Declining plastic sales damper Dow Chemical profits

MIDLAND, Mich. — Dow Chemical Co. posted an unexpected fourth-quarter loss after declining demand in Europe and North America led to a decrease in the sales of plastics and other materials, Bloomberg reported.

The company reported a net loss of $20 million.

“There is nothing good happening in the polyethylene market,” Mark Connelly, a New York-based analyst at Credit Agricole Securities USA Inc. said. “The China business slowed down dramatically.”