, magnitude and duration are highly uncertain, rapidly changing and difficult to predict. Actual and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, the economies of certain countries and certain companies has led ratings agencies to review and downgrade the credit ratings of sovereigns and issuers of securities around the world. In May 2020, Fitch Ratings revised the outlook of the Brazilian sovereign credit rating to negative from stable. In November 2020, Fitch Rating affirmed the negative outlook. A potential further downgrade of the ratings of Brazil, our ratings, or those of our debt securities could result in increased interest and other financial expenses related to our borrowings and debt securities and could reduce our liquidity and ability to obtain additional financing under desired terms and conditions.

We may be subject to attempts to acquire our control, which may lead to significant changes in management, the strategies that we are currently pursuing, or in our current corporate governance practices.

We may be subject to attempts to acquire our control. In the event there is a change in our corporate control, there might be significant changes in management, the strategies that we are currently pursuing, or in our current corporate governance practices.

For example, in June 2018, we were informed by Novonor S.A., or Novonor, formerly called Odebrecht S.A., about discussions that were being held between Novonor and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., or, LyondellBasell, regarding a potential transaction involving the transfer to LyondellBasell of all of Novonor’s interest in us. In June 2019, we were informed by Novonor that such discussions for a change-of-control transaction with LyondellBasell had been terminated. We cannot assure you that such negotiations will not be resumed, or that Novonor will not initiate discussions with other parties regarding a change-of-control transaction in the future.

On August 7, 2020, we received a correspondence from our controlling shareholder, Novonor S.A., then named Odebrecht S.A., informing that, in order to fulfill certain commitments assumed with bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy creditors, it had taken preliminary measures to structure a process for the private sale of up to its total equity ownership in the Company, which, if implemented, will result in the change of our corporate control, adopting the necessary measures to organize such process, with the support of legal and financial advisors.

In addition, although we are not currently a party to any pending bankruptcy or other judicial restructuring proceedings in Brazil or elsewhere, we are exposed to certain risks related to the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings (as defined below), including risks related to the change of our corporate control resulting from decisions taken or agreed under such proceedings and the consequences derived therefrom. We have no control over the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings, and no assurance can be given on the outcome of the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings or their effect on us.

Some of our shareholders may have the ability to determine the outcome of corporate actions or decisions, which could affect the holders of our class A preferred shares and the ADSs.

Novonor, directly or through its wholly-owned subsidiary OSP Investimentos S.A., or OSP Inv., owns 38.32 % of our total share capital, including 50.11% of our voting share capital, and Petrobras holds 36.14% of our total share capital, including 47.03% of our voting share capital. Nominees of Novonor constitute a majority of the members of our board of directors. Under a shareholders’ agreement to which Novonor and Petrobras are parties, which we refer to as the Braskem S.A. Shareholders’ Agreement, we may only undertake certain actions after Novonor and Petrobras have reached a consensus with respect to those actions. However, Novonor will have the sole power to approve our business plan, through the board of directors, as described under “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders—Shareholders’ Agreements.” As a result, Novonor has the ability to determine the outcome of most corporate actions or decisions requiring the approval of our shareholders or our board of directors—in certain instances, with the consent of Petrobras—which could affect the holders of our class A preferred shares and of our American Depositary Shares, or ADSs.

Furthermore, on June 17, 2019, Novonor, together with certain of its controlling and controlled entities, filed a petition for judicial restructuring before the First Judicial Bankruptcy Court of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, seeking a voluntary judicial restructuring and emergency relief staying certain foreclosure actions by their creditors (the “Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings”). The Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings does not include us.

Although we are not currently a party to any pending bankruptcy or other judicial restructuring proceedings in Brazil or elsewhere, we are exposed to certain risks related to the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings, such as risks related to the change of our corporate control resulting from decisions taken and/or agreed under such proceedings and the consequences derived thereto, including but not limited to significant changes in our management and our strategy that may be undertaken by any new controlling shareholders that may arise from the conclusion of these proceedings. We have no control over the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings, and no assurance can be given on the outcome of the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings or their effect on us.

We may face conflicts of interest in transactions with related parties.

We maintain trade accounts receivable and current and long-term payables with some of our affiliates and other related parties, including Petrobras, which is our Brazilian supplier of naphtha and other raw materials such as propylene, ethane, propane and refinery off gas. These trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable balances result mainly from purchases and sales of goods, which are at prices and on terms equivalent to the average terms and prices of transactions that we enter into with third parties. These and other transactions between us and our affiliates could result in conflicting interests between us and our shareholders.

We may pursue strategic acquisitions or investments. The failure of an acquisition or investment to produce the anticipated results, or the inability to integrate an acquired company fully, could adversely affect our business.

We may from time to time acquire or invest in complementary companies or businesses. The success of an acquisition or investment will depend on our ability to make accurate assumptions regarding the valuation, operations, growth potential, integration and other factors related to that business. We cannot assure you that our acquisitions or investments will produce the results that we expect at the time we enter into or complete a given transaction. Furthermore, acquisitions may result in difficulties integrating the acquired companies, and may result in the diversion of our capital and our management’s attention from other business issues and opportunities. We may not be able to integrate successfully the operations that we acquire, including their personnel, financial systems, distribution or operating procedures. If we fail to integrate acquisitions successfully, our business could suffer. In addition, the expense of integrating any acquired business and their results of operations may adversely affect our operating results.

Certain acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures we make may prevent us from competing for certain clients or in certain lines of business, and may lead to a loss of clients. We may spend time and money on projects that do not increase our revenue. To the extent we pay the purchase price of any acquisition in cash, it would reduce our cash reserves, and to the extent the purchase price is paid with any of our shares, it could be dilutive to our shareholders. To the extent, we pay the purchase price with proceeds from the incurrence of debt, it would increase our level of indebtedness and could negatively affect our liquidity and restrict our operations. Our competitors may be willing or able to pay more than us for acquisitions, which may cause us to lose certain acquisitions that we would otherwise desire to complete. We cannot ensure that any acquisition, partnership or joint venture we make will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may face unforeseen challenges in the operation of our Mexico Complex, which could result in this business unit failing to provide expected benefits to us.

During the first half of 2016, we concluded the construction phase of an olefins complex, or the Mexico Complex, located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. For more information about this, which we refer to as the Mexico Complex, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Capital Expenditures—Joint Venture—Mexico Complex.”

To develop our Mexico Complex, Braskem Idesa required significant capital expenditure and incurred significant debt. Our ability to achieve the strategic objectives of this business unit will depend largely on its successful operation. Factors that could affect the operation of this business unit include:

In early December 2020, Braskem Idesa received a notification from Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), a Mexican state-owned agency responsible for all natural gas pipelines and transportation in Mexico, related to the unilateral termination of the service of natural gas transportation, an essential energy input for the production of PE in our Mexico Segment. As a result, in compliance with safety protocols, Braskem Idesa initiated procedures for the immediate interruption of its operating activities. Later in January 2021, Braskem Idesa partially resumed its operations based on an experimental business model to produce PE. Braskem Idesa has taken legal measures pursuant to the ethane supply agreement entered into with Pemex. Braskem Netherlands B.V, which is Braskem Idesa’s direct shareholder, has also taken legal measures under applicable international investment protection standards to protect the interests of Braskem Idesa and its parent company with regard to their investment in Mexico. Such measures include a negotiation period to attempt to resolve the dispute between the parties. Braskem Idesa also initiated legal measures to enforce its legal and contractual rights as established in the ethane supply agreement. For additional information, see “—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof” and “We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.”

In the first quarter of 2021, Braskem Idesa entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

We cannot assure you that the Mexico Complex will provide the expected benefits to us, even after having completed four full calendar year of operations. Any significant interruption could hinder or prevent the implementation of our business plan as originally conceived, and result in revenue and net income below what is expected. Further, any material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Mexican complex may adversely impact our own financial condition and results of operations. See also “—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.”

Adjustments in tariffs on imports that compete with our products could cause us to lower our prices.

The first, second and third generation of petrochemical products currently rely on imports tariffs imposed by Mercosur member states to balance competition in the Mercosur domestic market. However, the Brazilian government has in the past used import and export tariffs to implement economic policies, resulting in varying tariff levels. For example, in September 2012, the Brazilian government increased import duties on 100 products related to various industries, including an increase in the import tariff on polyethylene. In October 2012, it increased the import tariff on polyethylene from 14% to 20%, and in October 2013, it reduced the import tariff on polyethylene to the previous level of 14%. Currently, the tariff remains at 14%. Adjustments of tariffs could lead to increased competition from imports and cause us to lower our domestic prices and impact the demand for our products, which would likely result in lower net revenue and could negatively affect our overall financial performance. Additionally, the products we export to the United States and Europe are subject to tariffs in the amount of 6.5% in each jurisdiction, subject to certain preferences. These tariffs generally balance the level of competition of our products produced locally and any future adjustments to these tariff structures could negatively impact our sales in these jurisdictions. Future trade agreements entered into by Brazil, the Mercosur, the United States or the European Union could also lead to increased competition from imports and lower domestic prices.

Changes in U.S. and global trade policies and other factors beyond our control may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The international environment in which we operate is affected from inter-country trade agreements and tariffs. As a result of recent revisions in the U.S. administrative policy, there are, and there may be additional changes to existing trade agreements, greater restrictions on free trade and significant increases in tariffs on goods imported into the United States, particularly those manufactured in China, Mexico and Canada. Future actions of the U.S. administration and that of foreign governments, including China, with respect to tariffs or international trade agreements and policies remains currently unclear.

The escalation of a trade war, tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials either exported by us to China or raw materials imported by us from China, or other countries, may significantly hinder our ability to provide our products to customers in China or other affected locations. Such developments may result in a decrease in demand for our products as well as delays in payments from our customers. Furthermore, other governmental action related to tariffs or international trade agreements, changes in U.S. social, political, regulatory and economic conditions, or in laws and policies governing foreign trade, manufacturing, development and investment in the territories and countries where our customers are located, could lead to a rebalancing of global export flows and an increase in global competition, which in turn could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We may be affected by instability in the global economy and by financial turmoil.

Instability in the global markets and in the geopolitical environment in many parts of the world as well as other disruptions may continue to put pressure on global economic conditions. In the event global economic and market conditions, or economic conditions in key markets, remain uncertain or deteriorate, we may experience material impacts on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may not be able to specify in details technical specifications required by our customers’ or updated mechanisms to promptly attend regulatory requirements, and we could be subject to damages based on claims brought against us or our customers as a result of the failure of our products specification.

Our products specification may not meet certain technical or regulatory requirements, specifications or standards. In addition, our customers may impose stricter requirements on our products or governments may enact stricter regulations for the distribution, sale or use of our products. Failure to meet such standards could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations if we are unable to sell our products in one or more markets or to important customers in such markets.

As with all quality control systems, any failure or deterioration of our quality control systems could result in defects in our products, which in turn may subject us to contractual, regulatory, product liability and other claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business and operations are inherently subject to environmental, health and safety hazards. As a result, our business is also subject to stringent environmental and other regulations.

As a company operating in the petrochemical industry, our operations, operated by us or third parties, involve the generation, use, handling, storage, transportation (mainly by pipeline, road, train, fluvial and maritime), treatment, discharge and disposal of hazardous substances and waste into the environment. Notwithstanding our environmental, health and safety standards, policies and controls, our operations remain subject to incidents or accidents that could adversely affect our business or reputation. Our industry is generally subject to significant risks and hazards, including fire, explosions, toxic gas leaks, contamination of soil and water, spilling of polluting substances or other hazardous materials, smoke emission, failure of operational structures and incidents involving mobile equipment, vehicles or machinery, associated or not with the manufacture of petrochemicals and the storage and transportation of feedstock and petrochemical products. These events may occur due to technical failures, human errors or natural events, among other factors, and could result in significant environmental and social impacts, damage to or destruction of production facilities and communities, personal injury, illness or death of employees, contractors or community members close to our operations or close to our logistic routes and pipelines, environmental damage, delays in production, and, in certain circumstances, liability in civil, labor, criminal and administrative lawsuits, difficulties in obtaining or maintaining operating permits, and impacts on our reputation, among other consequences.

In addition, our operations, operated by us or third parties, could generate impacts to the communities, from the regular operations of the Company, as well as in the management of the existing environmental liabilities, which may result in environmental, material and human damages, fines and sanctions, including loss of operating license, in addition to damage to our image and reputation.

For example, over 30 years ago, a leak of chemical products occurred from a tank installed on a property owned by the company Companhia Carbonos Coloidais (“CCC”), located in Madre de Deus, in the State of Bahia. These products were property of the company Tecnor Tecnolumen Química do Nordeste Ltda. (“Tecnor”) and may have been acquired by domestic producers at the time, including by Companhia Petroquímica de Camaçari, a company that subsequently was merged into Braskem. Both CCC and Tecnor are companies that have never had any corporate relations with Braskem and no longer have any operating activities. Moreover, the Company clarifies that it has never had any industrial operation in Madre de Deus, in the State of Bahia.

In this sense and given the Company's experience in the chemical and petrochemical industry and related products, the authorities requested Braskem's collaboration for analysis, studies and environmental remediation, with monitoring by local authorities, which has been occurring since 2003. Following the agreement between the City of Madre de Deus, the Public Ministry of the State of Bahia and the “CCC” in 2015, by means of an Amendment to this Term of Commitment, Braskem is supporting the implementation of a vacancy program of an area near to the “CCC” property, declared as public utility by the City Hall in February of 2021. The vacancy of about 190 properties is necessary for the safe continuity of the remediation. For the remediation actions, the Company estimates the approximate amount of R$110 million, which has been provisioned.

In 2020, in line with the guidelines established in its Global Policy on Risk Management, Braskem has continued to evolve and made improvements in its adoption of best practices in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), with the aim of protecting shareholders’ tangible and intangible assets, ensuring people safety and protecting the environment and local communities. The ERM process involves identifying risks, assessing their impacts and determining the applicable treatment measures. As a result, the Company frequently revisits its risk matrix and treatment of the scenarios identified and prioritized, especially those involving social and environment aspects, which are prioritized by the Company.

Changes to applicable laws may impose changes on standards we have already implemented, which can take time to review and update. For example, we are concluding studies related to dams located at certain of our industrial sites as a result of a change in Brazilian law that now requires that all water and waste dams have a safety plan for these structures. We have already classified all of our dams in terms of associated risks and potential damage. At this time, we finalized the dam safety plans and the emergency response plans for two dams, with completion and homologation by public authorities in March 2021, and all planned activities were communicated to public authorities. All of our dams are small in volume, and our detailed assessments indicated some risks with regard to two structures located in Triunfo, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, and measures for mitigation were taken and communicated to the authorities until the final and definitive actions to eliminate the risks are implemented. Some environmental studies that we have commissioned have indicated instances of environmental contamination at certain of our plants. If the laws and regulations applicable to risks and safety plans change, we may be required to revise the studies that we have carried out, or take further action to rectify potential issues that would not need to be addressed under current laws and regulations. In addition, we and certain of our executive officers have received certain notices related to minor environmental violations and are or have been subject to investigations or legal proceedings with respect to certain alleged environmental violations. These environmental issues, and any future environmental issues that may arise, could subject us to fines or other civil or criminal penalties imposed by Brazilian authorities.

Also, under Brazilian federal and state environmental laws and regulations, we are required to obtain operating licenses and permits for our manufacturing facilities. If any of our environmental licenses or permits lapse or are not renewed or if we fail to obtain any required environmental licenses or permits, we may be subject to fines ranging from R$500 to R$50.0 million, and the Brazilian government may partially or totally suspend our activities and impose other civil and criminal sanctions on us.

In addition, our production and logistics processes are subject to inherent safety risks, which may lead to injuries, disability or death of our employees or individuals participating in such processes and communities, as well negatively impact the environment. Such risks cannot be entirely eliminated or mitigated despite full compliance with all safety measures applicable to us or required by laws or regulations. Despite all monitoring efforts, we may have a negative impact on our image and reputation, and on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A sufficiently large accident at one of our plants, storage facilities, logistic equipment or pipelines could force us to suspend our operations temporarily and result in significant remediation costs and lost net revenue. Although we maintain insurance coverage for losses due to fire damage and for losses of income resulting from shutdowns due to fire, explosion or electrical damage, insurance proceeds from such insurance policies may not be available on a timely basis and may be insufficient to cover all losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

The existing salt mines in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, whose operation has been permanently interrupted, are also subject to similar risks and hazards. For example, in certain neighborhoods of the city of Maceió that are located near the geological area of our salt mines, there have been allegations that the ground gave way as a result of the activities carried out by us at these mines, which allegedly may have affected certain nearby private and public properties. Collective and individual lawsuits have been filed in the state of Alagoas in connection with this incident

Mining operations at our salt mine in Alagoas were halted in May 2019. Even though the risk of a sinkhole formation is unlikely, it cannot be fully disregarded. A safety area covering 15 of the 35 wells at the site of our salt mine was designated, and the entirety of the mining area has been monitored. In October 2019, a conceptual project was launched to start backfilling four cavities that came out of the salt layer, which is a condition for sinkhole formation. In November 2020, the first well began to be backfilled with sand. However, these actions are part of a large operation that, following reasonable engineering efforts, may take a few years to be completed. Other caverns that are comparatively more stable will be closely monitored. Based on the results of monitoring routines and additional studies relating to numerical simulations, which provide data to monitor the stability of the caverns, there could arise the need for further stabilization and backfilling.

The mine closure planning was presented to the Brazilian National Mining Agency, or ANM, for proper analysis and decision. Following ANM’s approval, we have been implementing actions consisting of backfilling four salt wells with solid material, and conventional closure and monitoring of our remaining salt wells. These actions were defined based on the recommendations of studies carried out by independent institutions and nationally and internationally recognized experts, which have been shared with ANM.

In September 2020, specialized and independent technical studies commissioned by us and carried out by internationally recognized entities (the “Studies”) were concluded. The Studies presented the potential impacts from the geological event on the surface of the region, bringing an analysis of scenarios in the short and long terms, which included areas identified by the Civil Defense Map of June 2020. The Studies were submitted to the competent Authorities for definition of possible actions to be taken under mutual agreement. Given the update of the Civil Defense Map, in September 2020, the Company and the Authorities agreed to include additional properties in the Financial Compensation and Support for Relocation Program (“PCF”), with the execution of the Instrument of Resolutions in October 2020.

On November 26, 2020, we became aware of an ANM letter, or the ANM Letter, determining the closure of the mine including the backfilling with solid material of a number of additional salt wells, as informed to the market. For the implementation of the measures defined by ANM and taking into account the preliminary information that we obtained to date we estimated approximately R$3.0 billion in costs and expenses in addition to the amounts already recorded. Such incremental costs and expenses, if confirmed, would be incurred in the long term due to the complexity of the technical aspects. Braskem presented an appeal against such decision and an order to stay was granted by ANM, suspending the effects of the ANM Letter until further technical evaluation of the appeal and of the motion for reconsideration.

In February 2021, ANM granted our motion to reconsider its order directing the implementation of additional measures for the mine closure plan proposed by us. ANM’s decision maintained in place the implementation of the measures contemplated in the mine closure plan originally proposed by the Company, and for which the amount of R$1.2 billion had already been provisioned. Lastly, considering that the mine closure plan is a dynamic process with complex execution, ANM will continue to oversight the results of the measures that are being taken by the Company for closing and monitoring the mine, and accordingly further evaluations, requirements and provisions may be necessary in the future.

Our actual costs related to this matter may be materially altered based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the result of the monitoring and backfilling actions of the wells, potential future determinations by ANM, unforeseen technical difficulties or costs, or other factors.

In the context of the geological events occurred in Maceio, we entered into agreements with the Public Prosecutor’s Office to settle three lawsuits (Ações Civis Públicas, or public-interest civil actions), ACP Labor, ACP Socio-environmental and ACP of Residents. The settlements were ratified by the court with the termination of the claims. The terms of the settlements were as follows:

On December 31, 2020, based on its assessment and on that of its external legal advisors, and considering the existing information that was available, discussions held with authorities and estimates of expenses with the various safety measures to benefit residents, the Company recorded a provision of R$9,175.8 million, of which R$4,349.9 million is under current liabilities and R$4,825.8 million is under non-current liabilities. Due to the inherent change in the assumptions related to the provisions arising from new facts and circumstances, execution time and extent of the action plans, the findings of future studies conducted by experts and the outcome of pending lawsuits, the provision may be adjusted over time to reflect new developments.

The provisions are based on current estimates and assumptions and may be updated in the future due to new facts and circumstances, including changes in time, extension and way of action plans, execution; the conclusion of current and future studies that indicate recommendations of experts, and other new developments on the topic.

The measures related to the mine closure plan are subject to the analysis and approval of ANM, the monitoring of results of the measures under implementation, as well as the changes related to the dynamic nature of geological events.

Braskem continues to face and could still face various lawsuits filed by individuals or legal entities not included in the PCF or that disagree with the individual proposal of the agreement, as well as potential claims by public utility concessionaires

For example, as of December 31, 2020, Braskem was a defendant in several actions, that, in aggregate, involved the amount of approximately R$573 million, filed by individuals in Brazil and abroad, seeking the payment of indemnifications related to the geological event in Maceió. Also, in February, 2021, the Brazilian Company of Urban Trains (Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos, or “CBTU”) filed a claim against the Company seeking damages in the amount of R$222.1 million and the imposition of other obligations, including the construction of a new rail line to substitute the stretch that passed through the vacated area. CBTU attributes to the action the approximate amount of R$1.3 billion.

The actions to repair, mitigate or offset potential environmental impacts and damages, as provided for in the Socio-Environmental Remediation Agreement, to be financed by Braskem, will be defined after the conclusion of the Environmental Diagnosis, to be conducted by a specialized and independent company. At this time, it is impossible to predict the outcome of these Environmental Diagnosis studies or their potential implications for additional disbursements to the costs already provisioned for by the Company. Furthermore, the Socio-Environmental Remediation Agreement sets forth the potential adherence by other parties, including the municipality of Maceió, which is under negotiation and will continue over the coming months. To date, the Company cannot predict the results of any discussions or any of their associated costs.

Therefore, we cannot eliminate the possibility of future developments related to the topic or related expenses, and the costs to be incurred by Braskem may differ from its estimates.

For additional information, see “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Alagoas – Mining Activities.”

Further, we may face difficulties in obtaining or maintaining operating licenses and may suffer damage to our reputation following the occurrence of any such event. Petrochemical producers are sometimes subject to unfavorable market perceptions as a result of the environmental impact of their business, which can have an adverse effect on their results of operations.

In addition, we and other petrochemical producers are subject to stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations concerning human health, the handling, storage, transportation, treatment, discharge and disposal of hazardous substances and waste into the environment. Our operations in Brazil, including those of our subsidiaries Cetrel and DAC, which are responsible for providing environmental services, waste water treatment and water supply to the Camaçari Complex in the state of Bahia, for example, are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances and waste materials. The Brazilian government enacted the Environmental Crimes Law in 1998 that imposes criminal penalties on corporations and individuals that cause environmental damage. Corporations found to be guilty of polluting the environment may be fined up to R$50.0 million, have their operations suspended, be prohibited from contracting with the government, be required to repair damage that they caused and lose certain tax benefits and incentives. Executive officers, directors and other individuals may also be imprisoned for up to five years for environmental violations.

Our operations in the United States, Germany and Mexico are subject to extensive U.S., German, European and Mexican federal, state and local laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. U.S. environmental laws and regulations may impose liability on us for the conduct of third parties, or for actions that complied with applicable requirements when taken, regardless of negligence or fault. Of particular significance to us are (1) regulatory programs to be established to implement air quality standards under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and fine particles promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, and (2) various legislative and regulatory measures in the United States that are under review, discussion or implementation to address greenhouse gas emissions. In Mexico, we adhere to the comprehensive responsibility program promoted by the Mexican National Chemical Industry Association (Asociación Nacional de la Industria Química de Mexico – ANIQ), which is based on the responsible care standard adopted in the United States and Canada. We are also signatories of the Responsible Care program in the United States and Brazil that was launched by certain entities of the chemical industry sector worldwide.

Such existing stringent environmental and other regulations require significant capital expenditures. Our consolidated annual expenditures on environmental control were R$537.9 million in 2020, R$369.8 million in 2019, and R$329.3 million in 2018, including investments, waste and wastewater treatment, emissions management, environment licenses, environmental liabilities and other environmental expenditures. In addition, evolving regulatory requirements could require significant additional capital expenditures depending on the timing of the adoption and enforcement of specific standards imposing such requirements. In addition, changes in environmental regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations or require modifications to our facilities. Accordingly, environmental, health or safety regulatory matters may result in significant unanticipated costs or liabilities.

We may also, from time to time, be involved in certain claims, disputes or litigation proceedings concerning environmental risks and liabilities, health and safety hazards, among others. For more information, please see “Item 8. Financial Information––Legal Proceedings.”

We could be materially adversely affected by the impacts of the Global Settlement.

In the context of allegations of improper payments in connection with the so-called Operation Car Wash (Operação Lava Jato) in Brazil, we engaged independent expert firms to conduct an investigation into such allegations (the “Investigation”) and report their findings. We have cooperated with governmental authorities in several jurisdictions, including the U.S. Department of Justice, or the DoJ, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, Brazil’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal), or the MPF, and Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General, or the OAG. On December 14, 2016, we entered into a leniency agreement with the MPF, or the Leniency Agreement, which was ratified by the competent Brazilian court on June 6, 2017. On December 21, 2016, we filed a plea agreement in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under which we agreed to plead guilty to a one-count criminal information charging us with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA. On the same date, we consented to the entry of a final judgment in a civil action brought by the SEC based on civil violations of the anti-bribery, books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the FCPA. The competent federal courts in the United States approved the DoJ and SEC resolutions on January 26, 2017 and February 28, 2017, respectively. In addition, on December 21, 2016, the OAG closed its investigation of these matters. We refer to these actions as the Global Settlement. Under the Global Settlement, we agreed to pay to the governmental authorities in these jurisdictions an aggregate amount of US$957 million (equivalent to R$3.1 billion), based on the exchange rate of R$3.27 per U.S. Dollar, applicable at the time of the negotiation.

The MPF will distribute the majority of the amount it receives as restitution to third parties for damages caused by the misconduct. Pursuant to the Global Settlement, the MPF agreed to communicate with other public authorities or entities, as well as stated-owned companies and mixed-capital companies with which Braskem enters into discussions to address the facts under the Global Settlement and avoid making duplicate restitution payments. In this context, as announced to the market on July 10, 2018, and disclosed in a material fact on May 27, 2019, we have cooperated and engaged in negotiations with the Ministry of Transparency and Controllership (CGU) and the Office of the Attorney General (AGU) in Brazil, and our Board of Directors approved the signing of a leniency agreement with the CGU and the AGU (the “CGU/AGU Agreement”).

