KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd's pre-tax profit declined to RM899 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2014, from RM925 million previously.

Revenue for the third quarter increased to RM3.549 billion from RM3.527 billion.

For the nine months ended Sept 30, 2014, the pre-tax profit decreased to RM2.155 billion from RM3.006 billion previously, it said in a filing to Bursa.

Petronas Chemicals' plant utilisation decreased slightly to 75 per cent from 76 per cent in the preceding quarter, mainly due to methane gas supply limitation affecting the methanol facilities.

“Revenue was higher by six per cent as a result of higher prices and volumes of higher margin ethane-based products, offset by lower volumes of methanol,” it added.

On prospects, the company said with an improved plant maintenance programme and supplier relationship management, the group expects to achieve better plant utilisation for the year. — Bernama