Investing.com -- OMV on Tuesday reported a decline in energy prices and production volumes in the second quarter of 2025, while chemical margins increased, according to its provisional trading update released Tuesday.

Brent crude averaged $67.88 per barrel, down from $75.73 in the first quarter and $84.97 in the same period last year. OMV’s realized crude oil price dropped to $66.2 per barrel, its lowest level in five quarters.

Natural gas prices also fell. The average THE natural gas price was €36.37 per megawatt hour, compared with €43.69 in the first quarter. The CEGH price dropped to €38.83 per megawatt hour. OMV’s realized natural gas price declined to €29.3 per megawatt hour from €38.2.

Total hydrocarbon production decreased to 304,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (kboe/d), from 310,000 in the prior quarter. Crude oil and NGL production was 179,000 kboe/d, nearly unchanged. Natural gas output dropped to 125,000 kboe/d from 132,000.

Sales volumes followed a similar trend. Total hydrocarbon sales were 276,000 kboe/d, down from 282,000. Crude oil and NGL sales were 169,000 kboe/d, and natural gas sales were 107,000 kboe/d.

In the chemicals segment, margins rose across all major indicators. The ethylene margin in Europe increased to €589 per ton, up from €529 in the previous quarter. Propylene rose to €467 per ton from €400. Polyethylene and polypropylene margins reached €492 and €377 per ton, respectively.

Steam cracker utilization in Europe fell to 82%, compared with 90% in the first quarter. Polyolefin sales volumes totaled 1.63 million tons, slightly higher than 1.59 million tons in Q1. Of that, 1.05 million tons were sold outside joint ventures. Polyethylene and polypropylene joint venture volumes were 0.34 million and 0.18 million tons, respectively.

In refining, OMV’s European Brent-based indicator margin rose to $8.08 per barrel from $6.65. Refinery utilization declined to 83%, down from 92%. Fuels and other sales volumes increased to 4.20 million tons from 3.52 million.

The average euro-to-dollar exchange rate strengthened to 1.134, up from 1.052 in the first quarter.