The CGU/AGU Agreement, in the amount of R$2.9 billion, to be adjusted by the SELIC rate, addresses the same facts that are the object of the Global Settlement executed in December 2016 with the Brazilian Federal Prosecution Office (MPF), the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Swiss Office of the Attorney General (“Global Settlement”). Of this amount, R$2.5 billion will be offset by the amount that Company already had undertaken to pay under the scope of the Global Settlement, resulting in an additional disbursement of R$410 million.

As of December 30, 2020, we had paid R$2.7 billion of the total fine established in the Global Settlement, in the following manner:

The outstanding amount of R$1.1 billion related to the Global Settlement and also the CGU/AGU Agreement will be paid in the following manner:

The Global Settlement does not prevent Braskem from responding to any legitimate third party, which may seek indemnification against us from damages for the facts subject to the Global Settlement. As a result, we cannot assure you that the aggregate amount disbursed as a requirement pursuant to the agreement will be sufficient to cover indemnification claims of all of the victims. We may be required to make additional disbursements to cover such claims.

Other authorities with jurisdiction over us may seek to impose monetary sanctions or fines on, or to initiate investigative proceedings against, us. As a result of entering into the Global Settlement, Braskem may be prevented from entering into certain agreements with government entities and may be subject to increased operating costs for being under the obligation to improve its governance and anti-corruption practices and procedures, including the cost of external monitorships.

Under the terms of the Global Settlement, we were required to cooperate with these governmental authorities and improve our governance and anti-corruption compliance practices. We were also subject to external monitorship for a period of three years from 2017, which ended in March 2020, during which time the monitor assessed compliance with the Global Settlement, including the effectiveness of our internal controls, policies and procedures to reduce the risk of any anti-corruption violations.

On May 13, 2020, the MPF, the DoJ and the SEC confirmed the conclusion of the independent compliance monitorship at Braskem, which had been established in the settlement agreements entered into by Braskem, the DoJ and the SEC on December 21, 2016. The decision of the DoJ and the SEC was based on a final report from the independent monitors, who certified that the Company implemented all of the recommendations regarding the structure and execution of its compliance program and concluded that the Company meets the standards set out in the settlement agreements entered into with the DoJ and the SEC. Following the end of the independent monitorship period and the certification by the MPF, the DoJ and the SEC, the Company has complied with its obligations established in the settlement agreements entered into with these authorities and has successfully concluded the three-year monitorship.

We believe we are fully in compliance with our obligations under the Global Settlement.

Unfavorable outcomes in pending or future litigation may reduce our liquidity and negatively affect our financial performance and financial condition.

We are, and in the future may be, involved in numerous tax, civil and labor disputes, among others, involving monetary claims. If unfavorable decisions are rendered in one or more of these lawsuits, we could be required to pay substantial amounts. For certain of these lawsuits, we have not established any provision on our balance sheet or have established provisions only for a portion of the amounts in controversy, based on our judgments as to the risk of loss for these lawsuits.

In July 2015, two putative class action lawsuits were filed against us and certain of our then-current and former officers and directors, or the Defendants, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or the U.S. Court. In those lawsuits that were subsequently consolidated under the caption In re Braskem, S.A. Securities Litigation, No. 15-cv-5132, the Lead Plaintiff, Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust, alleged that the Defendants made misrepresentations or omissions that inflated the price of Braskem S.A.’s stock in violation of U.S. securities laws.

After the decision on the motion to dismiss filed by us, partially granting its arguments, we and the Lead Plaintiff signed the proposed settlement agreement (“Proposed Settlement”), which was ratified by the applicable Court, which issued a final decision ending all claims from all members of the class of Investors. We have made no admission of any wrongdoing or liability as part of the settlement.

Under the terms of the Proposed Settlement, Braskem paid US$10.0 million (R$31.7 million) to resolve all claims arising out of or relating to the subject matter of the class action of a settlement class consisting of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired a legal or beneficial ownership interest in Braskem American Depositary Receipts between July 15, 2010 and March 11, 2015, inclusive. The amount of the agreement was deposited by Braskem in the account designated by the judge (“Escrow Account”) on October 2, 2017.

On February 21, 2018, a hearing was held in which a decision was handed down for the final approval of the agreement regarding the entire class of investors and the dismissal of the case. Said decision became final and unappealable. The individual distribution of the amount of the agreement is the responsibility of the manager of the Escrow Account, as determined by the Court and in accordance with the ratified allocation plan. The Proposed Settlement was signed solely to avoid the risk, uncertainty, and expense of further litigation and does not represent the admission of any wrongdoing or liability by Braskem.

On August 25, 2020, a class action was filed against us and some of our current and former executives in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, in the United States, on behalf of an alleged class of investors who acquired Braskem's shares between March 21, 2019 and July 8, 2020. The action is grounded in the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and its rules, based on allegations that the defendants made false statements or omissions related to the geological event in Alagoas. On January 15, 2021, the Court named two plaintiffs to act as leading plaintiffs in the action. On April 28, 2021, the lead plaintiffs of the action filed a consolidated complaint with its initial arguments. We engaged a U.S. law firm to represent it in the class action.

Our management, based on its assessment and that of its external legal advisors, and given the initial phase of the potential class action mentioned above, it is not possible at the moment to reliably estimate the potential amount involved.

Braskem cannot reliably predict the future developments of this matter or the expenses arising from it, including rates and costs in solving the dispute. The Company may be named as a defendant in other legal actions.

In the context of the geological events occurred in Maceio, we entered into agreements with the Public Prosecutor’s Office to settle three lawsuits (Ações Civis Públicas, or public-interest civil actions), ACP Labor, ACP Socio-environmental and ACP of Residents. The terms of the settlements were as follows:

We may face other claims in the future related to this matter. The measures related to the Mine Closure Planning are subject to ANM analyses and approval, as well to modifications related to the dynamicity of the geological events. Actions to repair, mitigate or compensate potential environmental impacts and damages, to be funded by Braskem, will be defined after the conclusion of the Environmental Diagnosis.

For more information about our legal proceedings, see “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.”

Labor unrest may materially and adversely affect our operations.

Labor unrest in our plants and facilities may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Although we believe that we maintain good relations with our employees, future labor actions, including strikes, could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

Natural disasters, severe weather and climate conditions, or health epidemics could have a material adverse effect on our overall business.

Some of our facilities are located in places that could be affected by natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters, which could disrupt our operations or the operations of our customers and could damage or destroy infrastructure necessary to transport our products as part of the supply chain. Additionally, other unanticipated problems such as health epidemics or pandemics, including the COVID-19 outbreak that began in China and spread to the rest of the world, could also cause operational disruptions of varied duration. Such events could require maintenance shutdowns, delay shipments of existing inventory or result in costly repairs, replacements or other costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

While our energy risk policy dictates that we purchase energy in advance at fixed prices through long-term contracts, the majority of Brazilian power generation capacity is provided by hydroelectric generation facilities. If the amount of water available to energy producers becomes scarce due to drought or diversion for other uses, the cost of energy may increase. In addition, if the amount of water available to industrial facilities becomes scarce, there may be a need to reduce production at the affected sites. Such conditions could have a material adverse effect on our sales and margins.

We could be materially affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law and similar anti-corruption laws.

We, our subsidiaries and our joint venture partners are subject to a number of anti-corruption laws, including Law No. 12,846/2013, or the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law, which entered into effect on January 28, 2014, the FCPA and various other anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws of other jurisdictions.

The FCPA, the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to government officials or other persons for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Violations of these laws may result in criminal or civil sanctions, inability to do business with existing or future business partners, injunctions against future conduct, profit disgorgements, disqualifications from directly or indirectly engaging in certain types of businesses, the loss of business permits or other restrictions which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. See “—We could be materially adversely affected by the impacts of the Global Settlement” for the impact on us of allegations of improper payments in connection with the Operation Car Wash.

For example, in light of the allegations of undue payments related to the Ethylene XXI project, which were originally published in the media in Mexico and were included in the testimony by the former CEO of Pemex to the Office of the Attorney General of Mexico, we, together with Braskem Idesa, in compliance with the standards established by Braskem’s Global Compliance System Policy and Braskem Idesa’s governance guidelines, approved the engagement of a U.S. law firm with proven experience in similar cases to conduct an independent internal investigation of the allegations. The investigation is ongoing and we are unable to estimate the date for its conclusion or the outcome. If the investigation concludes that there is evidence supporting any of the allegations, such findings could affect our business, reputation, financial condition, controls, and results of operations, as well as the liquidity and price of the securities issued by us.

We are exposed to behaviors of our employees and non-employees that may be incompatible with our ethics and compliance standards, and failure to timely prevent, detect or remedy any such behavior and/or process vulnerabilities may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our business, including our relationships with third parties, is guided by ethical principles. We have adopted a Code of Conduct, a Global Compliance System Policy, an Anti-Corruption Policy, and several other internal policies designed to guide our management, employees and counterparties and reinforce our principles and rules for ethical behavior and professional conduct. We maintain an independent whistleblower channel (denominated “Ethics Line”) managed by a third party available for employees and non-employees (including third parties). Every whistleblower complaint is investigated and submitted for evaluation to our Ethics Committee.

We are subject to the risk that our employees, counterparties or any person doing business with us may engage in fraudulent activity, corruption or bribery, circumvent or override our internal controls and procedures or misappropriate or manipulate our assets for their personal or business advantage. In the event that we believe or have reason to believe that our employees or agents have or may have violated applicable anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA, we may be required to investigate or have outside counsel investigate the relevant facts and circumstances, which can be expensive and require significant time and attention from senior management. We have in place a robust Compliance and Anti-Corruption Program implemented through every area of our Company, including several processes for identifying, monitoring and mitigating these risks, but such program may not be completely effective.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act of 1934. During our assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 (see “Item 15. Controls and Procedures”), we identified one material weaknesses. This specific material weakness in internal control over financial reporting was first identified of December 31, 2019, and due to its remediation complexity existed as of December 31, 2020. A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

As we were required to conduct additional procedures and analyses with respect to our internal processes and controls for the year ended December 31, 2017, we were unable to timely conclude our audited financial statements for such year and, therefore, were unable to timely file our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017. We obtained extensions from the SEC to file our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 until May 16, 2019. Since we were not able to file our Form 20-F until the date granted by SEC and no further extensions were granted pursuant to Section 802.01E of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, on May 13, 2019, we were notified by the NYSE that it had suspended the trading of our ADSs and had initiated delisting procedures. Trading of our ADSs resumed after we filed our annual reports on Form 20-F for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 on October 8, 2019 and October 17, 2019, respectively.

In the future, we may be required to conduct additional procedures and analyses with respect to our internal processes and controls that may lead to a delay in the conclusion of our audited financial statements and, as a result, prevent us from filing future annual reports in a timely manner. Any failure to timely file our annual reports in the future may have an adverse effect on our business.

If we are unable to comply with the restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness, there could be a default under the terms of these agreements, which could result in an acceleration of payment of funds that we have borrowed and could affect our ability to make principal and interest payments on our debt obligations.

Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness that is not cured or waived by the required lenders or noteholders could result in the holders of any such indebtedness accelerating the payment of amounts outstanding, which could make us unable to pay principal and interest on those and other debt obligations. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of such agreements. In the event of such default:

In addition, certain of our contractual arrangements, including debt obligations, contain change of control provisions that provide our counterparties with a termination right or the ability to accelerate the maturity of our indebtedness with them in the event of a change of our control without their consent. These provisions would be triggered in the event Novonor, formerly called Odebrecht, ceases to own, directly or indirectly, capital stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of our capital stock outstanding. As a result, if Novonor ceases to control, or in some cases, own a certain percentage of our common shares, whether as a result of the Novnor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings, an alternative sale, foreclosure by creditors, reorganization, restructuring or other similar circumstance in connection with the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings or otherwise, if appropriate consents or waivers are not obtained, such counterparties could terminate such contracts or accelerate the maturity of such financing arrangements. The termination of any of our contractual arrangements or the acceleration of the maturity of any of our financing arrangements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and ultimately result in the cross-acceleration of all of our indebtedness.

Furthermore, pursuant to the indentures governing our 5.375% Notes due 2022, 3.50% Notes due 2023, 6.45% Notes due 2024, 4.50% Notes due 2028, 4.500% Notes due 2030, 7.125% Notes due 2041, 5.875% Notes due 2050 and Subordinated Resettable Fixed Rate Notes due 2081, a change of control with a ratings decline would require a repurchase of any such outstanding notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date.

In addition, on December 31, 2020, due to the breach of certain covenants contained in financing agreements, Braskem Idesa recorded under current liabilities its financial obligations with original long-term maturities. Braskem Idesa has been settling all of its obligations in accordance with the original maturity schedule and no creditor required or indicated the intention of requesting immediate reimbursement of these obligations or accelerating the indebtedness. As of December 31, 2020, certain non-monetary obligations established in the financing agreements remained unfulfilled. As a result, the entire balance of non-current liabilities, in the amount of R$6,538.6 million was reclassified to current liabilities, in accordance with IAS 1 (Presentation of Financial Statements). Furthermore, Braskem Idesa intends to negotiate a waiver of such breaches with its creditors to reclassify the entire amount reclassified from current liabilities back to non-current liabilities. We may in the future need to obtain waivers under our other indebtedness to avoid being in default. If we breach any covenants under any of our debt instruments and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under such agreements, the lenders could exercise their rights or remedies under the agreements, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

Unauthorized disclosure or loss of intellectual property, trade secrets, other sensitive business or personal information, or disruption in information technology by cyberattacks or other security breaches, as well as our failure to comply with data protection laws and information security requirements can subject us to significant penalties or liability and can adversely impact our operations, reputation, and financial results.

We collect, store, process, and use certain confidential information and other personal data in connection with our business operations. We must ensure that any processing, collection, use, storage, dissemination, transfer and disposal of data for which we are responsible complies with relevant data protection and privacy laws. The protection of information relating to our business partners (customers and suppliers), employees and confidential information related to our business is critical to us. We rely on commercially available systems, software and monitoring tools to provide secure processing, transmission and storage of relevant information, such as business confidential information and personal data including sensitive information.

Data protection and privacy laws are developing to take into account the changes in cultural and consumer attitudes towards the protection of personal data. For example, on August 14, 2018, Brazil enacted Law No. 13,709/2018 (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados), or the LGPD, a comprehensive data protection law establishing general principles and obligations that apply across multiple economic sectors and contractual relationships. The LGPD establishes detailed rules for the collection, use, processing and storage of personal data and will affect all economic sectors, including the relationship between customers and suppliers of goods and services, employers and employees, and other relationships in which personal data is collected, whether in a digital or physical manner.

The LGPD entered into effect on September 18, 2020, except for administrative sanctions, which will enter into effect on August 1, 2021, pursuant to Law No. 14,010/2020, which delayed the applicability of certain provisions of the LGPD. The LGPD established a new legal framework to be observed in the processing of personal data and provides, among other measures, rights of data subjects, cases in which the processing of personal data is allowed, obligations and requirements relating to security incidents involving personal data and the transfer and sharing of personal data between different countries, as well as penalties for non-compliance with its provisions, ranging from a warning and exclusion of personal data treated in an irregular way to fines or the prohibition from processing personal data. The LGPD also authorized the creation of the National Data Protection Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados), an authority that oversees the compliance with the rules on data protection.

Any additional privacy laws or regulations enacted or approved in Brazil or in other jurisdictions in which we operate could seriously harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. On May 25, 2018, the Regulation No. 2016/279 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016 on the protection of personal data (the General Data Protection Regulation), or the GDPR, became directly applicable in all member states of the European Union. The GDPR has introduced new obligations relating to data privacy, control and retention, including, among others: (i) accountability and transparency requirements; (ii) enhanced data consent requirements; (iii) obligations to consider data privacy as any new products or services are developed and limit the amount of information collected, processed, stored and its accessibility; (iv) constraints on using data to profile data subjects; (v) providing data subjects with personal data in a useable format upon request and erasing personal data in certain circumstances; and (vi) reporting breaches without undue delay.

As we seek to expand our business and operations, we expect to be increasingly subject to laws and regulations relating to the collection, use, retention, security, and transfer of our employee and customer data. These may change over time and may vary by jurisdiction, and it is possible they will be interpreted and applied in ways that will materially and adversely affect our business. Any failure—real or perceived—by Braskem to comply with any applicable privacy or data protection-related laws and regulations could cause our customers to reduce their use of our products and services.

Compliance with data protection laws requires us to expend resources to revise our procedures and policies. There are no guarantees that we have sufficient resources to comply with new regulations or to successfully comply with this changing regulatory environment. Further, there is a risk of improper implementation and sanctions or reputational damage for noncompliance, both of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition, and prospects.

In addition, despite the information security measures that we have in place, our facilities and systems—and those of our third-party service providers—may be vulnerable to security breaches, cyberattacks (including ransomware and phishing), computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming or human errors, or other similar events. Any security breach or perceived threat resulting in the loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential information could damage our reputation, expose us to litigation risk and liability, subject us to negative publicity, disrupt our operations and harm our business.

Our own security measures cannot be guaranteed and are susceptible to new cyberattacks. On October 4, 2020, we detected a cyberattack on our information technology environment as it occurred. Our security system immediately interrupted access to our servers and software, allowing us to eliminate the external threat before relevant data loss or damage occurred. We restored access to most of our servers and software, which allowed us to resume our normal operations at our plants on October 7, 2020. We took this opportunity to expedite the implementation of additional security measures that had already been planned. We have investigated and continue to investigate whether there was any breach of personal data and personal information. As of the date of this annual report, we have not found any evidence that a breach of personal data and personal information occurred.

As of the date of this annual report, we have not found any evidence that a breach of personal data and relevant information occurred. We are also unable to assess all the effects of this incident on our operations, data processing and other information technology systems. We continue to undertake our best efforts to assess the extent of the incident and take appropriate measures, including from a criminal standpoint, to prevent similar cyber-attacks from happening in the future

We have investigated whether there was any breach of personal data and personal information. As of the date of this annual report, we have not found any evidence that a breach of personal data and relevant information occurred. We are also unable to assess all the effects of this incident on our operations, data processing and other information technology systems. We continue to undertake our best efforts to assess the extent of the incident and take appropriate measures, including from a criminal standpoint, to prevent similar cyber-attacks from happening in the future.

Cyberattacks or security breaches could compromise critical information and cause a disruption in our operations, which are heavily dependent on information technology and telecommunication systems and services. Information assets, including intellectual property, trade secrets, personal data and other business-sensitive critical information are an attractive asset to cyber criminals, cyberterrorism or other external agents. While we can offer no assurances, we have a comprehensive cybersecurity program in place, which is continuously reviewed, maintained and upgraded to prevent a significant cyberattack, a human error, including from our employees and partners, or obsolescence of technology could result in the loss of critical business information and/or negatively impact our operations, which could have a negative impact on our financial results.

Risks Relating to Brazil

Brazilian political, economic and business conditions, and the Brazilian government’s economic and other policies, may negatively affect demand for our products as well as our net revenue and overall financial performance.

The Brazilian economy has been characterized by frequent and occasionally extensive intervention by the Brazilian government and unstable economic cycles. The Brazilian government has often changed monetary, taxation, credit, tariff and other policies to influence the course of Brazil’s economy. The Brazilian government’s actions to control inflation and implement other policies have at times involved wage and price controls, blocking access to bank accounts, imposing capital controls and limiting imports into Brazil.

Our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by factors such as:

Brazilian markets have been experiencing heightened volatility due to the uncertainties derived from the ongoing corruption investigations by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office under Operations Car Wash, Zelotes, Greenfield, Efficiency and others, and their impact on the Brazilian economy and political environment. Certain current and former members of the Brazilian government and of the legislative branch, as well as former senior officers of the state-owned oil company and our shareholder Petrobras are being prosecuted for political corruption. These government officials and former senior officers allegedly accepted bribes by means of kickbacks on contracts granted by Petrobras to several infrastructure, oil and gas and construction companies, including Odebrecht, our controlling shareholder. We cannot currently predict how the Operation Car Wash investigation, related investigations and any future decisions and actions by authorities or developments in relation to our shareholders, may impact us. The profits of these kickbacks allegedly financed the political campaigns of political parties of federal, state and city governments that were unaccounted for or not publicly disclosed, as well as served to personally enrich the recipients of the bribery scheme. As a result of the ongoing Operation Car Wash investigation, a number of current and former senior politicians, including congressman and officers of the major state-owned companies in Brazil resigned or have been arrested. Senior elected officials and other public officials in Brazil are being investigated for allegations of unethical and illegal conduct identified during the Operation Car Wash investigation.

The potential outcome of these investigations is uncertain, but they have adversely affected and we expect that they will continue to adversely affect the Brazilian markets and trading prices of securities issued by Brazilian issuers. We cannot predict whether the allegations will lead to further political and economic instability or whether new allegations against government officials or other companies in Brazil will arise in the future. In addition, we can neither predict the outcome of any such allegations nor their effect on the Brazilian economy. The development of those unethical conduct cases could have a material adverse effect.

In addition, Brazilian politics have been characterized by considerable instability in recent years. The conviction of Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and potential ongoing judicial appeals may further increase political and economic instability. In addition, following a divisive presidential race, former Congressman Jair Bolsonaro became Brazil’s president on January 1, 2019. It is unclear if and for how long the political divisions in Brazil that arose prior to the elections will continue under Mr. Bolsonaro’s presidency and the effects that any such divisions will have on Mr. Bolsonaro’s ability to govern Brazil and implement reforms. Any continuation of such divisions could result in congressional deadlock, political unrest and massive demonstrations and/or strikes that could materially adversely affect our operations. Uncertainties in relation to the implementation by the new government of changes relating to monetary, tax and pension funds policies as well as to the relevant legislation may contribute to economic instability. These uncertainties and measures adopted by the new administration may increase market volatility of Brazilian securities issued abroad.

Also, imports of suspension PVC from the United States and Mexico have been subject to anti-dumping duties of 16.0% and 18.0%, respectively, that were imposed by the Brazilian Foreign Trade Chamber (Câmara de Comércio Exterior), or CAMEX. Since 2008, imports of suspension PVC from China have also been subject to a duty of 21.6, and imports of suspension PVC from South Korea have been subject to duties ranging between 0% and 18.9%, depending on the producer, as a result of the imposition of anti-dumping duties by CAMEX. In August 2020, however, CAMEX decided to terminate the anti-dumping duties applied on imports of PVC from South Korea and to temporarily suspend the application of anti-dumping duties on imports from China. The duties imposed on imports from the United States and Mexico are scheduled to expire in 2021.

Additionally, in December 2010, CAMEX imposed an anti-dumping duty of 10.6% on polypropylene imports from the United’ States, which was extended in November 2016. In August 2014, the Brazilian government imposed anti-dumping duties on polypropylene imports from South Africa, India and South Korea of 16.0%, 6.4% to 9.9%, and 2.4% to 6.3%, respectively. In December 2020, CAMEX decided to terminate the anti-dumping duties applied on imports of polypropylene from South Korea and reduced the anti-dumping duties for South Africa to range between 4.6% and 16%. The duties imposed on imports of polypropylene from the United States are scheduled to expire in 2021, and the duties imposed on imports from South Africa and India are set to expire in 2025.

Finally, in December 2020, the Brazilian government temporarily reduced to 4%, for an initial period of three months initially, for a quota of 160,000 tons, the import tariffs levied on imports of PVC resins from countries that do not benefit from preferential import rates in Brazil. The Brazilian government extended such reduction in March 2021 for three additional months and 160,000 additional tons. In March 2021, the Brazilian government also temporarily reduced to 0%, for an initial period of three months, for a quota of 77,000 tons, the tariffs levied on imports of PP from countries that do not benefit from preferential import rates in Brazil.

In 2018, 25% of Brazilian PE, PP and PVC resins were imported products, which reflected a 12.3% annual increase in the volume of resins imported, due to higher availability of products from plants that recently started to operate.

In 2019, 31% of Brazilian PE, PP and PVC resins were imported products, which reflected an 8.5% annual increase in the volume of resins imported.

In 2020, 32% of Brazilian PE, PP and PVC resins were imported products, which reflected an 11% annual increase in the volume of resins imported.

Changes in industrial policy and related actions undertaken by the Brazilian government may negatively affect demand for our products as well as our net revenue and overall financial performance.

We currently benefit from certain industrial policies and related actions undertaken by the Brazilian government intended to strengthen the domestic economy and certain local industries. Some of these policies and actions have recently included reductions in payroll taxes for plastic manufacturers, a program to improve the competitiveness of Brazilian producers in the export markets by refunding the federal taxes levied on their export sale, intervention of the federal government to reduce incentives to imports at local ports, increases in import duties on certain products, including polyethylene, and the reduction in the rates of the Social Integration Program (Programa de Integração Social), or PIS, a federal value-added tax, and Contribution for Social Security Financing (Contribuição para Financiamento da Seguridade Social), or COFINS, taxes on feedstock purchases by first- and second-generation petrochemical producers.

These taxes on feedstock purchases were set at a rate of 5.6% for naphtha and 9.25% for other feedstocks prior to June 2013. After September 2013, naphtha and also other feedstocks tax rates were lowered to 1% in 2015, increased to 3% in 2016, 5% in 2017 and further increased to 5.6% in 2018. On May 30, 2018, the Brazilian government issued Provisional Measure No. 836/18, which revoked the tax rebates for social contribution taxes, PIS and COFINS, beginning on September 1, 2018. Further, in early October 2018, the petrochemical industry special regime (REIQ) was not passed into law, which kept the PIS/COFINS taxes levied on the acquisition of domestic and imported feedstocks unchanged at 5.6%.

We cannot predict or control which policies will be renewed or discontinued and whether future changes to Brazilian industrial policy will be proposed and enacted in the future. If industrial policies that benefit us expire, or policies detrimental to us are implemented, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Fluctuations in the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate could increase inflation in Brazil, raise the cost of servicing our foreign currency-denominated debt and negatively affect our overall financial performance.

The exchange rate between the real and the U.S. dollar and the relative rates of depreciation and appreciation of the real have affected our results of operations and may continue to do so.

The Brazilian real has been devalued on several occasions. Throughout the last several decades, the Brazilian government has implemented various economic plans and various exchange rate policies, including sudden devaluations, periodic mini-devaluations (during which the frequency of adjustments has ranged from daily to monthly), exchange controls, dual exchange rate markets and a floating exchange rate system. From time to time, there have been significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Brazilian currency and the U.S. dollar and other currencies. On average, the real depreciated by 16.5% against the U.S. dollar during 2016, appreciated by 8.5% during 2017, depreciated by 14.5% during 2018, depreciated by 7.9% during 2019 and depreciated by 30.7% during 2020.

Depreciation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar also could result in inflationary pressures in Brazil by generally increasing the price of imported products and services. On the other hand, the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar may lead to a deterioration of the country’s current account and the balance of payments and may dampen export-driven growth.

We had total foreign currency-denominated debt obligations, all of which were denominated in U.S. dollars, in an aggregate amount of R$52,293.6 million (US$10,062.8 million) as of December 31, 2020 (inclusive of an aggregate amount of R$12,059.2 million (US$2,320.6 million) outstanding as of December 31, 2020 in connection with our secured debt related to our Mexico Complex), representing 96.8% of our consolidated indebtedness. As of December 31, 2020, we had R$5,626.0 million (US$1,082.6 million) in foreign currency-denominated cash and cash equivalents, including the aggregate amount of R$904.4 million (US$174.0 million) of Braskem Idesa’s cash and cash equivalents.

A significant depreciation of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar or other currencies could increase our financial expenses as a result of foreign exchange losses that we must record and could reduce our ability to meet debt service requirements of our foreign currency-denominated obligations. To enable us to more efficiently manage the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on our results, in 2013 we decided to designate part of our U.S. dollar-denominated liabilities as a hedge for our future exports.

The prices of naphtha, our most important raw material, and of some of our other raw materials, are denominated in or linked to the U.S. dollar. Naphtha accounted, directly and indirectly, for 35.1% of our consolidated cost of products sold in 2020. When the real depreciates against the U.S. dollar, the cost in reais of our U.S. dollar-denominated and U.S. dollar-linked raw materials increases, and our operating income in reais may decrease to the extent that we are unable to pass on these cost increases to our customers.

Therefore, with the goal of partially mitigating the long-term exchange risk, in September 2016, the Company started to contract financial derivatives to establish a long-term foreign exchange hedge program. The program aims to mitigate dollar call and put option contracts by hedging expected cash flows over a 24-month period.

The Brazilian government’s actions to combat inflation may contribute significantly to economic uncertainty in Brazil and reduce demand for our products.

Historically, Brazil has experienced high rates of inflation. Inflation, as well as government efforts to combat inflation, had significant negative effects on the Brazilian economy, particularly prior to 1995. The inflation rate, as measured by the General Price Index—Internal Availability (Índice Geral de Preços—Disponibilidade Interna), or the IGP-DI, reached 2,708% in 1993. Although inflation rates have been substantially lower since 1995 than in previous years, inflationary pressures persist. Inflation rates, as measured by the IGP-DI, were 7.2% in 2016, negative 0.4% in 2017, 7.1% in 2018, 7.3% in 2019 and 23.1% in 2020. The Brazilian government’s measures to control inflation have often included maintaining a tight monetary policy with high interest rates, thereby restricting availability of credit and reducing economic growth. Inflation, actions to combat inflation and public speculation about possible additional actions also may contribute to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities markets.

Brazil may experience high levels of inflation. Increasing prices for petroleum, the depreciation of the real and future governmental measures seeking to maintain the value of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar may trigger increases in inflation in Brazil. Periods of higher inflation may slow the rate of growth of the Brazilian economy, which would lead to reduced demand for our products in Brazil and decreased net revenue. Inflation is also likely to increase some of our costs and expenses, which we may not be able to pass on to our customers and, as a result, may reduce our profit margins and net income. In addition, high inflation generally leads to higher domestic interest rates, and, as a result, the costs of servicing our real-denominated debt may increase, causing our net income to be reduced. Inflation and its effect on domestic interest rates can in addition, lead to reduced liquidity in the domestic capital and lending markets, which could adversely affect our ability to refinance our indebtedness in those markets. Any decline in our net revenue or net income and any deterioration in our financial condition would also likely lead to a decline in the market price of our securities, including class A preferred shares and the ADSs.

Fluctuations or changes in, or the replacement of, interest rates could raise the cost of servicing our debt or reduce our financial revenue, negatively affecting our overall financial performance.

Our financial expenses are affected by changes in the interest rates that apply to our floating rate debt. As of December 31, 2020, we had, among other debt obligations:

The TLP includes an inflation factor and is determined quarterly by the Central Bank. In particular, the TLP, the CDI and the SELIC rates have fluctuated significantly in the past in response to the expansion or contraction of the Brazilian economy, inflation, Brazilian government policies and other factors. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” A significant increase in any of these interest rates could adversely affect our financial expenses and negatively affect our overall financial performance.

Due to the concerns regarding LIBOR, there have been market initiatives to enact its replacement. In June 2021, the Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rates Committee selected the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, as the preferred alternative to LIBOR. Subsequently, a schedule has been announced for the cessation of LIBOR. The ICE Benchmark Association, or IBA, has announced that it intends to end publication of the 1-week and 2-month LIBOR after December 31, 2021. The remaining tenors of LIBOR would remain in publication until June 2023, on a representative basis; after this date, publication will cease altogether. New risk-free rates, or RFRs, are also being introduced alongside SOFR for interbank offered rates in other currencies, such as the Euro, British pound, Swiss franc and Japanese yen, among others. Due to these changes, interest rates on future indebtedness may be adversely affected or we may need to renegotiate the terms of our existing facilities to replace LIBOR with the new standard, or to otherwise agree with lenders, trustees or agents, as applicable, on a new means of calculating interest. The elimination of LIBOR or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR could have a material adverse effect on our financial expenses and/or financial revenue and materially adversely affect our overall financial performance.

Brazilian government exchange control policies could increase the cost of servicing our foreign currency-denominated debt, adversely affect our ability to make payments under our foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and impair our liquidity.

The purchase and sale of foreign currency in Brazil is subject to governmental control. The current laws and regulations governing the Brazilian foreign exchange system allow the purchase and sale of foreign currency and the international transfer of reais by any person or legal entity, regardless of the amount, subject to certain regulatory procedures. Many factors could cause the Brazilian government to institute more restrictive exchange control policies, including the extent of Brazil’s foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the size of Brazil’s debt service burden relative to the economy as a whole, Brazil’s policy towards the IMF and political constraints to which Brazil may be subject. A more restrictive policy could increase the cost of servicing, and thereby reduce our ability to pay, our foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and other liabilities.

Our foreign-currency debt denominated in U.S. dollars represented an aggregate of 96.8% of our indebtedness on a consolidated basis as of December 31, 2020, including transaction costs and Braskem Idesa Financing. If we fail to make payments under any of these obligations, we will be in default under those obligations, which could reduce our liquidity as well as the market price of our securities, including our class A preferred shares and ADSs.

Changes in tax laws may result in increases in certain direct and indirect taxes, which could reduce our gross margin and negatively affect our overall financial performance.

The Brazilian government implements, from time to time, changes to tax regimes that may increase our and our customers’ tax burdens. These changes include modifications in the rate of assessments and, on occasion, enactment of temporary taxes, the proceeds of which are earmarked for designated governmental purposes. We cannot predict the changes to Brazilian tax law that may be proposed and enacted in the future. However, future changes in Brazilian tax law may result in increases in our overall tax burden, which could reduce our gross margin and negatively affect our overall financial performance.

Risks Relating to Mexico

Political and economic conditions and government policies in Mexico, including political interferences in state-owned companies such as Pemex TRI and Cenagas, and elsewhere may have a material impact on our operations.

Deterioration in Mexico’s economic condition, social instability, political unrest or other adverse social developments in Mexico could adversely affect our business and financial condition. These events could also lead to increased volatility in the financial markets, thereby affecting our ability to maintain financial liquidity and service our debt. Additionally, spending cuts related to Pemex or other government expenditures, or lack of investments in natural gas and ethane recovery, could adversely affect Pemex, Pemex’s ability to produce and recover ethane, the Mexican economy and, consequently, our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

In the past, Mexico has experienced several periods of slow or negative economic growth, high inflation, high interest rates, currency devaluation and other economic problems. These problems may worsen or reemerge, as applicable, in the future and could adversely affect our business and ability to service our debt. A worsening of international financial or economic conditions, such as a slowdown in growth or recessionary conditions in Mexico’s trading partners, including the United States, or the emergence of a new financial crisis, could have adverse effects on the Mexican economy, our financial condition and our ability to service our debt.

Furthermore, our long-term supply agreement to purchase ethane from Pemex TRI, a state-owned Mexican entity, could be modified through regulatory means, terminated or jeopardized by them as a result of political pressure to not comply with the agreement, to change the terms of the agreement, expropriation measures, or change in laws regulations by the Mexican government. Any non-compliance, modification, termination or interruption of this supply agreement could have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations or our financial condition.

In early December 2020, Braskem Idesa received a notification from Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), a Mexican state-owned agency responsible for all natural gas pipelines and transportation in Mexico, related to the unilateral termination of the service of natural gas transportation, an essential energy input for the production of PE in our Mexico Segment. As a result, in compliance with safety protocols, Braskem Idesa initiated procedures for the immediate interruption of its operating activities. Later in January 2021, Braskem Idesa partially resumed its operations based on an experimental business model to produce PE. Braskem Idesa has taken legal measures pursuant to the ethane supply agreement entered into with Pemex. Braskem Netherlands B.V, which is Braskem Idesa’s direct shareholder, has also taken legal measures under applicable international investment protection standards to protect the interests of Braskem Idesa and its parent company with regard to their investment in Mexico. Such measures include a negotiation period to attempt to resolve the dispute between the parties.

In the first quarter of 2021 Braskem Idesa entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

For additional information, see “—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico,” “—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof” and “We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.”

Mexico has experienced adverse economic conditions, which may adversely affect our business.

Mexico has historically experienced uneven periods of economic growth. In 2017, Mexico’s GDP only increased by 2.1%, while inflation increased to 6.8%. At the end of 2017, Mexico’s inflation rate reached a 17-year high, primarily due to a weaker Peso compared to the U.S. dollar and the termination of government controls on gasoline and other fuels. In 2018, Mexico’s economy rebounded slightly from the prior high inflation rate, decreasing to 4.8%. Inflation remained above the consumer price index target of 3%, and Mexico’s GDP growth for 2018 decreased slightly to 2.0%, from 2.1% in 2017. In 2019, Mexico’s GDP stagnated in relation to 2018. According to the IMF, because of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the GDP of Mexico shrank significantly in 2020, leading to an economic contraction and a recession in the country.

Decreases in the growth rate of the Mexican economy, periods of negative growth or reductions in disposable income may result in lower demand for our products. The Mexican government recently cut spending in response to an austerity policy and a downward trend in international crude oil prices, and it may further cut spending in the future. These cuts could adversely affect the Mexican economy and, consequently, our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects. In addition, there can be no assurance that the recent Mexican sovereign debt rating downgrades will not adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our revenues are subject to the risk of loss from unfavorable political and diplomatic developments, social instability, and changes in governmental policies, including expropriation, nationalization, international ownership legislation, interest-rate caps and tax policies. As a result, the actions of the Mexican government concerning the economy and regulating certain industries could have a significant effect on Mexican private sector entities, including us, and on market conditions, prices and returns on Mexican securities, including our securities.

A renegotiation of commercial treaties or changes in foreign policy among Mexico, Canada and the United States may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In recent years, economic conditions in Mexico have become increasingly correlated with economic conditions in the United States as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and increased economic activity between the two countries. Adverse economic conditions in the United States or other related events could have a significant adverse effect on the Mexican economy, which could adversely affect our business. As a result of talks to renegotiate NAFTA, on November 30, 2018, the United States, Canada, and Mexico signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The USMCA replaced NAFTA and, although it entered into force on July 1, 2020, it may fail to be implemented. If such event occur, it could adversely impact our business and operations. Since 2003, exports of petrochemical products from Mexico to the United States have enjoyed a zero-tariff rate under NAFTA. Any action taken by the current U.S., Mexico or Canada administrations, including changes to or non-compliance with the USMCA requirements that would increase the tariff rate between the countries, could have a negative impact on the Mexican economy, such as reductions in the levels of remittances, reduced commercial activity or bilateral trade, or declining foreign direct investment in Mexico. In addition, increased or perceptions of increased economic protectionism in the United States and other countries could potentially lead to lower levels of trade and investment and economic growth, which could have a similarly negative impact on the Mexican economy. These economic and political consequences could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The 2016 U.S. presidential election and the change in the U.S. administration have had an impact on the worldwide economy and in Mexico. The current U.S. governmental policies towards Mexico have created instability, uncertainty and may adversely affect the Mexican economy. For example, President Donald Trump has instituted import tariffs on a limited amount of products imported from Mexico and enforced measures intended to control illegal immigration from Mexico, which have created friction between the U.S. and Mexican governments and may reduce economic activity between these countries. In addition, in June 2019, the Trump administration announced plans to impose an escalating series of tariffs on Mexico unless the Mexican government enacted certain policy changes. While the Mexican and U.S. governments were able to reach an understanding, we cannot assure you that the U.S. government will not impose escalating or other tariffs on Mexico and that we will not be materially adversely affected by tariffs in the future.

Our profitability is affected by numerous factors including demand for the products we provide. The demand for our products in Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe the U.S. and in the other countries in which we operate may be adversely affected by the tightening of credit markets and economic downturns. As a global company, we depend on the demand from customers in Mexico, the U.S. and the other countries in which we operate, and reduced consumer spending that falls short of our projections could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Political events in Mexico could affect the Mexican economic policy and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The last Mexican presidential and congressional elections took place in July 2018. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, presidential candidate for the National Regeneration Movement Party (Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional), or Morena, was elected President of Mexico and took office on December 1, 2018. Additionally, Mexican congressional elections took place in July 2018, resulting in Morena effectively controlling the Mexican House of Representatives (Cámara de Diputados) and having a significant influence in the Mexican Senate (Senado de la República), obtaining a historical absolute majority and reducing the rest of the political forces to a level of marginal influence. Mexico’s next federal legislative election will be in July 2021.

During the presidential campaign, the candidates for the presidency and the federal legislatures presented diverse proposals to, among other things, modify or terminate certain structural reforms introduced in the previous administration, with the purpose of reducing the participation of private investment in sectors such as energy. Accordingly, as has happened historically in any change of administration or congress, the Mexican government could implement significant changes in laws, policies and regulations, and could reduce or eliminate the independence of organizations or of semi-autonomous or decentralized dependencies, which could affect the economic and political situation in Mexico. We cannot predict if the current administration will implement substantial changes in law, policy and regulations in Mexico, which could affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Morena’s control over the Mexican Congress, as described above, could result in further reforms and secondary legislation of key sectors of the Mexican economy. The ruling political coalition led by Morena has been strengthened by fragmented support from the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (Partido Verde Ecologísta), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and a deficient organization of dissident political groups. As a result, in the state elections of 2019, Morena expanded its influence in the entities acquiring control of 21 of 32 local congresses. We cannot ascertain whether, and to what extent, such policies may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition or the legal framework in which we operate.

In addition, the new administration canceled the New Mexico City Airport (Nuevo Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México) project, and has announced the kickoff of the main infrastructure projects that were promised during campaign (including a new refinery at Dos Bocas, the “Mayan train,” and the construction of a new airport in Santa Lucía). Several investors and credit rating agencies are still cautious about the new administration’s policies, which could contribute to a decrease in the Mexican economy’s resilience in the event of a global economic downturn. Morena’s led coalition control in the Congress and in various local Congresses are enough to implement significant reforms without the approval of the rest of the other Mexican political parties, including amendments to the Mexican Constitution. Such concentration of power and any instability in Mexican politics or the Mexican economy as a result of the above can have a negative impact on our business, financial position or operating results. The extent of such impact cannot be accurately predicted.

Developments in other countries could adversely affect the Mexican economy, our financial performance and the price of our shares.

The Mexican economy and the market value of Mexican companies may be affected to varying degrees by global economic and market conditions, and the economic and market conditions in other emerging market countries and major trading partners, in particular the United States. In recent years, economic conditions in Mexico have become increasingly correlated with economic conditions in the United States as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, increased economic activity between the two countries, and the remittance of funds from Mexican immigrants working in the United States to Mexican residents. Therefore, adverse economic conditions in the United States, the termination of, or modifications to, NAFTA or its successor agreement, USMCA, or other related events, including global trade disputes and instability, could have a significant adverse effect on the Mexican economy. We cannot assure you that events in other emerging market countries, in the United States or elsewhere will not adversely affect our financial performance.

Mexico has experienced a period of increased criminal activity, including violence associated with drug trafficking and organized crime, and such activities could adversely affect our financing costs and exposure to our customers and counterparties.

During recent years, Mexico has experienced a period of increased criminal activity and violence, primarily due to organized crime. This violence has taken place throughout Mexico, including the State of Veracruz, where our Mexico Complex is located. Despite the efforts of the Mexican government to increase security measures by strengthening its military and police forces, drug-related violence and crime continues to threaten the Mexican economy and the peace and security of certain regions, resulting in economic and political instability and uncertainty in Mexico. Systematic criminal activity and isolated criminal events could interrupt our operations, affect our ability to generate revenue and increase the cost of our operations. Continued violence could result in the Mexican government adopting additional security measures, such as transport restrictions, prohibiting the transit of goods and people at certain times, and cross-border trade. We cannot assure you that these activities, their escalation and the violence associated with them, over which we have no control, could have a negative impact on the business environment in which we operate, and therefore on our results of operations and financial condition.

We may interpret certain provisions of our ethane supply agreement differently than our counterparty Pemex TRI.

As of the date of this annual report, we source substantially all of the ethane for the production of polyethylene at our Mexico Complex from Pemex TRI pursuant to the take-or-pay long-term ethane supply agreement with Pemex TRI. The ethane supply agreement is a complex agreement, and we may interpret certain of its provisions differently than Pemex TRI does. For example, if Pemex TRI fails to supply a determined percentage of the ethane contractually specified under the ethane supply agreement for six consecutive months, we will have the right to terminate the ethane supply agreement and require Pemex TRI to pay to the other parties involved in the project an amount equal to the termination value of this project (the value of which is determined pursuant to the contract and takes into consideration, among other factors, the outstanding debt of the project and the amount invested in the project at such time). A difference of interpretation between us and Pemex TRI of certain provisions of the ethane supply agreement, including the provisions relating to calculation of the termination value, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. See “—We have no control over the corporate actions or decisions of Pemex TRI and Cenagas, which are, respectively, our main supplier of ethane and a provider of natural gas transportation services and Mexican state-owned enterprises subject to political interference.”

If we fail to develop an alternative source of ethane or to expand the current alternative source of ethane, it may have a negative impact on our business because we cannot operate our Mexico Complex at full capacity.

In order to increase the operating rate of our Mexico Complex, we need to obtain additional quantities of ethane to offset the shortfall in the amount of ethane supplied by Pemex TRI under the ethane supply agreement. As of the date of this annual report, our Mexico Complex is importing additional supplies of ethane through a private terminal in Coatzacoalcos and transporting it to our complex via a logistical solution, or the Fast-Track Solution. In the future, we may consider the development and construction of a new terminal, or the Ethane Import Terminal. However, we cannot guarantee that the potential construction of the Ethane Import Terminal will be completed or that the Fast-Track Solution will be able to increase our production to our expected level of output. In addition, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to import ethane at current market prices, which could also adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The development and construction of the Ethane Import Terminal and the establishment of the Fast-Track Solution for the importation of ethane may involve significant risks and uncertainties, such as:

The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to modify certain of our business practices, and we may take further actions as required by government authorities, including closure of ports, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and suppliers. These actions could impact the development and construction of the Ethane Import Terminal and the establishment of the Fast-Track Solution for the importation of ethane. We currently expect Pemex TRI’s undersupply of ethane to continue.

Risks Relating to Our Equity and Debt Securities

The totality of the shares issued by Braskem and owned by OSP Investimentos S.A. were given as collateral in financing agreements entered into by the Novonor Group.

Pursuant to a shares fiduciary assignment agreement (alienação fiduciária em garantia) entered into by the Novonor Group on November 27, 2013, as amended on May 13, 2016, July 19, 2016, April 24, 2017, May 23, 2018, March 29, 2019 and October 9, 2020, all shares issued by Braskem and held by OSP Investimentos S.A. have been given as collateral in connection with certain financing agreements entered into by Novonor S.A. and certain of its subsidiaries. In the event that Novonor Group defaults on such financing agreements, or if such financing agreements are accelerated and, as a result, such collateral is seized by a creditor (assuming that Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras does not exercise its preemptive rights to acquire such shares) we may be subject to a change of control following statutory and procedural formalities required pursuant to our shareholders’s agreement. A change of control under these circumstances may adversely affect us.

A foreclosure on or sale of our shares held by OSP Investimentos S.A. - whether within or outside the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings - may result in a change of control. As we do not have the ability to consent to or otherwise influence or control the Novonor Judicial Restructuring Proceedings or otherwise the acquirer of the shares from any such foreclosure, we may have a change in our corporate control in the foreseeable future.

Shareholders of our class A preferred shares or the ADSs may not receive any dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity.

As permitted by the Brazilian Corporate Law, our by-laws specify that 25% of our adjusted net profit for each fiscal year must be distributed to shareholders as mandatory dividends, or the Mandatory Distribution of Dividends. Under our by-laws, our class A and class B preferred shareholders are entitled to an annual non-cumulative preferential dividend, or the Minimum Preferred Dividend, equal to 6% of their pro rata share of our capital before dividends may be paid to our common shareholders. The Brazilian Corporate Law allows a publicly traded company like ours to suspend the Mandatory Distribution of Dividends in any particular year if our board of directors informs our shareholders that such distributions would be inadvisable in view of our financial condition or cash availability, provided that such suspension does not affect the Minimum Preferred Dividend, which is still payable to the holders of preferred shares. However, the shareholders, including the holders of our class A preferred shares or the ADSs, may not receive any dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity in any given year if we do not record a profit.

Our class A preferred shares and the ADSs have limited voting rights and are not entitled to vote to approve corporate transactions, including mergers or consolidations of our Company with other companies, or the declaration of dividends.

Under the Brazilian Corporate Law and our by-laws, holders of our class A preferred shares and, consequently, the ADSs underlying these shares are not entitled to vote at meetings of our shareholders, except in very limited circumstances. These limited circumstances directly relate to key rights of the holders of class A preferred shares, such as modifying basic terms of our class A preferred shares or creating a new class of preferred shares with superior rights. Holders of preferred shares without voting rights are entitled to elect one member and his or her respective alternate to our board of directors and our fiscal council, depending on specific requirements provided in the Brazilian Corporate Law. Holders of our class A preferred shares and the ADSs are not entitled to vote to approve corporate transactions, including mergers or consolidations of our Company with other companies, or the declaration of dividends. However, if we do not pay dividends for three consecutive years, holders of our class A preferred shares and the ADSs will be granted voting rights. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Description of Our By-laws—Voting Rights.”

Holders of the ADSs may find it difficult to exercise even their limited voting rights at our shareholders’ meetings.

Under Brazilian law, only shareholders registered as such in our corporate books may attend our shareholders’ meetings. All class A preferred shares underlying the ADSs are registered in the name of the depositary. ADS holders may exercise the limited voting rights with respect to our class A preferred shares represented by the ADSs only in accordance with the deposit agreement relating to the ADSs, which provides that voting rights are only available to ADS holders at our discretion. There are practical limitations upon the ability of ADS holders to exercise their voting rights due to the additional steps involved in communicating with ADS holders. For example, we are required to publish a notice of our shareholders’ meetings in certain newspapers in Brazil. To the extent that holders of our class A preferred shares are entitled to vote at a shareholders’ meeting, they will be able to exercise their voting rights by attending the meeting in person, voting by proxy or by remote voting, if applicable. By contrast, holders of the ADSs will receive notice of a shareholders’ meeting by mail from the depositary following our notice to the ADS depository requesting the ADS depository to do so. To exercise their voting rights, ADS holders must instruct the depositary on a timely basis. This noticed voting process will take longer for ADS holders than for holders of class A preferred shares. If it fails to receive timely voting instructions for all or part of the ADSs, the depositary will assume that the holders of those ADSs are instructing it to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote their ADSs, except in limited circumstances.

In the limited circumstances in which holders of the ADSs have voting rights, they may not receive the voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote the class A preferred shares underlying their ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out the voting instructions of the holders of the ADSs or for the manner of carrying out those voting instructions. Accordingly, holders of the ADSs may not be able to exercise their voting rights, and they will have no recourse if the class A preferred shares underlying their ADSs are not voted as requested.

If holders of the ADSs exchange them for class A preferred shares, they may risk temporarily losing, or being limited in, the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and certain Brazilian tax advantages.

The Brazilian custodian for the preferred shares underlying the ADSs must obtain an electronic registration number with the Central Bank to allow the depositary to remit U.S. dollars abroad. ADS holders benefit from the electronic certificate of foreign capital registration from the Central Bank obtained by the custodian for the depositary, which permits it to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the class A preferred shares into U.S. dollars and remit the proceeds of such conversion abroad. If holders of the ADSs decide to exchange them for the underlying preferred shares, they will only be entitled to rely on the custodian’s certificate of registration with the Central Bank for five business days after the date of the exchange. Thereafter, they will be unable to remit U.S. dollars abroad unless they obtain a new electronic certificate of foreign capital registration in connection with the preferred shares, which may result in expenses and may cause delays in receiving distributions. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls.”

Also, if holders of the ADSs that exchange the ADSs for our Class A preferred shares do not qualify under the foreign investment regulations, they will generally be subject to less favorable tax treatment of dividends and distribution on, and the proceeds from any sale of, our preferred shares. See “Item 10. Additional information—Exchange Controls” and “Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.”

Restrictions on the movement of capital out of Brazil may impair the ability of holders of our shares, ADSs and debt securities to receive payments on their respective obligations or guarantees and may restrict our ability to make payments in U.S. dollars.

In the past, the Brazilian economy has experienced balance of payment deficits and shortages in foreign exchange reserves, and the government has responded by restricting the ability of Brazilian or foreign persons or entities to convert reais into foreign currencies. The government may institute a restrictive exchange control policy in the future. Any restrictive exchange control policy could prevent or restrict our access to U.S. dollars, and consequently our ability to meet our U.S. dollar obligations under our shares, ADSs and the guarantees we granted pursuant to our outstanding debt securities, and could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict the impact of any such measures on the Brazilian economy.

The foreign exchange policy of Brazil may affect the ability of Braskem to make money remittances outside Brazil in respect of our equity securities or debt securities.

Under current Brazilian regulations, Brazilian companies are not required to obtain authorization from the Central Bank in order to make payments under guarantees in favor of foreign persons, such as the holders of our shares, ADSs or our outstanding debt securities. We cannot assure you that these regulations will continue to be in force in the event that Braskem is required to perform its payment obligations under its shares, ADSs or the guarantees under our outstanding debt securities. If these regulations or their interpretation are modified and an authorization from the Central Bank is required, Braskem would need to seek an authorization from the Central Bank to transfer the amounts under such obligations out of Brazil or, alternatively, make such payments with funds held by Braskem outside Brazil. We cannot assure you that such an authorization will be obtained or that such funds will be available. If such authorization is not obtained, we may be unable to make payments to holders of our shares, ADSs or the applicable debt securities in foreign currency. If we are unable to obtain the required approvals, if needed for the payment of amounts owed by Braskem through remittances from Brazil, we may have to seek other lawful mechanisms to effect payment of amounts due under the shares, ADSs or debt securities. However, we cannot assure you that other remittance mechanisms will be available in the future, and even if they are available in the future, we cannot assure you that payment on the outstanding debt securities would be possible through such mechanism.

Holders of the ADSs may face difficulties in protecting their interests because we are subject to different corporate rules and regulations as a Brazilian company and our shareholders may have fewer and less well-defined rights than under the laws of other jurisdictions, including in a jurisdiction in the Unites States.

Holders of the ADSs are not our direct shareholders and are unable to enforce the rights of shareholders under our by-laws and the Brazilian Corporate Law.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our by-laws and the Brazilian Corporate Law, which differ from the legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, such as the State of Delaware or New York, or elsewhere outside Brazil. Even if a holder of ADSs surrenders its ADSs and becomes a direct shareholder, its rights as a holder of the class A preferred shares underlying the ADSs under the Brazilian Corporate Law to protect its interests relative to actions by our board of directors may be fewer and less well-defined than under the laws of those other jurisdictions.

Although insider trading and price manipulation are crimes under Brazilian law and are the subject of continuously evolving regulations promulgated by the Brazilian Securities Commission, or the CVM, the Brazilian securities markets are not as highly regulated and supervised as the U.S. securities markets or the markets in some other jurisdictions. In addition, rules and policies against self-dealing or for preserving shareholder interests may be less well-defined and enforced in Brazil than in the United States and certain other countries, which may put holders of our class A preferred shares and the ADSs at a potential disadvantage when compared to holders of shares of companies incorporated in other jurisdictions. Corporate disclosures also may be less complete or informative than for a public company in the United States or in certain other countries.

Holders of the ADSs may face difficulties in serving process on or enforcing judgments against us and other persons.

We are a corporation (sociedade por ações) organized under the laws of Brazil, and all of our directors and executive officers and our independent public accountants reside or are based in Brazil. Most of our assets and those of these other persons are located in Brazil. As a result, it may not be possible for holders of the ADSs to effect service of process upon us or these other persons within the United States or other jurisdictions outside Brazil or to enforce against us or these other persons judgments obtained in the United States or other jurisdictions outside Brazil. In addition, because a substantial portion of our assets and all of our directors and officers reside outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors or officers may not be collectible within the United States. Because judgments of U.S. courts for civil liabilities based upon the U.S. federal securities laws may only be enforced in Brazil if certain conditions are met, holders may face greater difficulties in protecting their interests in the case of actions by us or our directors or executive officers than would shareholders of a U.S. corporation.

Judgments of Brazilian courts enforcing Braskem’s obligations under our equity securities or the guarantees would be payable only in reais.

If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations under our shares, ADSs, the guarantees under our outstanding notes or our other indebtedness, we would not be required to discharge our obligations in a currency other than reais. Any judgment obtained against us in Brazilian courts in respect of any payment obligations under such shares, ADSs, guarantees or other indebtedness would be expressed in reais. We cannot assure you that this amount in reais will afford the holders of the shares, ADSs, notes or our other indebtedness full compensation of the amount sought in any such litigation.

Actual or anticipated sales of a substantial number of class A preferred shares could decrease the market prices of our class A preferred shares and the ADSs.

Sales of a substantial number of our class A preferred shares could negatively affect the market prices of our class A preferred shares and the ADSs. If substantial sales of shares are made through the securities markets by our controlling shareholders or other class A preferred shares, the market price of our class A preferred shares and, by extension, the ADSs may decrease significantly. As a result, holders of the ADSs may not be able to sell the ADSs at or above the price they paid for them.

Holders of the ADSs or class A preferred shares in the United States may not be entitled to the same preemptive rights as Brazilian shareholders have, pursuant to Brazilian legislation, in the subscription of shares resulting from capital increases made by us.

Under Brazilian law, if we issue new shares in exchange for cash or assets as part of a capital increase, subject to certain exceptions, we must grant our shareholders preemptive rights at the time of the subscription of shares, corresponding to their respective interest in our share capital, allowing them to maintain their existing shareholding percentage. We may not legally be permitted to allow holders of ADSs or class A preferred shares in the United States to exercise any preemptive rights in any future capital increase unless (1) we file a registration statement for an offering of shares resulting from the capital increase with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, or (2) the offering of shares resulting from the capital increase qualifies for an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. At the time of any future capital increase, we will evaluate the costs and potential liabilities associated with filing a registration statement for an offering of shares with the SEC and any other factors that we consider important in determining whether to file such a registration statement. We cannot assure the holders of the ADSs or class A preferred shares in the United States that we will file a registration statement with the SEC to allow them to participate in any of our capital increases. As a result, the equity interest of such holders into us may be diluted.

Brazilian tax laws may have an adverse impact on the taxes applicable to the disposition of our ADSs and preferred shares.

According to Law No. 10,833, of December 29, 2003, if a nonresident of Brazil disposes of assets located in Brazil, the transaction will be subject to taxation in Brazil, even if such disposition occurs outside Brazil or if such disposition is made to another nonresident. Dispositions of our ADSs between nonresidents, however, are currently not subject to taxation in Brazil. Nevertheless, in the event that the concept of “disposition of assets” is interpreted to include the disposition between nonresidents of assets located outside Brazil, this tax law could result in the imposition of withholding taxes in the event of a disposition of our ADSs made between nonresidents of Brazil. Due to the fact that, as of the date of this annual report, there is no judicial guidance on the application of Law No. 10,833/2003, we are unable to predict whether an interpretation applying such tax laws to dispositions of our ADSs between nonresidents could ultimately prevail in Brazilian courts. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.”

The relative volatility and liquidity of the Brazilian securities markets may adversely affect holders of our class A preferred shares and ADSs.

The Brazilian securities markets are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than major securities markets in the United States and other jurisdictions, and may be regulated differently from the manner in which U.S. investors are accustomed. Factors that may specifically affect the Brazilian equity markets may limit the ability of holders of the ADSs to sell class A preferred shares underlying ADSs at a price and at a time when they wish to do so and, as a result, could negatively impact the market price of the ADSs themselves.

Economic developments and investor perceptions of risk in other countries, including both in developed or emerging market economies, may adversely affect the trading price of Brazilian securities, including our common shares and ADSs, as well as any outstanding debt securities.

The market value of securities of Brazilian issuers is affected in varying degrees by economic and market conditions in other countries, including in developed countries, such as the United States and certain European countries, and in emerging market countries. Although economic conditions in such countries may differ significantly from economic conditions in Brazil, the reaction of investors to developments in these other countries may have an adverse effect on the market value of securities of Brazilian issuers. The price of shares traded in the Brazilian capital markets, for example, has been historically subject to fluctuation of interest rates in the United States and the variation in the main U.S. stock exchanges. In addition, crisis in other emerging countries may diminish investor interest in securities of Brazilian issuers, including our shares and ADSs and our debt securities. This could adversely affect the market price of our shares, ADSs and outstanding debt securities and could also make it more difficult for us to access capital markets, affecting our ability to finance our operations on acceptable terms.

We are exposed to disruption and volatility of global financial markets due to their effects on the economic and financial environment, particularly in Brazil, such as economic downturn, increased unemployment rate, decreased purchasing power of consumers and unavailability of credit

In addition, the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively impact the market value of securities od Brazilian issuers, including our shares and ADSs and our debt securities. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, actions to contain it or treat its impact, among others

These disruptions or volatility in global financial markets may increase even further the negative effects on the Brazilian economic and financial environment, adversely affecting us.

Because Braskem Finance Limited and Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V. have no operations of their own, holders of our outstanding debt securities issued by Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V. depend on Braskem to provide Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V., respectively, with sufficient funds to make payments on these debt securities when they become due.

Braskem Finance Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Braskem incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V., or Braskem Netherlands Finance, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Braskem incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands, have no operations of their own other than the issuing and making of payments on their respective debt securities and other indebtedness, and using the proceeds therefrom as permitted by the agreements governing these issuances, including lending the net proceeds of the debt securities and other indebtedness incurred by Braskem Finance Limited and Braskem Netherlands Finance to Braskem and subsidiaries of Braskem. Accordingly, the ability of either Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance to pay principal, interest and other amounts due on the outstanding debt securities issued by it and other indebtedness will depend our financial condition and results of operations and those of our subsidiaries that are debtors of Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance, respectively. In the event of an adverse change in our financial condition or results of operations or those our subsidiaries that are debtors of Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance, these entities may be unable to service their indebtedness to Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance, as the case may be, which would result in the failure of Braskem Finance Limited or Braskem Netherlands Finance, as the case may be, to have sufficient funds to repay all amounts due on or with respect to the respective outstanding debt securities.

Payments on Braskem’s guarantees will be junior to Braskem’s secured debt obligations and effectively junior to debt obligations of Braskem’s subsidiaries and jointly controlled companies.

The outstanding debt securities are fully guaranteed by Braskem on an unsecured basis. The Braskem guarantees constitute senior unsecured obligations of Braskem. The guarantees rank equal in right of payment with all of Braskem’s other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. Although the guarantees provide the holders of the debt securities with a direct, but unsecured claim on Braskem’s assets and property, payment on the guarantees is subordinated to secured debt of Braskem to the extent of the assets and property securing such debt.

Upon any liquidation or reorganization of Braskem, any right of the holders of the debt securities, through enforcement of Braskem’s guarantees (i) to participate in the assets of Braskem, including the capital stock of its subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities, will be subject to the prior claims of Braskem’s secured creditors, and (ii) to participate in the assets of Braskem’s subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities will be subject to the prior claims of the creditors of such subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities. The indentures relating to the outstanding debt securities include a covenant limiting the ability of Braskem and its subsidiaries to create liens, although this limitation is subject to significant exceptions.

Our Mexico Complex was financed under a project finance structure, in which the construction loan must be repaid using exclusively the cash generated by us with shareholders pledging limited guarantees. Accordingly, this financing structure includes guarantees typical to transactions of this kind, such as assets, receivables, cash generation and other rights of Braskem Idesa.

As of December 31, 2020, Braskem had (1) consolidated corporate debt, of R$41,968.2 million (US$8,075.9 million), and (2) consolidated Braskem Idesa debt related to our Mexico Complex of R$12,059.2 million (US$2,320.6 million). Of the consolidated corporate debt, R$2,303.6 million (US$443.3 million) was unsecured debt of Braskem S.A., R$1.5 million (US$0.3 million) was secured debt of Braskem S.A., and R$39,663.1 million (US$7,632.4 million) was unsecured debt of Braskem’s subsidiaries and special purpose entities (other than Braskem Idesa S.A.P.I.).

Braskem conducts a portion of its business operations through subsidiaries and jointly controlled companies. In servicing payments to be made on its guarantees of the outstanding debt securities, Braskem may rely, in part, on cash flows from its subsidiaries and jointly controlled companies, mainly in the form of dividend payments and interest on shareholders’ equity. The ability of these subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities to make dividend payments to Braskem will be affected by, among other factors, the obligations of these entities to their creditors, requirements of Brazilian corporate and other law, and restrictions contained in agreements entered into by or relating to these entities. In the event that these subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities are unable to make dividend payments to Braskem due to insufficient cash flows, Braskem may be required to utilize its own cash flows to service payments. Further, if these subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities are unable to pay their debt, they may become subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. Any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings of these subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Braskem’s obligations under the guarantees of the outstanding debt securities are subordinated to certain statutory preferences.

Under Brazilian law, Braskem’s obligations under the guarantees of the outstanding debt securities are subordinated to certain statutory preferences. In the event of a liquidation, bankruptcy or judicial restructuring of Braskem, such statutory preferences, including post-petition claims, claims for salaries, wages, social security, taxes and court fees and expenses and claims secured by collateral, among others, will have preference over any other claims, including claims by any investor in respect of the guarantees. In such event, enforcement of the guarantees may be unsuccessful, and holders of the outstanding debt securities may be unable to collect amounts due under the outstanding debt securities.

Brazilian bankruptcy laws may be less favorable to holders of our shares, ADSs and outstanding notes than bankruptcy and insolvency laws in other jurisdictions.

If we are unable to pay our indebtedness, including our obligations under the shares, ADSs and guarantees under the outstanding notes, then we may become subject to bankruptcy proceedings in Brazil. The bankruptcy laws of Brazil currently in effect are significantly different from, and may be less favorable to creditors than, those of certain other jurisdictions. For example, holders of our outstanding debt securities may have limited voting rights at creditors’ meetings in the context of a court reorganization proceeding. In addition, any judgment obtained against us in Brazilian courts in respect of any payment obligations under the guarantees normally would be expressed in the real equivalent of the U.S. dollar amount of such sum at the exchange rate in effect (1) on the date of actual payment, (2) on the date on which such judgment is rendered, or (3) on the date on which collection or enforcement proceedings are started against us. Consequently, in the event of our bankruptcy, all of our debt obligations that are denominated in foreign currency, including the guarantees, will be converted into reais at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of declaration of our bankruptcy by the court. We cannot assure you that such rate of exchange will afford full compensation of the amount invested in our outstanding debt securities plus accrued interest.

According to IHS, we are the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, based on the annual production capacity of our 29 plants in Brazil, six plants in the United States, two plants in Germany and four plants in Mexico as of December 31, 2020. We are the only producer of ethylene, polyethylene and polypropylene in Brazil. We are the largest producer of PE in Mexico and of PP in the Unites States, We produce a diversified portfolio of petrochemical and thermoplastic products, including polyethylene, green polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC.

As of December 31, 2020, our business operations were organized into three segments, which corresponded to our principal production processes, products and services. Our segments were as follows:

The Brazil Segment accounted for net revenue of R$40,794.4 million, or 68.7% of our consolidated net revenue of all reportable segments, including inter-segment sales;

In 2020, 2019 and 2018, 55.3%, 54.5% and 54.8% of our net revenue, respectively, related to sales performed in Brazil, and 44.7%, 45.5% and 45.2% of our net revenue in 2020, 2019 and 2018 was derived from our international operations.

Our Strategy

Our strategic objective is to satisfy clients mainly in the chemicals and plastics value chain in a sustainable way and maximize return on the capital invested by shareholders, with a focus on polyethylene, or PE, resins, polypropylene, or PP, polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, chemicals, and renewable chemistry.

The key pillars of our strategy include: 

The petrochemical industry is constantly evolving through investments in the current asset base, advances in innovation and technology, and the addition of new capacities with enhanced productivity and competitiveness. Therefore, to maintain our leadership position in the industry a key element of our strategy is to pursue improvements in productivity and competitiveness of our current operations through innovation, focusing on operational efficiency and excellence, commercial and logistics effectiveness, cost leadership, and differentiation through our relationships with clients.

This strategy will allow us to ensure optimal operational performance, considering reliability, production optimization, cost reductions, investment discipline, and improvements of our industrial processes.  

We have been operating with a sustainable development framework since 2012, with the purpose of improving people’s lives by creating sustainable solutions through chemicals and plastics. With solid goals and consistent directives and actions, we have been contributing, directly and indirectly, towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2020, sustainable development became an important part of our corporate goal with the definition of our macro objectives along seven lines: health & safety; plastic waste; climate change; financial & economic results; operational eco-efficiency; social responsibility & human rights; sustainable innovation.

Additionally, in 2020 we announced our commitment to expand its efforts to achieve the following goals related to mitigate climate change and eliminating plastic waste:

Plastic Waste:

Climate Change:

·                  achieve carbon neutrality by 2050;

·                  provide a 15% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

Feedstocks are a key element of competitiveness in the petrochemical industry, driving a large part of production costs. Petrochemical feedstocks follow the volatile nature of commodity markets with the competitive gap between different feedstocks fluctuating over time. We are constantly seeking to diversify our feedstock profile and suppliers to reduce the volatility of our results, reduce risks related to feedstock availability, and position ourselves to capture opportunities.

Additionally, regional markets are influenced by the local supply and demand balance, macro-economic factors, and the political environment. Having a local presence in a given market not only provides easier access to regional customers, feedstock opportunities and industrial policies but also exposes the player to several risks related to government decisions, feedstock availability and demand growth. Having a diversified footprint is important to have access to regional opportunities but also to hedging our operations against local risks.

Furthermore, the evolving consumer behavior and industry trends present different opportunities and risks to us. To capture the value of changing markets, we continue to evolve our product portfolio, enabling business growth and profitability, and anticipating and mitigating potential disruptions to our business.

We are committed to strengthening our image and reputation among our key stakeholders: employees, communities, and investors, through advances in our compliance system, sustainability, innovation, and people management, while strengthening our culture and financial health.

In people management, we intend to develop a work environment that reinforces diversity and stimulates the attraction and integration of talented young people, preparing our team for our increasing globalization and preparing us for the new paradigms of managing people.

We are committed to strengthening our compliance system, guaranteeing the involvement and responsibility of all leaders, and implementing all policies and actions defined by our compliance committee, guided by transparency, integrity, and ethics.

By these means, we intend to continue strengthening our image and reputation together with our stakeholders, positioning ourselves as a human-oriented, forward-thinking global company that cultivates strong relationships and generates value to all.

Maintaining sound financial health and discipline in capital allocation is one of our strategic pillars, especially considering that we are a capital-intensive business, the petrochemical industry is subject to volatility throughout its cycles, and we are always looking for opportunities to create value. 

Considering the volatility in market prices of our feedstocks, our products and, consequently, our margins, we are constantly seeking to maintain a high liquidity position and a long amortization schedule of our obligations, allowing us to maintain financial health and not to resort to costly financings during low petrochemical cycles or distressed economic scenarios.

To ensure permanent compliance with our financial obligations, we maintain a relevant cash and cash equivalents and financial investments position taking into consideration quantitative criteria, such as a minimum cash position, calculation established in our financial policy, and qualitative criteria, such as the macroeconomic scenario and any other risks that might be identified. We also maintain a proactive and continuous financial risks management approach, identifying, measuring, and defining mitigating strategies for our financial risks, such as foreign exchange and interest rates.

Our dividends policy also reflects our commitment to financial health, setting guidelines for the payment of dividends in excess of the mandatory dividend in accordance with the Brazilian Corporate Law. The dividends policy establishes that we must consider our capacity to generate cash flow based on our long-term projections, including investment plans, as well as any other factors we deem pertinent, and the impact of such distribution on the Net Debt/EBITDA ratio. 

Innovation is a comprehensive pillar that helps deliver and shape our corporate strategy, with several initiatives focused on productivity and competitiveness, sustainability, product development and people management.

Innovation and technology are an important path to increase productivity and competitiveness, and we are constantly improving our operations, through the adoption and implementation of new digital technologies and solutions that bring greater efficiency in our industrial processes and business management. 

A robust pipeline of sustainable solutions aims to provide step-change process, technology and upgrades for energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction, applications for plastic waste reduction, new renewable chemicals and polymers and more efficient carbon capture and utilization.

 By leveraging new technologies and expanding our product portfolio with innovative solutions, R&D efforts seek to ensure the business perpetuity, with solutions from disruptive technologies such 3D printing through, portfolio upgrades such as high-performance film grades for packaging, high-performance grades for agrochemicals packaging, new proprietary catalysts for polyolefin production and several process technology upgrades are examples of developments that support current business growth. 

Our History and Development

Our business began when the Odebrecht Group (comprised of Odebrecht S.A. and its subsidiaries) and Mariani Group acquired control of Copene, a raw materials petrochemical complex in Camaçari, in July 2001, and then subsequently integrated their assets in the petrochemical sector with Copene. From 2001 to 2004, we underwent a corporate reorganization and merged many companies that had been acquired. In addition, we acquired Polialden in 2005 and Politeno in 2006.

Through a partnership with Petrobras, we began consolidating the Southern Complex in Brazil in March 2007 with the acquired petrochemical assets from the Ipiranga group. In November 2007, we signed an agreement with Petrobras and Odebrecht, which required them to contribute part of their assets in the petrochemical sector to Braskem. In September 2008, Ipiranga Petroquímica, Petroquímica Paulínia and the spun-off portion of Ipiranga Química were merged into us. In May 2009, our merger with Triunfo was approved.

In January 2010, we announced the acquisition of Quattor in order to strengthen the Brazilian petrochemical sector and establish ourselves among the five largest and most competitive petrochemical companies in the world. In February 2010, we announced the acquisition of the polypropylene assets of Sunoco Chemicals, the fourth largest producer of this resin in the United States. This acquisition represented an important step towards strengthening our internationalization strategy, which combines our growth in the U.S. market with alternative access to competitive raw materials and main consumer markets. As a result of this acquisition, we became a leader of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, consolidating our position as a major player in the international petrochemical market and the third largest global player in the polypropylene industry. In 2010, Braskem inaugurated its green ethylene plant in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, becoming the world leader in biopolymers and launched the brand I’m green^TM, which identifies Braskem’s products made from renewable sources.

In July 2011, we announced the acquisition of Dow Chemical’s polypropylene business, including four plants (two plants in the United States and two plants in Germany). The U.S. assets, located in Freeport and Seadrift, Texas, have a combined annual production capacity of 545,000 tons, which represented a 50% increase in annual capacity polypropylene production in the United States. The German assets, located in the cities of Wesseling and Schkopau, have a combined annual production capacity of 545,000 tons. This acquisition represented an important step in the consolidation of our international strategy, positioning us as the largest producer of polypropylene in the United States.

In June, 2017, we announced the construction of a Polypropylene Unit (“Delta”) at our La Porte, Texas site. Aligned with the strategy to diversify the raw materials matrix and geographic expansion in the Americas, this is a new world-class PP production facility with an annual polypropylene production capacity of 450,000 tons. In September, 2020, we announced that after completing the commissioning phase, we had started commercial production of PP at this new plant. We believe that this investment reinforces our PP leadership position in the region, as it will enable us to replace imported PP volumes in the North American domestic market and also scale up our exports supporting structural global demand with existing global clients.

In February 2020, we announced the new project at the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex in the State of Rio Grande do Sul state to expand the current production capacity of green ethylene, a feedstock made from sugarcane ethanol and used to produce our “I’m Green^TM” resins, which have a negative carbon footprint. With an estimated investment of R$316.8 million (US$61.0 million), the Project is expected to add 60 kta to the production of green ethylene on our portfolio and is expected to start operations by the end of 2022.

Beginning of Operations of Our Mexico Segment

In April, 2016 Braskem Idesa, our joint venture with the Mexican Idesa group, reached an important milestone with the production of the first batch of polyethylene in the Mexico Petrochemical Complex following a gradual start-up process initiated in December 2015 with the beginning of utilities area operations, followed by the start-up of the cracker in March 2016.

Located in the state of Veracruz, the Mexico Complex includes an ethane cracker integrated with three polyethylene plants, as well as utilities plants (electric power, water and steam). Ethane supply is assured through a 20-year contract with Pemex TRI at a price pegged to the U.S. gas price.

In early December 2020, Braskem Idesa received a notification from Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), a Mexican state-owned agency responsible for all natural gas pipelines and transportation in Mexico, related to the unilateral termination of the service of natural gas transportation, an essential energy input for the production of PE in our Mexico Segment. As a result, in compliance with safety protocols, Braskem Idesa initiated procedures for the immediate interruption of its operating activities. Later in January 2021, Braskem Idesa partially resumed its operations based on an experimental business model to produce PE. Braskem Idesa has taken legal measures pursuant to the ethane supply agreement entered into with Pemex. Braskem Netherlands B.V, which is Braskem Idesa’s direct shareholder, has also taken legal measures under applicable international investment protection standards to protect the interests of Braskem Idesa and its parent company with regard to their investment in Mexico. Such measures include a negotiation period to attempt to resolve the dispute between the parties.

In the first quarter of 2021, Braskem entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

For additional information, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico,” “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof” and “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.”

Our Corporate Structure

The following chart presents our simplified ownership structure and the corporate structure of our principal subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report. The percentages in bold italics represent the direct and indirect percentage of the voting share capital owned by each entity, and the percentages not in bold italics represent the direct and indirect percentage of the total share capital owned by each entity.

In November 2017, Braskem Petroquímica Ltda., or Braskem Petro, merged with and into Braskem S.A., with Braskem S.A. as the surviving entity. This merger simplified our corporate structure by consolidating our activities to reduce financial and operating costs.

In January 2019, Odebrecht informed us of the Odebrecht Reorganization, which was effective as of December 31, 2018. For additional information on the Odebrecht Reorganization, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”

In December 2020, Odebrecht informed us about the change of its name and brand from “Odebrecht” to “Novonor.”

The SEC maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies that file or funish documents electronically to the SEC, including us. Our internet website is www.braskem.com.br, and the internet website of our investors relations’ department is www.braskem-ri.com.br. The information included on our internet website, the internet website of our investor relations’ department, or the information that might be accessed through such websites is not included in this annual report and is not incorporated into this annual report by reference.

We are a corporation (sociedade por ações) organized under the laws of Brazil. Our registered office is at Rua Eteno, 1561, Pólo Petroquímico, Camaçari, Bahia, CEP 42810-000, Brazil, and our telephone number at this address is +55 71 3413-2102. Our principal executive office is at Rua Lemos Monteiro, 120 – 24° andar, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05501-050, Brazil, and our telephone number at this address is +55 11 3576-9000.

Until December 31, 2019, our five reportable petrochemical segments were: Chemicals, Polyolefins, Vinyls, USA and Europe, and Mexico. As from January 1, 2020, we made changes to our macro structure to seek synergies in all of the regions in which we operate to achieve a more integrated operational performance. As a result of these changes, our management revised the structure of our internal reporting with a focus on our petrochemical operational expansion and internationalization with a view to simplifying and streamlining the work and decision-making processes, which led us to adopt a new structure for petrochemical reporting segments by region. As from January 1, 2020, our three reporting segments are as follows:

Brazil Segment

As of December 31, 2020, according to IHS, our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment’s facilities had one of the largest annual production capacities of all first-generation producers in the Americas. Our Brazil Segment generated net revenue of R$40,794.4 million during 2020, or 68.7% of the net revenue of all reportable segments, including inter-segment sales.

Nomenclature of Segment

Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment is comprised of the chemicals operations conducted by us in the Northeastern Complex, the Southern Complex, the São Paulo Complex and the Rio de Janeiro Complex.

Our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment produce:

The products of our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment are used primarily in the manufacture of intermediate second generation petrochemical products, including those manufactured by our polyolefins and vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment. Our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment also supply other second generation producers in each of the petrochemical complexes in which we operate and other companies located outside of these complexes, and renders services to those producers.

Products of Our Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Our other business units and third-party petrochemical producers use ethylene and propylene produced by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment to produce second generation products such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC. We also sell butadiene, a variety of aromatics, including BTX products, and intermediates, such as cumene, to third-party petrochemical producers for use as raw materials in the production of a variety of second generation products, including synthetic rubber, elastomers, resins, nylon fibers, ethyl benzene (which is used to make styrene monomer/polystyrene), linear alkyl benzene, purified terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, bisphenol A, a feedstock for the production of polycarbonate resins, phthalic anhydride, plasticizers and paint.

The following table sets forth the sales volume of basic petrochemical products by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment (excluding our intra-company sales) for the periods indicated.

Production Facilities of Our Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

We believe that the technological processes we use at plants in our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment are among the most advanced in the world. Our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment currently include owning and operating:

We define the term “unit” to mean several production lines that are linked together to produce olefins, aromatics or utilities.

The table below sets forth the primary products of our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment, annual production capacity as of December 31, 2020 and annual production for the years presented.

Raw Materials of Our Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

The main raw material that we use for chemical production is naphtha, with a total consumption capacity of up to10 million tons per year. One million tons of naphtha can be substituted by condensate, which has happened in recent years. Natural gasoline is also a feedstock that can be used as a replacement for naphtha. The cracker located in Rio de Janeiro uses ethane and propane, and its consumption is 0.4 million tons of each of these raw materials per year. The São Paulo cracker can also consume refinery off gas in a quantity equivalent to about 15% of the ethylene production capacity.

Naphtha

Naphtha is the main raw material that we use to produce our chemical products and represents the principal production and operating cost of our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment. We also use condensate as a raw material in the Southern Complex. The following table shows the average Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp, or the ARA price, of naphtha for the periods indicated.

Source: Braskem Global Market Intelligence.

Supply Contracts and Pricing of the Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Naphtha and Condensate

The following table shows the distribution of the naphtha plus condensate purchases by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment for the periods indicated by geographic location of the suppliers.

Supply Contracts with Petrobras

On December 23, 2015, we and Petrobras entered into a five-year Naphtha Purchase Agreement whose term expired on December 22, 2020.

Throughout 2020, Braskem and Petrobras entered into four new naphtha supply contracts to provide naphtha for our plants in the Southern Complex, the Northeastern Complex and the São Paulo Complex. All four contracts have a term of five years until the end of 2025.

Under the terms of these agreements:

Other Supply Contracts

As part of our strategy to diversify our sources of supply of naphtha, we are acquiring naphtha under annual supply arrangements with international suppliers.

Spot Market Purchases of Naphtha

In addition to our supplies of feedstock under the agreements described above, we purchase naphtha on the spot market from time to time from foreign suppliers located in Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America.

Spot Market Purchases of Condensate

In addition to our supplies of feedstock under the agreements described above, we purchase condensate on the spot market from time to time from foreign suppliers.

Ethane and Propane

Ethane and propane are the principal feedstocks that we use to produce our chemical products in the Rio de Janeiro Complex and represent the principal production and operating cost of the chemical operations that are part of our Brazil Segment in the Rio de Janeiro Complex. The price of ethane and propane that we purchase varies primarily based on changes in the U.S. dollar-based international price of these feedstocks.

Braskem also has an ethane supply contract with Enterprise Products Operating LLC, or Enterprise Products, to supply ethane from the United States to Brazil. This agreement will remain valid until 2027. The price of ethane is based on the Mont Belvieu ethane price plus a Terminal Fee, basis FOB USGC. The logistics to move the ethane to Brazil is managed by Braskem.

Since February 2017, Braskem has had the capability to receive imported ethane at the Rio de Janeiro Complex. The imported ethane is marginal to domestic supply and the quantity imported in 2020 was 30.9 ktons, and in 2019 it was 35.3 ktons.

Since November 2017, Braskem has the capacity to consume ethane in the cracker in Bahia, partially replacing naphtha. Braskem has invested to create the flexibility to substitute naphtha for ethane in a ratio equivalent to 15% of the ethylene production of the site. 2018 was the first year in which we operated our cracker in Bahia using imported ethane as feedstock. Of the total ethylene produced by the cracker, 1.8% was from ethane feedstock in 2020 and 1.5% in 2019.

Refinery Off Gas

In January 2005, we entered into an agreement with Petrobras for the purchase and sale of steam from refinery off gas, from which we separate ethylene and propylene. This agreement provides that we and Petrobras will negotiate the renewal of this agreement prior to its expiration in 2020 and that, in the event that Petrobras does not intend to renew this agreement, it must notify us at least two years prior to the expiration of this agreement and must perform under the terms and conditions of this agreement until 2028.

Under the terms of this agreement, which represents 100% of our refinery off gas supply:

In December 2017, Petrobras informed us that it would not renew this agreement on the same terms. The current contract will remain valid and under the current conditions until 2028. The impact of the new terms and conditions of a possible future agreement and any failure to successfully negotiate such terms with Petrobras could impair our ability to satisfy our refinery off gas needs.

Electricity

To supply our industrial operations in Brazil, which represented 82 % of our global electric consumption in 2020, we self-generated 52% of our electrical energy consumption. 28 % of our demand in 2020 was supplied by Companhia Hidrelétrica do São Francisco, or CHESF, a Brazilian government-owned electric power generation company, pursuant to a power purchase agreement that will remain valid until 2037. The remaining energy is supplied primarily under long-term contracts with several suppliers in the free energy market (Mercado Livre de Energia).

Natural Gas

Natural gas is supplied to our industrial operations in Brazil under long-term contracts in the regulated market by companies that have government licenses and exclusivity to deliver it in each state. The natural gas consumed by our operations in Brazil in 2020 represented 61% of our consolidated consumption.

Others

In the Southern Complex we also buy methanol to produce MTBE and ethanol to produce the “green polyethylene.” Methanol is imported and its price is based on international market quotations. Ethanol is bought in the domestic market from several producers. In the Bahia Complex, we also buy ethanol to produce ETBE.

Sales and Marketing of Our Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

We sell most of our chemical products in Brazil to third-party petrochemical producers. We sell the remainder of our chemical products to customers in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia.

Domestic Sales of Chemicals

As part of our commercial strategy, our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment focuses on developing long-term relationships with our customers and entering into long-term supply contracts that provide for minimum and maximum quantities to be purchased on a monthly basis. The domestic market pricing is based on international market references.

Export Sales of Chemicals

International market prices are also based on international market references, which usually vary according to the region to which the product is exported.

We are focused on maintaining our leading position in the Brazilian market, while continuing to use our exports to optimize our operations and adjust the imbalances between demand and production. Since we export large volumes of certain products, we also develop long-term relationships with international customers through contracts that minimize our exposure to market conditions and mitigate risk.

Competition

Our chemical customers, which are mostly second generation petrochemical producers with plants located in the Brazilian petrochemical complexes, would have difficulty obtaining their feedstocks from other sources at lower prices due to the high cost of transportation of these products, as well as other logistical difficulties. In addition, because Brazil produces sufficient quantities of olefins to meet domestic demand, imports of these products are generally sporadic and usually related to scheduled plant maintenance shutdowns or to meet unsatisfied domestic demand.

During the past several years, as the relative cost of naphtha and gas as feedstock for petrochemical crackers has diverged, many crackers using gas as a feedstock have become low-cost producers in the global markets and have seen their margins improve as compared to naphtha crackers. Competition in the international markets for these products is primarily based on the price of delivered products and competition has increased since mid-2008 as the balance between supply and demand was disrupted due to the impact of the global economic downturn on consumers of these products. In the international markets for our Chemical products, we compete with a large number of producers, some of which are substantially larger and have substantially greater financial, manufacturing, technological and marketing resources than us.

Polyolefins Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

As of December 31, 2020, our polyolefins production facilities had the largest annual production capacity of all second generation producers of polyolefins products in Latin America. Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment is comprised of the operations conducted by us at nine polyethylene plants and five polypropylene plants located in the Northeastern Complex, the Southern Complex, the São Paulo Complex and the Rio de Janeiro Complex.

Products of Our Polyolefins Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment produce:

We manufacture a broad range of polyolefins for use in consumer and industrial applications, including:

The following table sets forth a breakdown of the sales volume of our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment by product and by market for the years indicated.

We provide technical assistance to our customers to meet their specific needs by adapting and modifying our polyethylene and polypropylene products. We believe that the variety of technological processes at our polyolefins plants provides us with a competitive advantage in meeting our customers’ needs.

Production Facilities of Our Polyolefins Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

As of December 31, 2020, our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment owned 14 production plants. Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment operates five plants located in the Southern Complex, three plants located in the Northeastern Complex, four plants located in the São Paulo Complex and two plants located in the Rio de Janeiro Complex.

The table below sets forth for each of our primary polyolefins products, our annual production capacity as of December 31, 2020 and annual production for the years presented.

In September 2010, we commenced production of ethylene at a new plant located in the Southern Complex that produces “green” ethylene using sugar cane ethanol received through the Santa Clara Terminal as its primary raw material. This plant has an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of ethylene.

Raw Materials of Our Polyolefins Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Ethylene and Propylene

The most significant feedstock of our production of polyethylene and polypropylene are ethylene and propylene that are produced by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment. In 2020, our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment consumed all of the ethylene and part of the propylene produced by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment.

Propylene Contracts with Petrobras and its Subsidiaries

We have entered into multiple propylene agreements, which have initial terms expiring at various dates between May 2021 and December 2029, and are priced based on international references to assure competitiveness of feedstock. In 2016, Braskem entered into an agreement with Petrobras for a five-year propylene supply contract with Refap S.A., a subsidiary of Petrobras. This supply contract is also priced based on international references.

Petrobras may terminate these contracts, without prior notice, in the event of: (1) our failure to cure any breach of the contract following a 30-day grace period; (2) a force majeure event occurs, although some of these contracts require that the force majeure event continues for more than 180 days; (3) we transfer or offer as a guaranty all or part of its rights and obligations under the contract to a third party without Petrobras’ consent; (4) an alteration of Braskem management or corporate purposes that conflicts with the purpose of the contract; (5) the dissolution, bankruptcy or liquidation of Braskem; and (6) a change of entity type, merger, sale, spin-off or any other corporate reconstruction of Braskem that conflicts with or impedes the execution of contract’s purpose.

Ethanol Supply Contracts

We buy ethanol from Brazilian producers to supply our facility that produces ethylene using sugar cane ethanol. Some agreements expire in July 2021 and others have no specific expiration date. We also purchase ethanol on the spot market from time to time to supplement the contracted volumes. Under the contracts we have, we are or will be required to purchase an annual supply of ethanol sufficient to meet at least 90% of the capacity of this ethylene plant. The price we pay under these contracts is or will be determined by reference to the price of combustible hydrated alcohol as published by the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics of the Superior School of Agriculture (Centro de Estudos Avançados em Economia Aplicada da Escola Superior de Agricultura– CEPEA/ESALQ).“

Other Materials and Utilities

Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment use butene and n-hexane as raw materials in the production of HDPE and LLDPE. Butene is consumed from our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment, and we import n-hexane from suppliers located in U.S. Gulf Coast.

Our Unipol polyethylene plants in the Northeastern Complex and Rio de Janeiro Complex use catalysts supplied by Univation Technologies. Our HDPE plant in the São Paulo Complex uses catalysts supplied by W.R. Grace & Co. The catalysts for our swing line LLDPE/HDPE plants are purchased from Basell Poliolefine Italia S.R.L. and Equistar Chemicals, L.P, or, collectively, Basell. We produce our own catalysts for our HDPE slurry plants in the Southern and Northeastern Complexes, and we purchase the inputs that we need to produce these catalysts from various suppliers at market prices. Our polypropylene plants use catalysts primarily supplied by Basell, while we import certain catalysts from suppliers in the United States and Europe.

Sales and Marketing of Our Polyolefins Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Through our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment, we sell polyethylene and polypropylene products to more than 1,400 customers worldwide. We have a diversified product mix that allows us to serve a broad range of end users in several industries. The customers of our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment generally are third generation petrochemical producers that manufacture a wide variety of plastic-based consumer and industrial goods.

Domestic Sales

We are focused on developing long-term relationships with our customers. Given the cyclical nature of the markets for our polyolefins products, we believe that we can strengthen customer loyalty during periods of reduced demand for polyethylene or polypropylene by providing a reliable source of supply to these customers during periods of high demand. We work closely with our customers to provide technical assistance and to coordinate the production and delivery of our products. Despite having a regular client basis in the domestic market, prices in such market are driven by monthly spot negotiations. Both sales volume per client and the types of products our clients purchase may vary on a monthly basis.

In addition to direct sales of polyolefins to our customers, through our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment we sell products in Brazil through exclusive independent distributors. Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment is served by five distributors, through which we distribute our products pursuant to formal agreements and spot market transactions. We have selected our distributors based on their ability to provide full service to their customers, and also based on their background. These distributors sell our polyethylene and polypropylene products to manufacturers with lower volume requirements and are able to aggregate multiple orders for delivery. They have a wide coverage network in Brazil and, as a result, expand the Braskem brand.

Furthermore, by providing customized services and serving smaller customers through a network of distributors, our account managers focus their efforts on delivering high quality service to a smaller number of large and medium direct customers.

Export Sales

Our volume of polyolefins export sales has generally varied based upon the level of domestic demand and the total production availability for our products. Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment has sales office in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Colombia. These offices are used to consolidate our marketing efforts in South America, one of our key markets outside of Brazil for this business unit. Our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment also uses our European, Mexican and U.S. sales force in order to improve the profitability of our sales. In each of these regions, we have specific commercial strategies in connection with exports coming from Brazil, which complements our local product availability.

We have established a strategic position in the polyolefins business in South America, North America, Europe and Asia through regular direct sales, local distributors and agents who understand their respective markets. Our strategy to increase our presence in these foreign markets is intended, among other things, to reduce our exposure to the cyclicality of the international spot market for polyolefins through the development of long-term relationships with customers in neighboring countries. Our local presence allows us to further enhance our position in those markets and sell our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment’s products through our USA and Europe Segment.

The main focus of our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment is to maintain our leading position in the Brazil and South America reinforcing our commitment to the plastic industry chain in the region, maintaining our position as a leader in polyolefins through a continued local presence and regular product supply.

Prices and Sales Terms

We determine the prices of our products in accordance with international pricing references. In addition, we take into account segment, volume, and other information when we set our prices. Our customers in Brazil may pay in full on delivery or elect credit terms that require payment in full within three to 60 days following delivery. We charge interest based on prevailing market rates to our Brazilian customers that elect to pay on credit.

In addition, besides our strategic sales to South America, Europe, Mexico and the United States, our polyolefins operations that are part of our Brazil Segment generally conducts export sales to buyers in Asia and Africa through the international spot market. Our customer base in these markets consists primarily of trading houses and distributors. Pricing is based on international spot market prices.

Competition

We are the only producer of polyethylene and polypropylene in Brazil. We compete with polyolefins producers worldwide. In 2020, Brazilian polyethylene and polypropylene imports increased by 12% and represented 32% of Brazilian polyolefin consumption.

We compete for export sales of our polyolefins products in other countries in Latin America and in the North American, Asian and European markets. Similar to Braskem, those competitors also have a wide portfolio, ample research and development capabilities and sufficient production capacity. Our competitive position in the export markets that we serve is based on customer relationship, extensive product portfolio, product quality and customer service and support.

We are the only green polyethylene producer in the world, made by sugar cane that is 100% verified by ASTM D6866

Vinyls Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

We were the leading producer of PVC in Brazil, based on sales volumes and installed capacity in 2020. As of December 31, 2020, our PVC production facilities had the second largest annual production capacity in Latin America

Our PVC production is integrated through our production of chlorine, ethylene and other raw materials. The main use of PVC is for pipes and fittings and other products related to the civil construction market. Our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment also manufacture caustic soda, which is mainly used by producers of alumina, pulp and paper, and in the soap industry.

In 2020, we had an approximate 50% share of the Brazilian PVC market and 11% of market share of the Brazilian caustic soda market (excluding consumption of alumina by companies located in the North and Northeast of Brazil), based on sales volumes of our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment.

Products of Our Vinyls Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

The following table sets forth a breakdown of the sales volume of our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment by product line for the years indicated.

Production Facilities of Our Vinyls Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

We own four vinyls production facilities. One of our facilities is located in the Northeastern Complex, and three others are located in the State of Alagoas.

In January 2020, Braskem announced the permanent shutdown of its chlor-alkali production facility located in Camaçari, in the State of Bahia, whose operations started in 1979 with annual production capacity of 79,000 tons of caustic soda and 64,000 tons of chlorine. The shutdown is explained by the end of the facility’s useful life and started in April 2020, following applicable safety standards and seeking to protect people, local communities and the environment.

The table below sets forth for each of our primary vinyls products, our annual production capacity as of December 31, 2020 and annual production for the years presented.

Raw Materials of the Vinyls Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

Ethylene

The most significant feedstock associated with the production of PVC is ethylene. Our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment supply all of the ethylene required by our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment.

Electricity

Electric power is a significant cost component in our production of chlorine and caustic soda. Our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment obtains its electric power requirements from various generators under long-term power purchase agreements (see “Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment—Supply Contracts and Pricing of the Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment—Electricity”).

Salt

We used 5,289.4 tons of salt during 2020.

However, salt mining operations at our mine were halted in May 2019, as described in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—Our business and operations are inherently subject to environmental, health and safety hazards. As a result, our business is also subject to stringent environmental and other regulations” and “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Alagoas – Mining Activities.” Production of caustic soda and ethylene dichloride at our chlor-alkali facility located in the state of Alagoas was also interrupted due to the lack of salt. Ethylene dichloride, or EDC, is consumed in PVC production. Because of the interruption, we needed to import 139,000 tons of caustic soda to supply our customers and 295,000 tons of EDC to supply our PVC facilities located in the state of Alagoas and in the Northeastern Complex.

Seeking to resume our chlor-alkali operations, we launched a project to modify the feedstock base of our chlor-alkali plants by acquiring sea salt from third parties in Brazil or abroad. The product was stocked, dissolved in water to make brine and then treated and sent for processing. After concluding the commissioning process in accordance with applicable safety standards, we started production of chlor-alkali and dichloroethane at our unit located in the Pontal da Barra district of Maceió, in the state of Alagoas, which had been idled since May 2019.The cost of the project was R$67.7 million, of which R$21.2 million had been already disbursed in 2019, R$43.9 million was disbursed in 2020 and the remaining R$2.6 million will be disbursed in 2021. See “Item 5. Operating and financial review and prospects—Other Investments—Technology change at our chlor-alkali facility in Alagoas.”

Sales and Marketing of Our Vinyls Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment

There is a structural link between the PVC and caustic soda markets because caustic soda is a co-product of the production of chlorine required to produce PVC. Most of the time, when demand for PVC is high, greater amounts of caustic soda are produced, leading to an increase in supply and generally lower prices for caustic soda. Conversely, when demand for PVC is low, prices for caustic soda tend to rise.

We make most of our sales of PVC and caustic soda directly to Brazilian customers, but we use third-party distributors to serve smaller caustic soda customers. However, our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment maintain contractual relationships through five distribution centers that provide logistical support, located in Paulínia and Barueri, both in the State of São Paulo, Joinville, in the State of Santa Catarina, Extrema, in the State of Minas Gerais, and Araucaria, in the State of Paraná. In addition, we operate twelve warehouse facilities for PVC, on a non-exclusive basis, and five terminal tank facilities for caustic soda strategically located along the Brazilian coast to enable us to deliver our products to our customers on a “just-in-time” basis. Our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment develops its business through close collaboration with its customers, working together to improve existing products as well as to develop new applications for PVC. Our marketing and technical assistance groups also advise current customers and potential customers that are considering the installation of manufacturing equipment for PVC downstream products.

In addition, our vinyls operations that are part of our Brazil Segment supplies the Brazilian market with emulsion PVC and other copolymers with higher value by imports from Colombia under a contract with Mexichem. Our primary customers operate in the laminated, shoe and automobile sectors. These products represented 2% of our consolidated sales volume in 2020.

Prices and Sales Terms

The domestic price for PVC resins is based on the import parity of PVC imported by converters in Brazil, which generally reflects the Northeast Asian spot market price, plus exchange rate variation. Delivery time, quality and technical service also affect the levels of sales of PVC resins. We establish our domestic price for caustic soda based on North American spot market prices, plus exchange rate variation.

Competition

PVC

Unipar Indupa (formerly Carbocloro and Solvay), or Unipar, and Braskem are the only two producers of PVC in Brazil. Unipar’s total Brazilian installed annual production capacity is 300,000 tons, compared to our annual production capacity of 710,000 tons. Unipar’s Brazilian production facilities are located in São Paulo, which is closer to the primary PVC market in Brazil than our facilities. However, we believe that our vertically integrated production capabilities, our strong relationship with our customers and our technical assistance programs enable us to make up for any competitive disadvantage due to distance and compete effectively with Unipar.

Braskem also competes with Unipar’s Argentina production facilities and other importers of PVC. Unipar has a PVC plant in Argentina in addition to its plants in Brazil. Imports from all regions accounted for 32% of Brazilian PVC consumption in 2020. Domestically produced PVC is currently competitively priced with imported PVC, considering that our price is based on the international market.

In addition, Braskem competes with other producers of thermoplastics that manufacture the same PVC products or substitutes for products in our PVC product line. Thermoplastic resins, principally polyethylene and polypropylene, are used in certain applications as substitutes for PVC. Wood, glass and metals also are used in some cases as substitutes for PVC.

Caustic Soda

According to IHS and Abiclor (Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Álcalis, Cloro e Derivados), the three largest Brazilian producers of caustic soda, including Braskem, accounted for 89% of capacity in Brazil in 2020. Most domestic producers operate on a local or regional basis, with the exception of Braskem and another producer located in the Northeast region of Brazil that operate in the whole country through terminal tanks located on the Brazilian coast. Imports accounted for 47% of Brazil’s total caustic soda consumption in 2020, excluding Braskem imports. Due to the mining event in Alagoas, our chlor-alkali plant was idled in 2019 and we have been importing caustic soda from various sources to keep supplying customers in Brazil since then.

Our principal competitors in the caustic soda market elsewhere in South America are other international petrochemical companies operating in Brazil and producers located on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

USA and Europe Segment

Our USA and Europe Segment includes:

As of December 31, 2020, our USA and Europe Segment’s facilities had the largest annual polypropylene production capacity in the United States. Our USA and Europe Segment generated net revenue of R$14,638.7 million during 2020, or 24.6% of the net revenue of all reportable segments, including inter-segment sales.

In June 2014, we announced the construction of an UHMWPE production line in our La Porte, Texas site, which began producing UTEC^® in the first quarter of 2017. We believe that the production of specialized UHMWPE at this new line complements our existing portfolio of products and will enable us to access new markets and to develop close relationships with new and existing clients.

In June, 2017, we announced the construction of a Polypropylene Unit (“Delta”) at our La Porte, Texas site. Aligned with the strategy to diversify the raw materials matrix and geographic expansion in the Americas, this is a new world-class PP production facility with an annual polypropylene production capacity of 450,000 tons. In September, 2020, we announced that after completing the commissioning phase, we have started commercial production of PP at this new plant. We believe that this investment reinforces our PP leadership position in the region, as it will enable us to replace imported PP volumes in the North American domestic market and also scale up our exports supporting structural global demand with existing global clients.

Products of Our USA and Europe Segment

Our USA and Europe Segment produces polypropylene. The sales volume of polypropylene by this unit was 1,968,146 tons in 2020, 1,920,434 tons in 2019 and 1,923,227 tons in 2018. For a description of the uses of our polypropylene products, see “—Polyolefins Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment.”

Production Facilities of our USA and Europe Segment

The table below sets forth the annual production capacity as of December 31, 2020 of the USA and Europe Segment’s polypropylene plants in the United States and Germany and the annual production for the years presented.

Raw Materials of Our USA and Europe Segment

Propylene

The most significant direct cost associated with the production of polypropylene by our USA and Europe Segment is the cost of purchasing propylene.

We acquire propylene for our polypropylene plants in the Unites States under a variety of long-term supply agreements and through the spot market. As of December 31, 2020, we had 14 supply agreements with multiple suppliers. The pricing formulas for propylene under these supply agreements are generally based on international market prices.

As a result of rising natural gas production and related production of natural gas liquids, several companies have announced plans to build propane dehydrogenation, or PDH plants, which would produce on-purpose propylene. We have secured a long-term propylene agreement of 15 years with one such company, Enterprise Products, which completed construction of a PDH plant in Texas in 2017 with an annual capacity of 750,000 tons. We expect this agreement with an established producer to provide us with a competitive, long-term supply of propylene, using shale gas and other nontraditional sources as its feedstock. This plant has commenced operations by the end of 2017. Under this arrangement, the pricing of these contracts will be based on market prices for propane and other market costs.

We acquire propylene for our polypropylene plants in Germany under long-term supply agreements that provide for the supply of 91% of the propylene requirements of these plants. We have two main supply agreements in Germany. One will expire in September 2021 and will be replaced by a new five-year agreement effective as of October 1, 2021 with a term until September 30, 2026, and thereafter will automatically be renewable for consecutive one-year terms, unless terminated by one of the parties The other agreement expires in December 2024, and thereafter will also be automatically renewable for consecutive one-year terms, unless terminated by one of the parties. We have entered into a third contract that will expire at the end of 2022, increasing the supply of our plants to 94% of the propylene required. The pricing formula for propylene under these supply agreements is based on market prices. We purchase the propylene used in our Europe plants based on monthly contract price for propylene for Europe (as reported by ICIS-LOR).

Sales and Marketing of Our USA and Europe Segment

Our USA and Europe Segment sells polypropylene products to approximately 391 customers. We have a diversified product mix that allows us to serve a broad range of end users in several industries. The customers of our USA and Europe Segment generally are third generation petrochemical producers that manufacture a wide variety of plastic-based consumer and industrial goods.

The following table sets forth our net revenue derived from sales of our USA and Europe Segment for the years indicated:

56% of the sales of polypropylene by the USA and Europe Segment are made under long-term supply agreements with our customers. These supply contracts generally have an initial two-year term and are automatically renewable for one-year periods unless one party notifies the other of its intention not to renew. These contracts also provide for minimum and maximum quantities to be purchased and monthly deliveries.

The remainder of the polypropylene production of the USA and Europe Segment is sold through (1) our direct sales force that seeks to establish supply relationships with customers; (2) a select number of distributors authorized to represent the Braskem brand in the U.S. and European markets; (3) resellers that trade these products under private labels in the North American and European markets; and (4) traders that resell these products in the export markets.

Competition

The USA and Europe Segment is largely a commodities business and competes with local, regional, national and international companies, some of which have greater financial, research and development, production and other resources than us. Although competitive factors may vary among product lines, our competitive position is primarily based on raw material and production costs, selling prices, product quality, product technology, manufacturing technology, access to new markets, proximity to the market and customer service and support.

Our primary competitors for sales in the polypropylene industry in North America are other large international petrochemical companies. In general, demand is a function of economic growth in North America and elsewhere in the world.

Our primary competitors for sales in the polypropylene industry in Europe are other large international petrochemical companies. In general, demand is a function of economic growth in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Mexico Segment

Braskem and Idesa, one of Mexico’s leading petrochemical groups, formed Braskem Idesa S.A.P.I. in April 2010, with Braskem holding 75% of the total share capital and Idesa holding the remaining 25%, to develop, construct and operate the Mexico Complex, located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. During April 2016, Braskem Idesa commenced commercial operations of the Mexico Complex. As a result of the commencement of operations of the Mexico Complex, we commenced recording the results of our Mexico business unit as a separate segment in our financial statements as of dates and for periods ended after January 1, 2017.

As of December 31, 2020, our Mexico Segment had the largest annual polyethylene production capacity in Mexico. Our Mexico Segment generated net revenue of R$4,000.8 million during 2020, or 6.7% of the net revenue of all of our reportable segments, including inter-segment sales.

Products of Our Mexico Segment

Our Mexico business unit produces ethylene, HDPE and LDPE at our Mexico Complex. We use all of the ethylene produced by our Mexico Complex as raw material for the production of polyethylene by this complex. The sales volume of polyethylene by this unit was 843,532 tons in 2020. Our Mexico Complex manufactures a broad range of polyethylene grades for use in consumer and industrial applications, including plastic films for food and industrial packaging, bottles, shopping bags and other consumer goods containers, automotive parts, and household appliances.

Technologies selected for the Mexico Segment are proven and considered stated of the art with excellent track records in the petrochemical market and provides a competitive advantage in serving our customers to meet their specific needs by adapting and modifying our polyethylene products.

Production Facilities of Our Mexico Segment

Our Mexico Segment operates four plants located in the Mexico Complex, consisting of:

Raw Materials of Our Mexico Segment

The principal raw material used in our Mexico Complex is ethane, in addition to other raw materials such as hexane, propylene and polyaldehyde (PAL). Other chemicals, catalyzers, additives and utilities such as natural gas, electricity and nitrogen are used to produce polyethylene in the Mexico Complex.

Ethane

Ethane is the principal raw material that we use to produce ethylene in the Mexico Complex and represent the principal production and operating cost of the Mexico Complex. The price of ethane that we purchase varies based on changes in the U.S. dollar-based U.S. reference price of these feedstocks. We currently source most of our supply of ethane, which is the primary feedstock used in our polyethylene production process, from Pemex TRI, a state-owned Mexican entity, which is a subsidiary of Pemex, the state-owned Mexican oil and gas company, pursuant to an ethane supply agreement.

Ethylene

All of the ethylene produced by our Mexico Complex is used by the polyethylene plants in our Mexico Complex.

Other Materials and Utilities

Our Mexico Segment uses natural gas as the main fuel for its production process, which is supplied by PEMEX and other private suppliers using the pipelines that are the property of the Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural (“Cenagas”).

In early December 2020, Braskem Idesa received a notification from Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), a Mexican state-owned agency responsible for all natural gas pipelines and transportation in Mexico, related to the unilateral termination of the service of natural gas transportation, an essential energy input for the production of PE in our Mexico Segment. As a result, in compliance with safety protocols, Braskem Idesa initiated procedures for the immediate interruption of its operating activities. Later in January 2021, Braskem Idesa partially resumed its operations based on an experimental business model to produce PE. Braskem Idesa has taken legal measures pursuant to the ethane supply agreement entered into with Pemex. Braskem Netherlands B.V, which is Braskem Idesa’s direct shareholder, and has also taken legal measures under applicable international investment protection standards to protect the interests of Braskem Idesa and its parent company with regard to their investment in Mexico. Such measures include a negotiation period to attempt to resolve the dispute between the parties.

In the first quarter of 2021, Braskem Idesa entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

For additional information, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico,” “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We rely on limited or sole-source suppliers for our raw materials, inputs and energy, including transportation thereof” and “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico.”

Our Mexico Segment uses hexene as raw materials in the production of HDPE. We import hexene for the Mexico Complex from suppliers located in the United States.

Our Mexico Segment uses catalysts supplied by Ineos Europe Limited.

Supply Contracts of the Mexico Segment

Ethane

Braskem Idesa is party to an ethane supply agreement with Pemex TRI, a subsidiary of Pemex, dated February 19, 2010, pursuant to which Pemex TRI is obligated to provide, and Braskem Idesa is required to purchase, 66,000 barrels per day of ethane for the Mexico Complex for a period of 20 years at prices based on the highest reference between Mont Belvieu purity ethane or Henry Hub Natural Gas reference U.S. dollar-based international reference price of these feedstocks. Under this agreement, any daily volume rejected by Braskem Idesa could be purchased in installments in subsequent deliveries until the deficit has been resolved. This contract commenced in June 2015, will initially expire in 2035, and is renewable for three consecutive five-year periods if prior notice to renew is given be either party at least two years before it expires.

If Pemex TRI (i) delivers less than an average of 70% of the 66,000 barrels of ethane per day over a six-month period, (ii) reaches the annual limit in respect of shortfall penalties owed by Pemex TRI to us and such limit is not waived by Pemex TRI, or (iii) materially breaches any of its obligations related to the supply of ethane thereunder; Braskem Idesa has the right to notify Pemex TRI trough a notice of breach and if such breach continues for more than six months after notice, or an extended period if the parties agree, Braskem Idesa has the right to terminate the ethane supply agreement and require Pemex TRI to repay certain outstanding debt and compensate Braskem and Idesa according to an agreed valuation formula including the repayment of certain of our debt.

The ethane supply agreement contains a volume delivery long-term performance covenant that requires Pemex TRI to meet a volume delivery of ethane over a six-month period averaging 70% of the agreed-upon volume under the ethane supply agreement (the “Long-Term Performance Test”). As of November 2020, Pemex TRI volume deliveries under the Long-Term Performance Test remained close but above the 70% threshold. In the event that Pemex TRI fails to meet the Long-Term Performance Test, in addition to the direct negative impact on the production volumes of our Mexico Complex, it may (i) render us unable to generate sufficient cash to service our indebtedness with creditors under the Braskem Idesa Financing, (ii) cause such creditors to accelerate this indebtedness, and/or (iii) require Braskem Idesa to exercise a termination and put option against Pemex TRI that would force Pemex TRI to purchase the Mexico Complex from us. For further information, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Capital Expenditures—Joint Venture—Mexico Complex.”

Electricity

The Mexico Complex has its own power generation plant consisting of one gas turbine and two steam turbines, which can generate more than 100% of the Mexico Complex’s energy consumption. In addition, the Mexico Complex is also connected to the high-voltage power grid of Comisión Federal de Electricidad (the Mexican government-owned electricity company) as an alternative power source and to sell excess power on the spot market. The Mexico complex generates all of its requirements of steam and its water requirements are supplied by the Comisión Nacional del Agua (the Mexican government-owned water commission) pursuant to an agreement that expires in 2022 and is subject to renewal.

In general, we believe that there are sufficient alternative sources available at reasonable prices for each of these other inputs used in our polyethylene production process such that the loss of any single supplier would not have a material adverse effect on our operations.

The main feedstock used for power generation is natural gas, which is mainly supplied by Pemex through Cenagas, but also by other natural gas suppliers in Mexico. In December 2020, we received a notification from Cenagas (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural), a Mexican state-owned agency solely responsible for the natural gas pipelines and transportation in Mexico, related to the unilateral non-renewal of the service of natural gas transportation, an essential energy input for the production of PE in our Mexico Segment. As a result, in compliance with safety protocols, Braskem Idesa initiated procedures for the immediate interruption of its operating activities, which may have a material adverse effect on our operating or financial results, depending on the timing of the stoppage. Later in January 2021,Braskem Idesa partially resumed its operating activities based on an experimental business model to produce polyethylene. Braskem Idesa also initiated legal measures to enforce its legal and contractual rights. For additional information, see “Risk Factor - Political and economic conditions and government policies in Mexico, including political interferences in state-owned companies such as Pemex TRI and Cenagas, and elsewhere may have a material impact on our operations.”

Sales and Marketing of Our Mexico Segment

Our Mexico Segment sells polyethylene products to over 200 customers in the Mexican market. We have a diversified product mix that allows us to serve a broad range of end users in several industries. The customers of our Mexico Segment generally are third generation petrochemical producers that manufacture a wide variety of plastic-based consumer and industrial goods.

Domestic Mexican Sales

In the first full year operation of our Mexico Complex since its start-up, we were focused on the domestic market and obtaining the customer approval of our products. One of our priorities has been to develop long-term relationships with our customers and, given the cyclical nature of the markets for our polyethylene products, we believe that we can strengthen customer loyalty during periods of reduced demand for polyethylene by providing a reliable source of supply to these customers during periods of high demand. We work closely with our customers to determine their needs, to provide technical assistance and to coordinate the production and delivery of our products.

Considering our Mexico Complex’s logistical infrastructure and logistics centers in different regions, we are able to project customer demand by region. Thus, we can anticipate and plan our production and logistics in order to make the products available on time and at the points of shipment. As our products portfolio can adjust to the nature of the demand of the Mexican market, we have greater flexibility to adapt and better serve the market.

In addition to direct sales of polyethylene to our customers, our Mexico Segment sells products in Mexico through independent distributors. Our Mexico Segment is served by distributors through which we distribute our products pursuant to formal agreements and spot market transactions.

We have selected our distributors based on their ability to provide full service to their customers, including the ability to prepare our products on a customized basis. These distributors sell our polyethylene products to manufacturers with lower volume requirements and are able to aggregate multiple orders for delivery to customers that would otherwise be uneconomical for us to serve. Furthermore, by serving smaller customers through a network of distributors, our account managers focus their efforts on delivering high quality service to a smaller number of large, direct customers.

Export Sales

The main focus of our Mexico Segment is to maintain our leading position in the Mexican market while continuing to export in order to manage the relationship between our production capacity and domestic demand for our products. We believe that our continued presence in export markets is essential to help manage any overcapacity in the Mexican market. The excess volume is exported to several regions such North and South America, Asia, and Europe, using our existing sales force and complementing our portfolio in those regions, together with products exported from Brazil. In order to use the already established Braskem sales channels in the United States and Europe, the strategy of exports of the Mexico Segment production, for these regions, is to develop and retain customers, in order to seek a greater added value in exports, especially considering the competitive logistics for serving the United States. This new polyethylene complex reinforces our position with polyethylene customers worldwide, which enhances our position in North America.

Prices and Sales Terms

We determine the Mexican domestic prices for polyethylene by reference to North American export prices. Our customers in Mexico may pay in full on delivery or elect credit terms that require payment in full within 60 days, on average, following delivery for most customers.

Our Mexico Segment’s export sales consist of volumes to South America, Asia, Europe and the United States through traders and distributors. Pricing is based on international market price references. As discussed under “—Export Sales” above, since the beginning of 2017, the Mexico Segment has been focused on export sales directly to customers in the United States and Europe, so the netback price of exports has been increasing.

Competition

We have the largest annual production capacity of polyethylene in Mexico. We compete in Mexico with a subsidiary of Pemex and with importers of polyethylene, primarily producers located in the United States and Canada. We compete for export sales of our polyethylene products with producers from other countries in Latin America and in markets in the United States, Asia and Europe. Our export business is a commodity business and we compete with a variety of resin producers, some of which have greater financial, research and development, production and other resources than us. Our competitive position in the export markets that we serve is primarily based on raw material costs, selling prices, product quality and customer service and support.

Technology, Research and Development

Research and Development

R&D is key to developing differentiated offers for our priority markets and enabling growth through product portfolio upgrade and the development of new technologies in catalysis and process. One of our priorities is to support the recently announced goals towards carbon neutrality and plastic waste reduction by delivering sustainable solutions. To ensure business perpetuity, the Innovation & Technology area also works to leverage disruptive technologies. A close relationship with customers and market amplifies our ability to understand the current needs and anticipate future opportunities.

We develop technology at our research and development centers: (1) Innovation and Technology Center in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; (2) Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States; (3) Renewable Chemicals Research Center in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; (4) Process Technology Development Center in Mauá, São Paulo, Brazil; (5) European Technical Center in Wesseling, North Rhein Westphalia, Germany; and (6) Mexican Technical Center in Nanchital, Vera Cruz, Mexico, where we develop new processes, products and applications for many market segments. As of December 31, 2020, we had 292 employees dedicated to R&D. Through these centers, we coordinate and conduct our research and development activities that include scale-up (pilot plants operation), analytical testing, catalyst development and testing, advanced materials characterization, process technology development and research capabilities on renewable sources and biotechnology.

The construction of new catalysis laboratories in Pittsburgh was completed this year, totalizing investments of approximately US$10.0 million, with the goal of supporting research focused on our businesses.

Recent product portfolio updates include the development of high performance film grades for packaging, resins to provide soft touch on personal care high-end applications, high performance grades for agrochemicals packaging, new specialty grades with differentiated sealing performance applied to high-speed packaging, new proprietary catalysts for |polyolefin production and several process technology upgrades.

We continue our efforts to develop sustainable solutions through internal projects and collaborations and partnerships with several third parties, as follows: (i) advance in biotechnology research with a focus on proof of concept of routes to produce solvents and plastics of renewable origin; (ii) a partnership between the Company and the Danish-based Haldor-Topsoe, which is world leader in catalysis and surface science; in 2020, it achieved the first-ever demo-scale production of bio-based monoethylene glycol (bio-MEG), reinforcing our commitment to expand our portfolio of renewable products; (iii) a partnership with The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to advance a new route for producing raw materials used to make thermoplastic resins; this route will use carbon capture and utilization technology to remove CO₂ emissions from existing industrial processes and convert it to ethylene; (iv) a partnership with Compact Membrane Systems, Inc. to deploy a pilot plant based on their olefin/paraffin separation technology; and (v) collaborations to develop new technologies using process intensification concepts in conjunction with SENAI CETIQT, UFRJ and some others prominent Brazilian universities.

We increased our efforts with respect to recycling solutions to provide sustainable pathways for plastic waste reduction and strengthen our reputation as a sustainability leader. The portfolio of recycled resins has been upgraded with the launches of 16 new PP and PE post-consumer resin (PCR) grades. The recycling platform coordinates all efforts relating to advanced recycling and mechanical recycling of plastic waste and aims to convert post-consumer plastic into high quality recycled resins. Our focus is to expand certified recycled resins in our portfolio. In this regard, several partnerships were established last year, for example: (i) Agilyx to exploring the development and construction of an advanced recycling project in North America; and (ii) the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and National Industrial Learning Service (SENAI), to develop catalysts for pyrolysis technologies.

The increasing effort on additive manufacturing opportunities through 3D-Printing technology continues to be one of the transformative innovation priorities, with recent additions to product portfolio of filaments, powder and pellets for commercial applications and the new investments on research capabilities in Triunfo (Brazil) and Pittsburgh (USA).

Maintenance

Most of our maintenance is performed by third-party service providers. For example, we have contracts with Novonor, formerly called Odebrecht S.A., a subsidiary of our controlling shareholder OSP Investimentos S.A., or OSP Inv, Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., Rip Serviços Industriais S.A., Sulzer Ltda. and other service providers to perform maintenance for our basic petrochemical plants in the Northeastern Complex and in the Southern Complex. We also perform some of our ordinary course maintenance with our small team of maintenance technicians, which also coordinate the planning and execution of maintenance services performed by third parties.

Chemicals Plants

Regular chemicals plant maintenance requires complete plant shutdowns from time to time, and these shutdowns usually take 30 to 45 days to complete. We occasionally undertake brief shutdowns of the chemical operations at our basic petrochemical plants that do not materially affect our production output, primarily for maintenance purposes, catalyst regeneration and equipment cleaning. In addition, because we have two independent olefins units and two independent aromatics units at the Northeastern Complex and two independent olefins units at the Southern Complex, we may continue production of chemicals at these complexes without interruption, even while we perform certain maintenance services.

The next scheduled general maintenance shutdown of:

Plants of Our Brazil, and USA and Europe Segment

We have a regular maintenance program for each of our polyolefin plants. Production at each of our polyolefin plants generally is shut down for 7 to 20 days every 2 to 3 years to allow for regular inspection and maintenance. In addition, we undertake other brief shutdowns for maintenance purposes that do not materially affect our production of polyolefins. We coordinate the maintenance cycles of our polyolefin plants with those of our basic petrochemicals plants. While our chemicals facilities must be shut down for up to 30 days for maintenance, our polyolefins facilities may be shut down for shorter periods because these facilities are less complex to operate and maintain than our chemicals plants. Similarly, plants of our USA and Europe Segment attempt to coordinate their maintenance cycles with the routines of their largest suppliers.

We have a regular maintenance program for each of our vinyls plants. Our Northeast PVC plants are generally shut down for 15 to 20 days every two years to allow for regular inspection and maintenance. Our caustic soda and chlorine plant in Alagoas shuts down once a year for three days of maintenance in different parts of the plant.

Environmental Regulation

We, like other petrochemical producers, are subject to stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations concerning human health, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes and discharges of pollutants into the air, water and soil, among others. Petrochemical producers are sometimes subject to unfavorable market perceptions as a result of the environmental impact of their business, which can have an adverse effect on their results of operations.

Our consolidated annual expenditures on environmental control were R$537.9 million in 2020, R$369.8 million in 2019 and R$329.3 million in 2018, which included investments, waste and wastewater treatment, emissions management, environment licenses, environmental liabilities and other environmental expenditures.

Costs and capital expenditures relating to environmental, health or safety matters are subject to evolving regulatory requirements and will depend on the timing of the promulgation and enforcement of specific standards which impose the requirements.

Compliance with Environmental Laws in Brazil

The Brazilian government enacted an Environmental Crimes Law in 1998 that imposes criminal penalties on corporations and individuals causing environmental damage. Corporations found to be polluting can be fined up to R$50.0 million, have their operations suspended, be prohibited from government contracting, be required to repair damage that they cause and lose certain tax benefits and incentives. Executive officers, directors and other individuals may be imprisoned for up to five years for environmental violations.

We make all reasonable efforts to ensure that our operations are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Brazilian environmental laws and regulations currently in effect. Our internal audit processes and our management system in place aim to ensure that the permits that will expire be renewed in a timely manner. However, changes to applicable laws and regulations may require us to revise our standards, which may take time to implement. Some environmental studies that we have commissioned have indicated instances of environmental contamination at certain of our plants. In addition, we and certain of our executive officers have received notices from time to time related to minor environmental violations and are or have been subject to investigations or legal proceedings with respect to certain alleged environmental violations. These environmental issues, and any future environmental issues that may arise, could subject us to fines or other civil or criminal penalties imposed by Brazilian authorities.

Operating Permits

Under Brazilian federal and state environmental laws and regulations, we are required to obtain operating permits for our manufacturing facilities. If any of our environmental licenses and permits lapse or are not renewed or if we fail to obtain any required environmental licenses and permits, we may be subject to fines ranging from R$500 to R$50.0 million, and the Brazilian government may partially or totally suspend our activities and impose civil and criminal sanctions on us.

Each State in which we operate has its own environmental standards and state authorities in each state have issued operating permits that must be renewed periodically. Additionally, all projects for the installation and operation of industrial facilities in the Northeastern Complex, Southern Complex, São Paulo Complex, Rio de Janeiro Complex and Alagoas plants are subject to approval by various environmental protection agencies, which must approve installed projects prior to their commencement of operations and must renew such approval periodically thereafter. State authorities have issued operating permits for all of our plants, as follows: the Northeastern Complex (State of Bahia); Southern Complex (State of Rio Grande do Sul), São Paulo Complex and Cubatão, Santo André, Mauá and Paulínia plants (State of São Paulo), Rio de Janeiro Complex (State of Rio de Janeiro) and our Alagoas plants (State of Alagoas). We make all reasonable efforts to ensure that our operations in Brazil are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Brazilian federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations currently in effect, and we have an internal audit process and a management system in place assuring that the permits that will expire be renewed in a timely manner.

Industrial Waste

Companhia Riograndense de Saneamento, or Corsan, a state-owned sanitation company, operates an integrated system for liquid effluents treatment, or Sitel, in the Southern Complex. Sitel treats wastewater generated by us and the other petrochemical producers at the Southern Complex at a liquid effluents treatment station located in the Southern Complex. This treatment station also includes a system for the collection of contaminated wastewater and disposal after treatment. We treat wastewater generated by us at the Rio de Janeiro Complex at a liquid effluents treatment station located in the Rio de Janeiro Complex. This treatment station also includes a system for the collection and disposal of contaminated wastewater. Hazardous solid waste is co-processed in cement kilns or incinerated and other kinds of solid waste are disposed of in landfills at facilities approved by us.

We treat wastewater generated by us at the São Paulo Complex at a liquid effluents treatment station located in the São Paulo Complex. This treatment station also includes a system for the collection and disposal of contaminated wastewater. Hazardous waste generated at the São Paulo Complex is incinerated in cement kilns and other kinds of solid waste are disposed of in landfills.

In our Bahia facilities, all wastewater is transported to our wastewater treatment facility at Cetrel. Hazardous liquid and solid waste are incinerated at high temperatures and non-hazardous solid waste is coprocessed and sent to cement customers to be used as energy in cement kilns.

In our Alagoas plants, organochlorines waste is incinerated, producing steam and wastewater. All wastewater is treated at a treatment station located in the complex. Solid waste is separated and disposed of in landfills.

Additionally, we have a series of recycling programs that include recycling of solid waste and wastewater. We recycle or reuse 55.5% of the solid waste generated by our facilities and 25.8% of the water used in our production processes.

Mercury

As of December 31, 2019, Braskem had a chlor-alkali plant in Bahia based on mercury cell technology. On April 8, 2020, our chlor-alkali plant in Bahia shut down following the end of the facility’s useful life, and it has been decommissioned. The decommissioning strategy is ongoing, we are currently proceeding with the disassembly of the cell house, appropriately disposing of the waste, as well as planning the most appropriate strategies for diagnosis and remediation of potential contaminated areas, which should be implemented soon after the disassembly is complete.

Compliance with Environmental Laws in the United States

Our operations in the United States are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of effluents and emissions into the environment; the generation, storage, handling, management, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, industrial waste and other types of waste; the use, storage, and handling of various types of products and materials; and the protection of human health, safety and the environment. In many instances, specific permits must be obtained for particular types of operations, emissions or discharges. For example, our facilities in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are required to maintain various permits relating to air quality and treatment of industrial wastewater, and to comply with regulatory requirements relating to waste management. We are in possession of necessary permits to operate our facilities. We make all reasonable efforts to ensure that our operations in the United States comply with applicable U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.

As with the U.S. petrochemical industry generally, compliance with existing and anticipated laws and regulations increases the overall cost of operating our U.S. plants, including operating costs and capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities. These laws and regulations have required, and are expected to continue to require us to make, expenditures of both a capital and an expense nature.

The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or the NAAQS, for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The Clean Air Act requires periodic review of the science upon which the standards are based and the standards themselves. NAAQS for ozone and fine particulate matter (referred to as PM2.5), promulgated by the EPA have resulted in identification of nonattainment areas throughout the country, including certain areas within Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, where Braskem America operates facilities. As a result of these nonattainment designations by the EPA, state or local air pollution control agencies are required to apply permitting and/or control requirements intended to reduce emissions of ozone precursors (nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds), and fine particles (including PM2.5 precursors), in order to demonstrate attainment with the applicable NAAQS. Such requirements may include imposition of offset requirements and could result in enhanced emission control standards. In addition, on August 24, 2016, the EPA finalized requirements for state and local agencies charged with the current PM2.5 NAAQS. These requirements could in turn translate into additional state-specific requirements to further reduce allowable emission rates for PM2.5 or its precursor pollutants. In October 2015, the EPA lowered the primary and secondary NAAQS for ozone from 0.075 ppm to 0.070 ppm. Such state-specific requirements would become applicable, if at all, following a multi-year process. Regulations implementing this change will likely not be promulgated for several years.

In addition to permitting and/or control requirements that may result from the implementation of the NAAQS at the state or local level, the EPA may promulgate new or revised federal New Source Performance Standards or National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants that would apply directly to certain facility operations and may require the installation or upgrade of control equipment in order to satisfy applicable emission limits and/or operating standards under these regulatory programs. The EPA’s proposed regulations in this area would not specifically apply to Braskem America’s operations.

Additionally, there are various legislative and regulatory measures to address greenhouse gas emissions which are in various stages of review, discussion or implementation by Congress and the EPA. In October 2015, the EPA finalized new regulations (known as the Clean Power Plan) aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions from existing, new and reconstructed electric generating units. In February 2016, the Supreme Court stayed implementation of the Clean Power Plan pending judicial review. On October 16, 2017, the EPA proposed repealing the Clean Power Plan, but this proposal has not been finalized. On August 21, 2018, the EPA proposed a replacement to the Clean Power Plan, the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. While it is currently not possible to predict the final impact, if any, that these regulations may have on Braskem America or the U.S. petrochemical industry in general, they could result in increased utility costs to operate our facilities in the United States. In addition, future regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions of carbon content of products, which target specific industries such as petrochemical manufacturing could adversely affect our ability to conduct Braskem America’s business and also may reduce demand for its products. The EPA’s proposed regulations in this area would not specifically apply to Braskem America’s operations.

Compliance with Environmental Laws in Mexico

Braskem IDESA in Mexico is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern the discharge of effluents and emissions to the environment; the generation, storage, handling, management, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, industrial waste and other types of waste; the use, storage and handling of various types of products and materials; and the protection of human health, safety and the environment. Specific permits may be required for certain types of operations.

Ethylene and Aromatic Hydrocarbons Mixture production require permission of the Secretary of Energy and Federal Commission for Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) related to risk management and public health, The Mexican legislation regulates the emission of particles, ozone, fixed sources and everything related to GHGs. There are regulations on water, effluent treatments and specific conditions for discharge of the effluent. We make all reasonable efforts to ensure that our operations in Mexico are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Mexican federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations currently in effect.

In Mexico, the Federal Attorney’s Office for Federal Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) verifies compliance with the Mexican Regulation and Permits through audits.

Failure to comply with Mexican regulations may lead to economic and administrative penalties, including Operations shutdown in certain cases.

Compliance with Environmental Laws in Germany and the European Union

Our operations in Germany are subject to German federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of effluents and emissions into the environment and the handling and disposal of industrial waste and otherwise relating to the protection of the environment and waste management. Our operations in Germany are in compliance in all material respects with applicable German federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations currently in effect.

As with the petrochemical industry in the European Union generally, compliance with existing and anticipated German laws and regulations increases the overall cost of operating our European business, including operating costs and capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities. These laws and regulations have required, and are expected to continue to require us to make expenditures of both a capital and an expense nature.

At our Schkopau and Wesseling facilities in Germany, we are required to maintain air, radiation, waste water and waste management permits. We are in possession of all necessary permits.

Furthermore, our Wesseling and Schkopau facilities in Germany are subject to existing European GHG regulations and a cap and trade program relating to emissions. We have purchased sufficient carbon dioxide emissions permits for our operations until 2022, provided it operates under normal business conditions. We will purchase any additional permits that may be required on the emission trade market. We are not aware of any new environmental regulations that would materially affect our European operations. Accordingly, we cannot estimate the potential financial impact of any future European Union or German environmental regulations.

Sustainability

In April 2018, our board of directors approved our policy on global sustainable development. Its objective is to encourage economic growth, environmental preservation and social justice by developing sustainable solutions related to chemical and plastic production. In connection with these goals, we have developed a three-pronged approach: (1) seek and develop sustainable sources and operations, (2) develop and deliver a portfolio of sustainable products and services, and (3) work with our clients to offer sustainable solutions that benefit society as a whole.

Circular Economy

Consistent with our purpose of contributing to the transition from a linear economy into a circular economy, effectively demonstrating our commitment to sustainable development, we announced in 2018 our global positioning statement titled “Braskem’s Positioning in the Circular Economy.”

In the statement, we announced eight key global initiatives, which are: (i) partnerships with clients and value chain to develop new products that increase efficiency, recycling and reuse; (ii) more investments in renewable products; (iii) development and support of new technologies and the recycling chain; (iv) programs to engage consumers in conscientious consumerism, proper disposal and recycling; (v) use of science tools to select the most sustainable options; (vi) adoption of recycling indicators for plastic packaging; (vii) partnerships to understand, prevent and solve the problem of marine debris; and (viii) incentives for policies to improve solid waste management.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Our properties consist primarily of petrochemical production facilities in:

For more information, see note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Our principal executive offices are located in São Paulo, in the State of São Paulo, and we have an administrative support office in the City of Salvador, in the State of Bahia. We also have equity interests in investments located in other parts of the country. We own all our production facilities, but we generally rent our administrative offices.

The following table sets forth our properties as of December 31, 2020 by location of facilities, products produced and size of plant.

We believe that all of our operating facilities are in good operating condition. As of December 31, 2020, the consolidated net book value of our property, plant and equipment was R$35,929.1 million.

The following properties are mortgaged or pledged to secure certain of our financial transactions: (1) our chemicals plant, our polypropylene plant and our polyethylene plant located in the Southern Complex; (2) our chlor-alkali plant and PVC plant located in the Northeastern Complex; (3) our chemicals plant, polypropylene plant and polyethylene plant located in the State of São Paulo; (4) our chlor-alkali plant and PVC plant located in the State of Alagoas; (5) our chemicals plant, our polyethylene plant and our polypropylene plant located in the Rio de Janeiro Complex; and (6) our chemical plant and our polyethylene plants located in Mexico.

Insurance

In addition to the policies described below for our Brazilian and international operations, we maintain other insurance policies for specific risks, including general and product liability, directors and officers liability, workers’ compensation, marine cargo and charterer’s liability insurance, among others.

We believe that our insurance coverage is reasonable in amount and consistent with industry standards applicable to chemical companies operating globally.

Operations in Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Germany

We carry insurance for all our plants against material damage and consequent business interruption through comprehensive “all risk” insurance policies.

The “all risks” insurance program for our plants provides for a total replacement value of US$36.4 billion for property damage. This insurance program is underwritten through separate policies in Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Germany by large insurance companies. The leading insurers are Mapfre (rating S&P BBB+), HDI (rating S&P AA-), Inbursa (rating S&P AAA) and Great Lakes (rating S&P AA-). These policies are valid until October 2021.

Set forth is a table with additional information related to our all risk insurance policies.

Our policies provide coverage for losses that arise from accidents caused by or resulting from fire, explosion and machinery breakdown, among others, and consequential business interruption, with maximum indemnity periods ranging from 12 to 34 months, depending on the plant and/or coverage.

As part of our program, we also have general and products liability insurances for our operations, which cover losses for damages to third parties caused by our operations and products. Additionally, Braskem has coverage for environmental liabilities and remediation activities such as clean-up costs. These policies are capped at US$50 million for Mexico, US$50 million for Brazil and US$25 million for the United States and Germany (coverage is included in the general and umbrella liability policies).

New projects can be covered for construction/erection all risks under the existing Property policies or through a standalone project-specific policy.

We have relevant exposure to operational risks, and our insurance policy requires coverage to be contracted through a complex insurance program involving multiple insurers and reinsurers in the commercial market, which have limited and variable capacity to offer insurance policies over time. In order to seek alternatives for the composition of hedges, the possibility of transferring operational risks through the mutual insurer “OIL” was identified. OIL is the global leader in the energy sector, including oil and gas, refining, chemical and petrochemicals, electric power and mining, and holds a total of US$3 trillion in insured assets and has a portfolio of selected participants. In addition to providing a stable capacity to Braskem, OIL has a structure in which there is reciprocal cooperation among the insured companies participating in a known risk environment, in addition to a lower administrative cost compared to the commercial insurance market, providing less volatile and potentially more competitive premiums.

Compliance

We have adopted a Code of Conduct, a Compliance System Policy and an Anti-corruption Policy, and several internal directives designed to guide our management, employees and counterparties and reinforce our principles and rules for ethical behavior and professional conduct. We maintain an Ethics Line managed by a third party available for employees and non-employees. Every whistleblower complaint is investigated by the compliance team and submitted for evaluation by our Ethics Committee and/or our Compliance Committee.

As of December 31, 2020, we identified ineffective information technology controls (GITCs) over the scale systems that generate the weighted quantities of product sold for certain sales that resulted in a material weakness. These ineffective controls were due to an insufficient complement of resources to timely complete an effective risk assessment process and implement controls.

The material weakness did not result in a misstatement of the consolidated financial statements.

See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.” Our management is actively engaged in the development and implementation of remediation efforts to address the material weakness described above.

In addition, we have implemented and improved procedures and control activities across all areas of the Company, which allowed us to resolve most of the material weaknesses described in our 2019 annual report on Form 20-F. In 2020, the following actions were performed to address the material weaknesses described in our 2019 annual report:

The internal control department hired experienced resources and redesigned its structure to provide more focus and coverage over the internal control environment. Management performed and documented an extensive risk assessment over the Company and its processes. This activity provided a better perspective on where the Company should focus on designing and implementing controls, training the involved teams and addressing process improvements. The implementation of these activities resulted in the remediation of the material weakness in these overall components reported in our 2019 annual report except for the material weakness noted above.

Our IT department leveraged the risk assessment executed over Company processes and systems to design and implement the necessary set of controls to provide an adequate coverage level of the risks related to these ancillary systems. Controls over user access, change management and IT operations are being executed and monitored by the IT team. These controls were tested and found to be effective during our management assessment cycle completed in 2020.

Our management also implemented controls to assess the key reports extracted from the ERP system, excluding the scales system, used to perform the control activities. Controls over the accuracy and completeness of each report were implemented and successfully tested by our management.

Our management hired new employees with expertise and skills to design, implement and execute controls focused on financial reporting, non-routine transactions and consolidation process that provide a higher standard over the preparation and quality of the Company’s financial statements. Also, the Shared Services group designed and implemented a process and controls to ensure that manual journal entries were being correctly recorded, supported and tracked by management. These controls were tested by management and operating effectively at December 31, 2020.

The Legal team improved its controls focused on the legal contingency confirmation process. The implemented procedures, controls and the documentation ensure the completeness of the assessment and the quality of the results obtained from the confirmation process.

The Procurement and Legal teams worked together during 2020 to redesign the process of sourcing of legal services. This process is now executed by the procurement team as is executed for other services categories. This action provided adequate segregation of duties between procurement and payment activities.

Therefore, as of December 31, 2020, we concluded that the material weaknesses described in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 has been remediated. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.”

Not Applicable.

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the three years ended December 31, 2020, included in this annual report, as well as with the information presented under “Presentation of Financial and Other Information” and “Item 3. Key Information—Selected Financial and Other Information.”

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, in particular with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and related impacts on our historical and future results of operations and financial condition. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in “Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors.”

Overview

Our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 have been influenced, and our results of operations will continue to be influenced, by a variety of factors, including:

Our financial condition and liquidity is influenced by various factors, including:

Recent Developments

Geological Event in Alagoas

On January 6, 2021, settlements were ratified by Court with the termination of the public-interest civil actions related to the compensation of the residents (“ACP of Residents”) and to the socio-environmental remediation (“ACP Socio-environmental”), regarding the Company. As provided for in the settlement agreement to dismiss the ACP Socio-environmental, the Alagoas State Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público do Estado de Alagoas) dismissed, on January 21, 2021, the Investigation Proceedings related to urban damages, with the consequent filing of an administrative procedure to monitor and supervise the compliance with said settlement agreement.

In February 2021, the Brazilian Company of Urban Trains (Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos, or “CBTU”) filed a claim against Braskem seeking the payment of damages in the amount of R$222.1 million and the imposition of other obligations, including the construction of a new rail line to substitute the stretch that passes through the vacated area. CBTU attributes to the claim the approximate amount of R$1.3 billion. For more information, “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Alagoas – Mining Activities.” In February 2021, ANM accepted our motion requesting that ANM reconsider its order directing the implementation of additional measures for the mine closure plan proposed by the Company.

Exclusion of ICMS from PIS and COFINS calculation base

In February 2021, a final and unappealable decision was issued in connection with lawsuits of the Company involving the exclusion of ICMS tax from the PIS/COFINS tax calculation base, which represents the approximate amount of R$1.1 billion to be recognized in the first quarter of 2021, as federal tax credits. For further information, see “Item 8. Key Information—Tax Proceeding—Exclusion of ICMS from PIS and COFINS calculation base.”

Redemption of the perpetual bonds

Due to our strong cash position and with the purpose of reducing our gross debt, we fully redeemed our 7.375% Perpetual Bonds in March 2021 in the outstanding principal amount of US$500.0 million.

Braskem Idesa

In the first quarter of 2021, Braskem Idesa entered into the following agreements under a strict reservation of all rights: (i) a memorandum of understanding with Pemex TRI setting out certain understandings regarding potential amendments to the ethane supply agreement and the development of an ethane import terminal, subject to further negotiation, a definitive agreement and approval by Braskem Idesa’s shareholders and creditors; and (ii) a natural gas transport service agreement with Cenagas for a term of 15 years, which is conditioned upon the execution of the definitive agreement referenced in item (i) above. Following the execution of these agreements by Braskem Idesa, it resumed receiving natural gas transportation services from Cenagas, which had unilaterally terminated gas supply to Braskem Idesa in December 2020. The existing ethane supply agreement between Braskem Idesa and Pemex TRI has not been modified and remains in full force and effect. At this time, Braskem Idesa is unable to predict the outcome of ongoing discussions with Pemex TRI, its shareholders and creditors.

For further information, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We depend on ethane supplied by Pemex TRI in Mexico” and “Item 3. Key Information—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—We depend on services and products supplied by Mexican state-owned company.”

Impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on our Business and Results of Operations

We have closely monitored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the communities in the regions in which we operate.

On March 20, 2020, we formed a crisis committee to establish procedures focusing on the health and safety of our employees and the continuity of our operations. To that end, we adopted the following measures: (i) ordered all of our employees and contractors who were most vulnerable to COVID-19 to work remotely until criteria for a safe return to their worksite were met; (ii) ordered all of our employees and contractors who were not directly related to the safe continuity of our operations to work remotely until criteria for a safe return to their worksite were met; (iii) reduced the number of employees and contractors working at our industrial plants and prioritized operations with fewer people, while ensuring that all rules relating to ensuring personal safety and operational reliability were followed; (iv) restricted visits by non-routine third parties and suppliers to our facilities; (v) created agendas jointly with our customers and local communities to assess whether products on our portfolio could be used to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic; and (vi) created, implemented and monitored the indicators of the Plan for Safe Return to Braskem plants and offices.

Also, in line with our core safety value, we started to operate our industrial plants with reduced teams. The reduction of approximately 50% in the number of industrial team members and contractors allowed us to keep teams safe while maintaining the reliability of our operations.

During the second quarter of 2020, the capacity utilization rates of our plants in Brazil and the United States were temporarily reduced to 70% and 90%, respectively, to adjust to the weaker demand for our products and to the destocking trend in the petrochemical and plastics production chains. The capacity utilization rates followed market demand and export opportunities that arose in other regions, especially with the restart of economies in Asia, which occurred before other regions of the world.

During the third quarter of 2020, there was strong recovery in demand for resins in Brazil and in the United States that led the capacity utilization rates of the petrochemical plants to return to normal levels. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the demand for resins remained strong and the capacity utilization rates in Brazil and the United States remained at levels similar to those of the previous quarter.

In Europe and Mexico, the capacity utilization rates returned to their normal levels in the second quarter of 2020, following the gradual recovery in demand, resulting in capacity utilization rates of 83% and 80%, respectively. With regard to the fourth quarter of 2020, despite the recovery in demand that began in the previous quarter, the capacity utilization rate in Europe was 64% due to the scheduled shutdown of our European plant.

We have also taken a series of measures to preserve liquidity in order to maintain our financial strength and business resilience, such as:

We also took the following actions with respect to our clients and business partner companies: (i) transformed chemicals and plastic resins into essential items to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), especially surgical masks, packaging for liquid and gel alcohol, bleach, and 3D printing of rods for protection masks; (ii) donated LPG (cooking gas) to field hospitals; (iii) took action to support clients and supply chains, especially small and midsized companies; and (iv) donated hygiene kits and basic food baskets to affected communities around our plants.

During periods in which the Brazilian real depreciates significantly against the U.S. dollar, we are subject to an adverse effect from exchange variation on our debt, a part of which we recognize in our results for the period and a part of which is incorporated into our equity through the hedge accounting mechanism. In 2020, the Brazilian real depreciated 28.9% against the U.S. dollar.

Due to the uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to accurately predict its impacts on our financial position and results of operations and those of our subsidiaries. Following the recovery in demand for resins, we do not currently expect to make any additional provisions for impairment testing of our assets in the near future arising from a scenario of demand constraints.

See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Us and the Petrochemical Industry—Global or regional health pandemics or epidemics, including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.”

Financial Presentation and Accounting Policies

Presentation of Financial Statements

We have prepared our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB.

Operating Segments and Presentation of Segment Financial Data

We made changes to our organizational structure with a view to capturing synergies in all regions in which we operate for a more integrated operating performance. As a result of these changes, our management revised the structure of our internal reporting with a focus on our petrochemical operational expansion and internationalization with a view to simplifying and streamlining the work and decision-making processes, which led us to adopt a new structure for petrochemical reporting segments by region. As from January 1, 2020, our three reporting segments are as follows:

Significant Accounting Policies

The presentation of our financial condition and results of operations in conformity with IFRS requires us to make certain judgments and estimates regarding the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain and that impact the carrying value of our assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. In order to provide an understanding about how we form our judgments and estimates about certain future events, including the variables and assumptions underlying the estimates, and the sensitivity of those judgments to different variables and conditions, we have included comments related to the following significant accounting policies under IFRS:

As of December 31, 2020, assets were grouped according to the following CGUs:

Brazil:

United States and Europe:

Mexico:

On December 31, 2020, the Company tested the balances of goodwill shown in the table below for impairment:

The determination of value in use involves judgments and assumptions to determine the discounted cash flow as described in note 3.2.2(b) to our audited consolidated financial statements. The WACC used was 9.99% p.a. and the inflation rate considered for perpetuity was 2.76%.

Given the potential impact on cash flows of the “discount rate” and “perpetuity,” the Company conducted a sensitivity analysis based on changes in these variables, considering +0.5% on discount rate and –0.5% on perpetuity. Based on the analyses conducted by our management, there was no need to record impairment losses for the balances of these assets in the year ended December 31, 2020.

The main assumptions used for projecting cash flows are related to the projection of macroeconomic indicators, international prices and global and local demand in the countries where Braskem has operational production plants.

Macroeconomic indicators include items such as: exchange, inflation and interest rates, among others.

Prices for key petrochemical products are obtained from projections made by IHS. However, final prices take into consideration meetings of specific internal committees and the knowledge of our experts in preparing the benchmarks for each market. In most cases, for a projected period, the internally projected prices go through a review in relation to those originally projected by the international consulting firm.

Similar to prices, global demand also is contracted from a specific consulting firm and, in the markets where we operate more directly, they consider additional variables for the composition of local demand.

We did not record any impairment charges in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Provisions are recorded when there is a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, and it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation. Contingent liabilities are mainly related to discussions in judicial and administrative proceedings arising primarily from labor, corporate, civil and tax claims.

Our management, based on its assessment and the opinion of external legal advisors, classifies these proceedings based on the probability of loss, as follows:

The provisions for labor, corporate, civil and tax lawsuits correspond to the value of the claims plus charges in the amount of the estimated value of probable losses. Pursuant to IFRS 3, on the acquisition date in business combination operations, a contingent liability is recorded when it represents a present obligation.

Our management believes that the estimates related to the outcome of the proceedings and the possibility of future disbursements may change in view of the following: (i) higher courts may decide a similar case involving another company, adopting a final interpretation of the matter and, consequently, advancing the termination of the proceeding involving us, without any disbursement or without the need for any financial settlement of the proceeding; and (ii) programs encouraging the payment of the debts in Brazil at the federal and state levels, in favorable conditions that may lead to a disbursement that is lower than the one that is recognized in the provision or lower than the value of the matter.

New or revised pronouncements

New accounting standards currently in force:

There was no significant impacts on our financial statements due to such amendments.

A series of new standards are effective for annual periods beginning after January 1, 2020. We did not adopt these standards early in the preparation of our financial statements. The following new or amended standards are not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements:

The amendments address issues that might affect financial reporting as a result of the reform of an interbank offered rate (IBORs), including the effects of changes to contractual cash flows or hedging relationships arising from the replacement of an interest rate benchmark with an alternative benchmark rate. The amendments provide practical relief for certain requirements in IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4, and IFRS 16 relating to: (i) changes in the basis for determining contractual cash flows of financial assets, financial liabilities, and lease liabilities; and (ii) hedge accounting.

(i) change in the basis for determining contractual cash flows: The amendments will require an entity to account for a change in the basis for determining the contractual cash flows of a financial asset or financial liability that is required by interest rate benchmark reform by updating the effective interest rate of the financial asset or financial liability. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had loans whose interest rates are based on LIBOR, as disclosed in Note 16 to our financial, and will be subject to IBOR reform. We expect that the benchmark interest rate of these loans will be changed to Security Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR”) until 2023.

(ii) Hedge accounting

The amendments provide exceptions to the hedge accounting requirements in the following areas:

- Allow amendment of the designation of a hedging relationship to reflect the changes required by the reform.

- When a hedged item in a cash flow hedge is amended to reflect the changes required by the reform, the amount accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve is deemed to be based on the alternative benchmark interest rate applied to the hedged item.

As of December 31, 2020, we had cash flow hedges based on the LIBOR. We expect that indexation of the hedged items and hedging instruments to sterling LIBOR will be replaced by Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) in 2021 (please see to note 4.1 to our financial statements). Whenever the replacement occurs, we expect to apply the amendments relating to hedge accounting. However, there are uncertainties as to how and when a replacement may occur. We do not expect the amounts accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve will be reclassified immediately to the profit or loss due to the transition to IBOR.

(iii) Disclosures

The amendments will require the Company us to disclose additional information on the entity’s exposure to risks arising from the interest rate benchmark reform and the related risk management activities.

(iv) Transition

We plan to apply the amendments from January 1, 2021. The adoption will not affect the amounts reported for 2020 or prior periods.

Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

Growth of the GDP of the Countries in which we Operate and Domestic Demand for Our Products in Brazil

Our sales in Brazil represented 55.3% of our net revenue, including inter-segment sales, in the year ended December 31, 2020. We are significantly affected by economic conditions in Brazil and in the other countries in which we operate, and our results of operations and financial condition have been, and will continue to be, affected by the growth rate of the GDP of Brazil, the United States, Europe and Mexico.

The following table sets forth the growth rates of Brazilian GDP and domestic apparent consumption for polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC for the periods presented.

Source: Brazilian government and Tendências Consultoria.

Brazilian GDP growth has fluctuated significantly, and we anticipate that it will likely continue to do so. Our management believes that the impact on growth in Brazil will affect our future net revenue and results of operations, and a continued recession or low growth in Brazil would likely reduce our future net revenue and have a negative effect on our results of operations.

In 2018, Brazil experienced a recovery in economic indicators and, as a result of stronger economic activity, Brazilian consumption volumes of thermoplastic resins increased by 1.9% for polypropylene and by 3.2% for polyethylene. The PVC market grew by 1.4% for the first time after four years of contraction.

In 2019, Brazil’s economy continued to recover and, as a result, Brazilian consumption volumes of thermoplastic resins increased by 2.2% for polypropylene and by 2.5% for polyethylene. The PVC market remained stable in relation to 2018.

In 2020, Brazil’s economy contracted because of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However the demand for certain products such as packaging, consumers goods and in the construction sector increased due to the restocking effect of the supply chains and, as a result, demand for Brazilian thermoplastic resins increased by 7.5% for polypropylene, 9.1% for polyethylene and 3.8% for PVC.

According to the IMF, because of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy of several countries, the world’s GDP and the GDP of Brazil, the United States, Europe and Mexico shrank significantly in 2020, leading to an economic contraction and a recession in these countries or regions.

Brazil’s Macroeconomic Environment

The following table shows data inflation, interest rates and the U.S. dollar exchange rate for and as of the periods indicated.

Sources: Fundação Getúlio Vargas, the Central Bank and Bloomberg

Effects of Fluctuations in Exchange Rates between the Real and the U.S. Dollar

Our results of operations and financial condition have been, and will continue to be, affected by the rate of depreciation or appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar because:

Virtually all of our sales are of petrochemical products for which there are international market prices expressed in U.S. dollars. We generally attempt to set prices that take into account (1) the international market prices for our petrochemical products, and (2) in Brazil, variations in the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate. As a result, although a significant portion of our net revenue is denominated in reais, substantially all of our products are sold at prices that are based on international market prices that are quoted in U.S. dollars.

Fluctuations in the real will affect the cost of naphtha and other U.S. dollar-linked or imported raw materials. The price of naphtha is linked to the U.S. dollar. The pricing formula included in the contract with Petrobras under which we purchase naphtha for our basic petrochemical plants in the Northeastern Complex and in the Southern Complex includes a factor that adjusts the price to reflect the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate.

The depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar generally increases the production cost for our products and we generally attempt to increase the Brazilian prices for our products in reais (to the extent possible in light of then-prevailing market conditions in Brazil), which may result in reduced sales volumes of our products. To the extent that our price increases are not sufficient to cover the increased costs for raw materials, our operating margin decreases. Conversely, the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar generally decreases the production cost for our products and we generally decrease the Brazilian prices for our products in reais, which may result in increased sales volumes of our products. In periods when the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate is highly volatile, there is usually a lag between the time when the U.S. dollar appreciates or depreciates and the time when we are able to pass on increased costs, or are required to pass on reduced costs, in reais to our customers in Brazil. These pricing discrepancies decrease when the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate is less volatile.

Braskem can enter into financial derivatives transactions to mitigate exchange rate risk associated with exposure to costs in reais. Those operations can include call and put options and related strategies. For example, Braskem may apply a hedging strategy referred to as collar, which is composed of the purchase of a put option associated with the simultaneous sale of a call option, where both options having the same maturity. In this case, if the real depreciates and the strike price of the call exceeds the exchange rate of the option’s exercise date, we may incur significant financial losses. However, since those strategies will be implemented only for non-speculative purposes (in accordance with our financial policy), potential losses on derivatives transactions should be offset by more competitive fixed costs in reais.

Our consolidated U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness represented 96.8% of our outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2020, including the secured debt related to our Mexico Complex. Without the latter, our U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness represented 95.9% of our outstanding indebtedness.

As a result, when the real depreciates against the U.S. dollar:

Appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar has the converse effects.

Export sales and sales by our USA and Europe Segment, which enable us to generate receivables payable in foreign currencies, tend to provide a hedge against a portion of our U.S. dollar-denominated debt service obligations, but they do not fully match them. To further mitigate our exposure to exchange rate risk, we try, where possible, to enter into trade finance loans for our working capital needs, which funding is generally available at a lower cost because it is linked to U.S. dollar exports.

The real depreciated against the U.S. dollar from mid-2011 to early 2016, and again from early 2018 to 2020. In particular, during 2015, due to the poor economic conditions in Brazil, including as a result of political instability, the real depreciated at a rate that was much higher than in previous years, and a similar trend occurred during 2018 and 2019. On March 31, 2020, the real fell to the lowest level since the introduction of the currency, at R$5.1987 per US$1.00. Overall, in 2016, the real fluctuated significantly, primarily as a result of Brazil’s political instability, appreciating 16.5%, to R$3.2591 per US$1.00 on December 31, 2016. In 2017, the real depreciated 1.5% against the U.S. dollar, ending the year at an exchange rate of R$3.3080 per US$1.00. In 2018, the real depreciated 14.6 % against the U.S. dollar, ending the year at an exchange rate of R$3.8748 per US$1.00, primarily as a result of lower interest rates in Brazil, which reduced the volume of foreign currency deposited in Brazil in the “carry trade,” as well as uncertainty regarding the Brazilian presidential elections held in October 2018. As of December 31, 2019, the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$4.0307 per US$1.00 and, as of December 31, 2020, the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate reported by the Central Bank was R$5.1967 per US$1.00. There can be no assurance that the real will not depreciate or appreciate further against the U.S. dollar.

Effects of Brazilian Inflation

Brazilian inflation affects our financial performance by increasing some of our operating expenses denominated in reais (and not linked to the U.S. dollar). A significant portion of our cost of products sold, however, are denominated in or linked to the U.S. dollar and are not substantially affected by the Brazilian inflation rate. Some of our real-denominated debt is indexed to take into account the effects of inflation. Under this debt, the principal amount generally is adjusted with reference to the General Price Index—Market (Índice Geral de Preços—Mercado), an inflation index, so that inflation results in increases in our financial expenses and debt service obligations. In addition, a significant portion of our real-denominated debt bears interest at the TLP or the CDI rate, which are partially adjusted for inflation.

Effect of Sales outside Brazil on Our Financial Performance

We have significant production capacity located outside of Brazil from our plants located in the United States, Germany and Mexico.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, 44.7% of our net revenue was derived from sales of our products outside Brazil as compared to 45.5% during 2019 and 45.2% during 2018. Net revenue derived from sales outside Brazil increased by 10.0% during 2020, compared to 9.1% during 2019, and 13.4% during 2018.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, sales to customers in countries in the Americas (other than Brazil) accounted for 65.8% of our sales outside Brazil. During the year ended December 31, 2020, sales to customers in Europe accounted for 18.8% of our sales outside Brazil, and sales to customers in East Asia and Other accounted for 15.5% of our sales outside Brazil.

Sales outside Brazil are important to us for diversification purposes in relation to regional supply and demand balance, macroeconomic factors and the political environment. In line with our strategy, sales outside Brazil affect our financial performance by hedging our operations against risks linked to Brazil.

According to the IMF, because of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy of several countries, the world’s GDP and the GDP of the United States, Europe and Mexico shrank significantly in 2020, leading to an economic contraction and a recession in these countries or regions. As a result, our sales outside Brazil are expected to be adversely affected.

Cyclicality Affecting the Petrochemical Industry

Global consumption of petrochemical products has increased significantly over the past 30 years. Due to this growth in consumption, producers have experienced periods of insufficient capacity for these products. Periods of insufficient capacity, including some due to raw material shortages, have usually resulted in increased capacity utilization rates and international market prices for our products, leading to increased domestic prices and operating margins. These periods have often been followed by periods of capacity additions, which have resulted in declining capacity utilization rates and international selling prices, leading to declining domestic prices and operating margins.

We expect that these cyclical trends in international selling prices and operating margins relating to global capacity shortfalls and additions will likely persist, principally due to the continuing impact of four general factors:

Several petrochemical companies have announced plans to build significant additional ethylene production capacity in the coming years, of which 62.6% is expected to be concentrated in Northeast Asia. According to external consulting firms such as IHS and other, 37.1 million tons of annual global ethylene capacity is scheduled to be commissioned between 2021 and 2025, including 18.9 million tons of annual capacity in China. According to IHS, the majority of the new capacity in China will be based on flexible feedstock, with naphtha as the main raw material but also with the option to crack natural gas liquids, gas oil and others. Additionally, expansions of ethylene capacity are frequently subject to delays, and we cannot predict when the planned additional capacity will be commissioned, if at all.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted economic activity and markets around the world, and its severity, magnitude and duration are highly uncertain, rapidly changing and difficult to predict. According to the IMF, because of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy of several countries, the world’s GDP and the GDP of Brazil, the United States, Europe and Mexico shrank significantly in 2020, leading to an economic contraction and a recession in these countries or regions.

In the long-term, the trend is for the down cycle to soften and eventually revert into an upcycle again, as the industry waits to make decisions on new investments while global trade rebalances and the world absorbs new capacity. Additionally, projects that are announced to start up further into the future have a greater chance of being postponed or cancelled, as the scenario may change, feedstocks may become more or less advantaged, and cash cost curves may shift.

The year 2020 was marked by atypical uncertainties and volatilities and impacted mainly by extraordinary external factors, such as: the global spread of COVID-19, the lower global demand for fuels, impacting oil prices in the international market and the elections in the Unites States. Regarding the global petrochemical scenario, the dynamics observed were more positive than initially expected by external consultants in early 2020, with healthier spreads of thermoplastic resins in the international market in all regions where Braskem has productive capacity. In Brazil, the sharp drop in the price of naphtha during the months of March and April, influenced by the fall in the price of oil in the international market, was not accompanied by a similar decrease in resins prices, due to the rapid recovery of demand in the second half of 2020, driven mainly by demand from the packaging, construction, and hygiene and personal care sectors.

In 2019, the world economy slowed to its slowest pace since the financial crisis of 2008. During the year, the impact from the trade war between the United States and China; the slowdown in the Chinese economy; the contraction in Europe’s automotive industry, especially in Germany; the uncertainties associated with Brexit; and the political instability in key emerging markets, such as Brazil and Mexico, adversely affected investment and demand for consumer goods, leading to slower growth in the industrial sector and in international trade. In this scenario, the growth in global demand for chemicals and thermoplastic resins in 2019 was below the initial expectations of petrochemical industry players and external consulting firms, such as IHS. Combined with this weaker demand, new shale gas-based integrated polyethylene capacities in the United States and new refineries in Asia expanded the global supply of polyolefins and chemicals, pressuring the international spreads of these products. The exception was the PP market in the United States, which still presented healthy spreads supported by U.S. economic growth and the high supply of the material.

In 2018, much of the capacity additions that had been delayed in prior years finally became available in the United States. The new plants benefit from a lower cost due to their use of ethane, and therefore have the ability to produce products at a lower price than most of their peers in the global market, which caused international price references to fall throughout the year. On the other hand, oil and naphtha prices were at high levels for most of the year, mainly due to OPEC production cuts and United States sanctions on Iran, which caused spreads to decrease. Additionally, trade disputes between the two largest economies in the world, China and the United States forced American companies to find new regions to market their products, therefore increasing the pressure on prices in these regions.

Effects of Fluctuations in Naphtha, Ethane, Propane and Propylene Prices

Fluctuations in the international market price of naphtha have significant effects on our costs of goods sold and the prices that we are able to charge our customers for our first and second generation products. Political instability in the Middle East or similar events that may occur in the future may lead to unpredictable effects on the global economy or the economies of the affected regions. These events have had and may continue to have negative effects on oil production and price volatility, consequently driving naphtha and petrochemical prices higher worldwide.

The price of ethane and propane in the Mont Belvieu region in Texas and Henry Hub in the United States is used as a reference for our costs of feedstock. Any future developments that affect the U.S. supply/demand balance for natural gas may adversely affect the Mont Belvieu and Henry Hub price of natural gas (including ethane, propane and butane) and increase our production costs or decrease the price of petrochemical products. External factors and natural disasters such as hurricanes, harsh winters or industry developments, such as shale gas exploration, may disrupt the supply of natural gas, thereby increasing the cost, which may materially adversely affect our cost of products sold and results of operations.

Effects on Cost of Products Sold

Naphtha is the principal raw material used by our chemicals operations that are part of our Brazil Segment. Naphtha and condensate accounted for 35.1% of our direct and indirect consolidated cost of products sold during 2020.

The cost of naphtha varies in accordance with international market prices, which fluctuate depending upon the supply and demand for oil and other refined petroleum products. We purchase naphtha under a long-term supply contract with Petrobras, and we import naphtha from other suppliers through our terminal at Aratú, in the State of Bahia and Petrobras’ terminal at Osório, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The prices that we pay for naphtha under these arrangements, other than our supply contract with Petrobras, are based on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) market price for naphtha. As a result, fluctuations in the ARA market price for naphtha have had a direct impact on the cost of our first generation products.

Our contracts with Petrobras provide for naphtha prices based on ARA quotations. The volatility of the quotation of this product in the international market, the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate, and the level of carbon disulfide, a contaminant of the naphtha that is delivered, also influence the price of naphtha that we purchase from Petrobras. We believe that these contracts have reduced the exposure of the cost of our first generation products to fluctuations in the ARA market price for naphtha.

The international price of naphtha has fluctuated significantly in the past, and we expect that it will continue to do so in the future. Significant increases in the price of naphtha and, consequently, the cost of producing our products, generally reduce our gross margins and our results of operations to the extent that we are unable to pass all of these increased costs on to our customers, and may result in reduced sales volumes of our products. Conversely, significant decreases in the price of naphtha and, consequently, the cost of producing our products, generally increase our gross margins and our results of operations and may result in increased sales volumes if this lower cost leads us to lower our prices. In periods of high volatility in the U.S. dollar price of naphtha, there is usually a lag between the time that the U.S. dollar price increases or decreases and the time that we are able to pass on increased, or required to pass on reduced, costs to our customers in Brazil. These pricing discrepancies decrease when the U.S. dollar price of naphtha is less volatile.

We do not currently hedge our exposure to changes in the prices of naphtha because a portion of our sales are exports payable in foreign currencies and linked to the international market prices of naphtha and also because the prices of our polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC products sold in Brazil generally reflect changes in the international market prices of these products.

Effects on Prices of Our Products

The prices that we charge for many of our basic petrochemical products are determined by reference to the European contract prices for these products. Because European producers of basic petrochemical products primarily use naphtha as a raw material, changes in the European contract prices are strongly influenced by fluctuations in international market prices for naphtha. To the extent that our prices are based on the European contract prices for our products, the prices that we charge for these products are significantly influenced by international market prices for naphtha.

We negotiate the prices in reais for part of our products, principally polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC, on a monthly basis with our domestic customers. We attempt to revise our prices to reflect (1) changes in the international market prices of these products, which tend to fluctuate in tandem with naphtha prices, especially for polyethylene, and (2) the appreciation or depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar. However, during periods of high volatility in international market prices or exchange rates, we are sometimes unable to fully reflect these changes in our prices in a prompt manner.

The international market prices of our petrochemical products have fluctuated significantly, and we believe that they will continue to do so. Volatility of the price of naphtha and the price of petroleum have effects on the price competitiveness of our naphtha-based crackers and our resins. Because pricing trends for naphtha and ethane have diverged in recent years to a greater extent than has been the case historically, producers of ethylene and resin products derived from ethane generally have experienced lower unit raw material costs than naphtha-based producers of these products. As a consequence, significant increases in the pricing differential between naphtha and gas, as a consequence of higher oil prices, increases the competitiveness of products derived from ethane and may result in an effect on our results of operations to the extent that we are able to maintain our operating margins and increased prices do not reduce pressure in the international markets.

Significant increases in the international market prices of our petrochemical products and, consequently, the prices that we are able to charge, generally increase our net revenue and our results of operations due to increased sales volumes of our products. Conversely, significant decreases in the international prices of our petrochemical products, and, consequently, the prices that we charge, generally reduce our net revenue and our results of operations if we are unable to increase our operating margins or these reduced prices do not result in increased sales volumes of our products.

Capacity Utilization

Our operations are capital intensive. Accordingly, to obtain lower unit production costs and maintain adequate operating margins, we seek to maintain a high capacity utilization rate at all of our production facilities.

The table below sets forth capacity utilization rates with respect to the production facilities for some of our principal products for the periods presented.

In 2020, average capacity utilization was affected by (i)lower utilization rate of the cracker in Rio Grande do Sul due to unscheduled shutdowns at the PE integrated unit in the first quarter of 2020; and (ii) weaker demand for resins and main chemicals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted economic activity and markets around the world.

In 2019, average capacity utilization was affected by the: (i) lower ethylene utilization rate of the cracker in Bahia resulting from the shutdown of the chlor-alkali and dichloroethane plants in Alagoas; (ii) scheduled turnaround of one of our ethylene production lines at the Bahia cracker in the fourth quarter of 2019; (iii) lower ethylene utilization rate at the crackers in Rio Grande do Sul, due to logistics problems; and (iv) drop in the marginal profitability of our export of resins.

In 2018, average capacity utilization was affected by the truckers’ strike that took place in Brazil in May of 2018; the incident involving the chlor-alkali plant in Alagoas; the blackout that affected Brazil’s Northeast plants in March; and lower demand in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Effects of Brazilian Industrial Policy

The Brazilian government has a significant influence in some sectors of the domestic economy, including the petrochemical sector in which we operate. The Brazilian government has adopted, or is considering adopting, measures to boost the competitiveness of domestic companies, as described below.

SUDENE – Income Tax Reduction

Since 2015, Braskem obtained favorable decisions in administrative proceedings and lawsuits claiming the reduction of 75% of CIT on income from the following industrial units: (i) PVC and chlor-alkali (cloro soda) units, established in the state of Alagoas; and (ii) Chemicals, PE, PVC and chlor-alkali units, established in the city of Camaçari (BA). It benefits legal entities with projects for the implementation, modernization or expansion of industrial enterprises. The realization period is 10 years. In 2020, the operations in Brazil recorded tax losses, therefore it was not possible to claim any deductions as tax incentives.

PRODESIN – ICMS Tax Incentive

Braskem has ICMS tax incentives by the state of Alagoas, through the state of Alagoas Integrated Development Program, or PRODESIN, which aimed at implementing and expanding a plant in that state. This incentive is considered an offsetting entry to sales taxes. In 2020, the amount was R$68.9 million (R$67.8 million in 2019). As PRODESIN is considered an investment subsidy, it was allocated to our tax incentive reserve, pursuant to the Brazilian Corporate Law.

REIQ – PIS/COFINS Tax Incentive

The Brazilian chemical and petrochemical sector enjoyed an important achievement in 2013. The government, in response to one of the proposals elaborated by the Chemical Industry Competitiveness Council, approved the PIS and COFINS tax rates relief on raw material purchases by first and second generation producers, which serve various sectors of the economy. The measure aimed to restore some of the industry’s competitiveness, which was weakened by factors related to infrastructure, productivity, feedstock and energy costs and the exchange rate that pressured the chemical industry’s trade deficit, according to ABIQUIM, which ended 2020 at R$158.0 billion (US$30.4 billion). By 2020, we had a tax rebate of 3.65% (PIS and COFINS) on the acquisition of petrochemical raw materials.

Reintegra

In December 2011, the Brazilian government implemented the “Reintegra” program, which is designed to improve the competitiveness of Brazilian manufacturers in the export markets by refunding the federal taxes levied on their export sales. As a result of this incentive, exports of third generation products by Brazilian companies have increased. The original program ended on December 31, 2013. In August 2014, the Brazilian government permanently reinstated Reintegra on a permanent basis and with variable rates that could vary by up to 5% of the revenue of the companies with exports. The refund tax rate was set at 0.1% in August 2014. In October 2014, the Brazilian government restored the rate to 3.0% until the end of 2015. However, in March 2015, the Brazilian federal government again decreased the rate to 1.0% for 2015 and 2016. In October 2015, according to the Decree 8,543, the Brazilian federal government decreased the refund rate to 0.1% as of December 1, 2015, which remained in effect until December 31, 2016. On August 28, 2017, pursuant to Decree 9,148 that amended the Decree 8,543, the Reintegra rate increased to 2% effective, as of January 1, 2017 until December 31, 2018. However, on May 30, 2018, the Brazilian government issued Decree No. 9,393, decreasing the refund rate to 0.1%, effective June 1, 2018, for an undefined term.

Pricing and Tariffs

We set prices for ethylene, the principal first generation petrochemical product that we sell to third-party second generation producers, by reference to international market prices. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment—Sales and Marketing of Our Chemicals Operations that are Part of our Brazil Segment.” Prices paid by second generation producers for imported first generation petrochemical products partly reflect transportation and tariff costs. We establish the prices of ethylene by-products, such as butadiene, by reference to several market factors, including the prices paid by second generation producers for imported products. Prices paid for such imports also reflect transportation and tariff costs.

Second generation producers, including us, generally set prices for their petrochemical products by reference to several market factors, including the prices paid by third generation producers for imported products. Prices paid for such imports also reflect transportation and tariff costs.

The Brazilian government has used import tariffs to implement economic policies. As a result, import tariffs imposed on petrochemical products have varied in the past and may vary in the future. Tariffs on imports of first generation petrochemical products are between 0% and 4%, and tariffs on polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC resins are 14.0%. In December 2020, the Brazilian government temporarily reduced to 4%, for an initial period of three months, and a quota of 160,000 tons, the import tariffs levied on imports of PVC resins from countries that do not benefit from preferential import rates in Brazil.

Imports and exports within the free trade area in South America (Mercado Comum do Sul), or Mercosur, which is composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, have not been subject to tariffs since December 2001. Imports of suspension PVC from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Israel, Peru and Venezuela are not subject to tariffs, due to a number of trade agreements. Imports of suspension PVC from Mexico and Egypt are subject to reduced tariffs of 11.2% and 7%, respectively, due to trade agreements.

Also, imports of suspension PVC from the United States and Mexico have been subject to anti-dumping duties of 16.0% and 18.0%, respectively, that were imposed by the Brazilian Foreign Trade Chamber (Câmara de Comércio Exterior), or CAMEX. Since 2008, imports of suspension PVC from China have also been subject to antidumping duties of 21.6%. Such duties have been temporarily suspended since August 2020. Imports of suspension PVC from South Korea were subject to antidumping duties ranging between 0% and 18.9%, depending on the producer, between 2008 and August 2020, when they were terminated. The duties imposed on imports from the United States and Mexico are scheduled to expire in November 2021, while the duties imposed on imports from China will expire in 2025.

Additionally, in December 2010, CAMEX imposed an anti-dumping duty of 10.6% on polypropylene imports from the United States, which was extended in November 2016. In August 2014, the Brazilian government imposed anti-dumping duties on polypropylene imports from South Africa, India and South Korea of 16.0%, 6.4% to 9.9%, and 2.4% to 6.3%, respectively. The duties imposed on imports of polypropylene from the United States are scheduled to expire in September 2021. In December 2020, the Brazilian government extended the anti-dumping duties imposed on polypropylene imports from India, reduced the anti-dumping duties for South Africa to a range from 4.6% to 16% and terminated the duties applied against South Korea. The current anti-dumping duties applied on imports from South Africa and India are set to expire in December 2025.

In 2018, 25% of Brazilian polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC resins were imported products, which reflected a 12.3% annual increase in the volume of resins imported, due to higher availability of products from plants that recently started to operate.

In 2019, 31% of Brazilian polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC resins were imported products, which reflected an 8.5% annual increase in the volume of resins imported.

In 2020, 32% of Brazilian polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC resins were imported products, which reflected an 11% annual increase in the volume of resins imported.

Effect of Level of Indebtedness and Interest Rates

As of December 31, 2020, our total outstanding consolidated indebtedness was R$54,027.5 million (US$10,396.5 million), including R$12,059.2 million (US$2,320.6 million) in connection with the secured debt related to our Mexico Complex. The level of our indebtedness results in significant financial expenses that are reflected in our statement of profit or loss. Financial expenses consist of interest expense, exchange variations of U.S. dollar and other foreign currency-denominated debt, foreign exchange losses or gains, and other items as set forth in note 33 to our audited consolidated financial statements. In the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded total financial expenses, net of R$9,611.9 million, of which R$2,928.8 million consisted of interest expenses. In addition, we recorded a loss of R$5,298.7 million in connection foreign exchange variation on our financial assets and liabilities. The interest rates that we pay depend on a variety of factors, including prevailing Brazilian and international interest rates and our risk assessments, our industry and the Brazilian economy made by our potential lenders, potential purchasers of our debt securities and the rating agencies that assess us and our debt securities.

Effect of Taxes on Our Income

We are subject to a variety of generally applicable federal and state taxes in multiple jurisdictions on our operations and results. We are generally subject to Brazilian federal income tax at 25% (including surtax), combined with Social Contribution on Net Income (Contribuição Social Sobre o Lucro Líquido – CSLL) at 9%, totalizing an effective rate of 34%, which is the standard corporate tax rate in Brazil.

We have available certain federal tax exemptions based upon federal law that offers tax incentives to companies that locate their manufacturing operations in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Alagoas. These exemptions represent a 75% reduction of our tax burden, and, as a result, we are entitled to pay 25% of the statutory income tax rate on the profits arising from the sale of:

The exemption of 75% of income tax rate combined with CSLL at 9%, entitles us to pay only 44.9% of the 34% standard corporate tax rate on the profits arising from products manufactured at these plants.

Income tax loss carryforwards available for offset in Brazil do not expire. However, the annual offset is limited to 30% of our adjusted net profits. This limit also affects the social contribution on net profit, or CSLL. There is no outstanding balance to be used in 2020.

The consolidated amount includes the impact from the different tax rates in countries where foreign subsidiaries are located, as follows:

Our export sales are currently exempt from (1) PIS (2) COFINS, a federal value-added tax, (3) the Tax on Industrial Products (Imposto sobre Produtos Industrializados), or IPI, a federal value-added tax on industrial products, and (4) ICMS.

Statement of Profit or Loss

The discussion of the results of our segments is based upon financial information reported for each of the segments of our business, as presented in the following tables, which set forth the results of each of our segments and the reconciliation of these results of our segments to our consolidated results of operations. This segment information was prepared on the same basis as the information that our Chief Operating Decision Maker uses to allocate resources among segments and evaluate their performance. We evaluate and manage the performance of our segments based on information generated from our accounting records maintained in accordance with IFRS, and reflected in our audited consolidated financial statements.

In the following discussion, references to increases or declines in any period are made by comparison with the corresponding prior period, except as the context otherwise indicates.

Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2019

The following table sets forth our audited consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

n.m.: Not meaningful.

Net revenue

Net revenue increased by 11.9% or R$6,220.0 million, to R$58,543.5 million in 2020, from R$52,323.5 million in 2019, primarily as a result of: (1) a R$1,651.8 million, or 4.2%, increase in net revenue from our Brazil Segment, (2) a R$4,594.4 million, or 45.7%, increase in net revenue from our USA and Europe Segment, and (3) a R$949.4 million, or 31.1%, increase in net revenue from our Mexico Segment.

In 2020 and 2019, we did not have any revenue arising from transactions with any single client that was equal to or greater than 10% of our total net revenue. In 2020, the most significant revenue from a single client accounted for 2.2% of our total net revenue.

Net Revenue of Brazil Segment

Net revenue of our Brazil Segment increased by R$1,651.8 million, or 4.2%, to R$40,794.4 million in 2020, from R$39,142.6 million in 2019. Although resins and main chemicals sales volume decreased, as well as their international references (in US$/ton), net revenue of our Brazil Segment increased in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily as a result of the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods.

The table below sets forth information regarding the weighted average international prices of main chemicals and resins that are generally used as a reference for our Brazil Segment for the periods indicated:

(1) Source: External consulting firm (spot price).

(2) Average prices weighted based on Braskem’s capacity production: ethylene (20%), butadiene (10%), propylene (10%), cumene (5%), benzene (20%), paraxylene (5%), gasoline (25%) and toluene (5%).

(3) PE US (54%), PP Asia (33%) and PVC Asia (13%).

Net Revenue of USA and Europe Segment

Net revenue of our USA and Europe Segment, which includes our polypropylene assets in the United States and Europe, increased by 45.7%, or R$4,594.4 million, to R$14,638.7 million in 2020, from R$10,044.3 million in 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) higher sales volume of PP by our United States and Europe Segment; and (ii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods.

(1) Source: External consulting (spot price).

(2) Average prices weighted based on Braskem’s capacity production: PP USA (72%) and PP Europe (28%).

Net Revenue of Mexico Segment

Net revenue of the Mexico Segment increased by 31.1%, or R$949.4 million, to R$4,000.8 million in 2020, from R$3,051.4 million in 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) higher sales volumes of PE by our Mexico Segment; (ii) higher PE prices in North America due to strong demand, particularly for packaging applications; and (iii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods.

(1) Source: External consulting (spot price).

Cost of Products Sold and Gross Profit

Cost of products sold increased by 3.2%, or R$1,452.3 million, to R$47,331.4 million in 2020, from R$45,879.1 million in 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) higher sales volume of PP by our United States and Europe Segment; (ii) higher sales volume of PE by our Mexico Segment; and (iii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods.

Consolidated gross profit increased by 74.0%, or R$4,767.7 million, to R$11,212.1 million in 2020, from R$6,444.4 million in 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) the higher international price spreads for resins in Brazil, PP in Europe and PE in North America, mainly impacted by lower international prices of feedstocks; and (ii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods. Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenue) increased to 19.2% during 2020, from 12.3% during 2019.

Cost of Products Sold of the Brazil Segment

Cost of products sold of the Brazil Segment decreased by 7.8%, or R$2,747.9 million, to R$32,498.0 million in 2020, from R$35,245.9 million in 2019, primarily as a result of the lower international prices of key feedstocks in the international market. That drop in prices was influenced by the decline in oil and natural gas prices in the international market due to lower demand for fuels, which was partially offset by the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in the period.

(1) Source: External consulting (spot price).

Gross profit of the Brazil Segment increased by 112.9%, or R$4,399.8 million, to R$8,296.4 million in 2020, from R$3,896.6 million during 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) the higher international price spreads for resins in Brazil; and (ii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods. Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenue) increased to 20.3% during 2020, from 10.0% during 2019.

Cost of Products Sold of USA and Europe Segment

Cost of products sold of the USA and Europe Segment increased by 50.1%, or R$4,120.0 million, to R$12,337.5 million in 2020, from R$8,217.5 million in 2019, which was the result of: (1) higher sales volume by our Europe and United States Segment, due to better industrial performance resulting in a higher availability of polypropylene for sale during the year; and (2) the impact of the Brazilian real depreciation against the U.S. dollar between periods.

(1) Source: External consulting (spot price).

(2) Average prices weighted based on Braskem’s capacity production: Propylene USA (72%) and Propylene Europe (28%).

Gross profit of the USA and Europe Segment increased by 26.0%, or R$474.4, to R$2,301.2 million during 2020, from R$1,826.7 million during 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) the higher international price spreads for PP in Europe; (ii) higher sales volume of PP by our United States and Europe Segment; and (iii) the Brazilian real depreciation against the U.S. dollar between periods. Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenue) decreased to 15.7% during 2020, from 18.2% during 2019.

Cost of Products Sold by Mexico Segment

Cost of products sold by the Mexico Segment increased by 22.8%, or R$571.0 million, to R$3,075.0 million in 2020, from R$2,504.0 in 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) higher sales volumes of PE by our Mexico Segment; and (ii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods.

(1) Source: External consulting (spot price).

Gross profit of the Mexico Segment increased by 69.1%, or R$378.4, to R$925.8 million during 2020, from R$547.4 million during 2019, primarily as a result of: (i) the higher international price spreads of PE in North America; (ii) higher sales volume of PE by our Mexico Segment; and (iii) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods. Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenue) increased to 23.1% during 2020, from 17.9% during 2019.

Selling and Distribution Expenses

Selling and distribution expenses increased by 3.8%, or R$68.6 million, to R$1,852.1 million in 2020, from R$1,783.5 million in 2019, primarily as a result of: (1) higher sales volumes of PP by our USA and Europe Segment; (2) higher sales volumes by our Mexico Segment; and (3) the impact of the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar between periods.

(Loss) reversals for impairment of accounts receivable

(Loss) reversals for impairment of accounts receivable increased to an expense of R$55.3 million in 2020, from an expense of R$7.1 million in 2019. For more information related to our loss for impairment of accounts receivable, see note 7(i) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased by 13.7% or R$305.4 million, to R$1,918.7 million in 2020, from R$2,224.2 million in 2019, primarily as a result of lower expenses with: (1) consulting and legal fees to support the external monitorship related to our Global Settlement, which was concluded on March, 11, 2020, as announced; and (2) third party services related to the geological event in Alagoas.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased by 1.2%, or R$2.9 million, to R$250.6 million in 2020, from R$247.7 million in 2019, research and development expenses as a percentage of net revenue were 0.4% during 2020, as compared to 0.5% during 2019.

Results from Equity Investments

Results from equity investments decreased to a loss of R$19.4 million in 2020, from a profit of R$10.2 million in 2019, as a result of a decrease in the results of jointly-controlled investments, primarily Refinaria de Petróleo Rio-Grandense S.A., or RPR, and Borealis Brasil S.A., or Borealis. For more information related to our results of equity investments, see note 11(c) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Other Income

Other income decreased by 68.8%, or R$1,657.7 million, to R$750.7 million in 2020, from R$2,408.4 million in 2019 due to lower tax credits related to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decision that ICMS tax should not be included in the calculation base of PIS/COFINS. The effects of the new amount recognized in 2020 was R$438.0 million, of which R$310.6 million was recorded under “Other operating income (expenses) and R$127.5 million under “Financial income,” compared to R$2,048.8 million in 2019, of which R$1.904.2 million was recorded under “Other operating income (expenses)” and R$207.5 million under “Financial income.” For more information related to the PIS/COFINS exclusion from the ICMS tax basis calculation, see note 10(c) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Other Expenses

Other expenses increased by R$3,491.7 million, to R$7,938.6 million in 2020, from R$4,446.9 million in 2019, primarily as a result of provisions related to the geological event in Alagoas totaling R$6,901.8 million in 2020 (R$3,383.1 million in 2019). For more information related to the provision related to the geological event in Alagoas, see note 20 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Operating Profit (Loss)

As a result of the foregoing: