? Record annual net income attributable to the Partnership of $66.2 million
? Declared quarterly distribution of $0.4714 per unit; 26th consecutive quarterly distribution to our unitholders
Westlake Chemical Partners LP reported net income attributable to the Partnership of $66.2 million, or $1.88 per limited partner unit, for full year 2020, an increase of $5.2 million compared to full year 2019. In connection with Hurricane Laura, which struck Lake Charles, Louisiana in August 2020, and Hurricane Delta, which struck the same area in October 2020, Westlake Chemical OpCo LP ("OpCo") declared force majeure events with respect to its Petro 1 and Petro 2 facilities located in Lake Charles under OpCo's ethylene sales agreement with Westlake Chemical Corporation ("Westlake Chemical"). As a result of this event, Westlake Chemical was obligated to pay OpCo the fixed margin and certain other costs associated with ethylene that OpCo would have produced but could not as a result of the events ("Force Majeure Amounts"). Net income in the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2020 included Force Majeure Amounts of $41.3 million and $28.3 million, respectively, related to the fixed margin and certain other costs to which OpCo is entitled for the ethylene that it would have sold to Westlake Chemical had the force majeure events not occurred.
Net income attributable to the Partnership in the fourth quarter of 2020 of $15.0 million decreased by $2.4 million compared to fourth quarter 2019 net income attributable to the Partnership of $17.4 million. The decrease in net income was a result from the impact from the hurricanes and associated force majeure events as well as lower third-party sales volumes and increased maintenance costs. Cash flows from operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2020 were $32.5 million, a decrease of $83.2 million compared to fourth quarter 2019 cash flows from operating activities of $115.7 million. This decrease in cash flows from operating activities was primarily due to the timing of the Force Majeure Amounts being accrued during 2020 and paid in January 2021. For the three months ended December 31, 2020, MLP distributable cash flow of $15.6 million decreased by $3.2 million from fourth quarter 2019 MLP distributable cash flow of $18.8 million. The decrease in MLP distributable cash flow was primarily attributable to the lower earnings at OpCo as well as higher maintenance costs and reserves for turnaround expense, partially offset by lower interest expense.
Fourth quarter 2020 net income attributable to the Partnership of $15.0 million decreased by $3.5 million from third quarter 2020 net income attributable to the Partnership of $18.5 million. The decrease in net income attributable to the Partnership was primarily due to the impact of the two hurricanes and associated force majeure events in Lake Charles. Fourth quarter 2020 cash flows from operating activities of $32.5 million decreased by $84.7 million compared to third quarter 2020 cash flows from operating activities of $117.2 million. The decrease in cash flows from operating activities was primarily due to the timing of the payment of the Force Majeure Amounts. Fourth quarter 2020 MLP distributable cash flow of $15.6 million decreased by $5.6 million compared to third quarter 2020 MLP distributable cash flow of $21.2 million. The decrease in MLP distributable cash flow was primarily due to the lower earnings at OpCo and higher maintenance costs.
Net income attributable to the Partnership of $66.2 million, or $1.88 per limited partner unit, for the full year 2020 increased by $5.2 million compared to full year 2019 net income attributable to the Partnership of $61.0 million. The increase in net income attributable to the Partnership was due to the impact of the force majeure events and associated provisions within the Ethylene Sales Agreement. Cash flows from operating activities for full year 2020 of $373.4 million decreased by $77.4 million compared to full year 2019 cash flows from operating activities of $450.8 million, primarily due to the timing of the payment of the Force Majeure Amounts. For full year 2020, MLP distributable cash flow of $72.0 million decreased by $1.2 million compared to full year 2019 MLP distributable cash flow of $73.2 million.
"In spite of the unprecedented demand challenges that we faced in 2020 and the production outages resulting from the two hurricanes, the Partnership continued to deliver strong financial performance and distributions to unitholders. Our long-term Ethylene Sales Agreement with Westlake Chemical helps insulate us from ongoing market volatility and other events that could impact our operations. The nature of this agreement with our sponsor provides the ability to continue to deliver reliable earnings and cash flows, which enables us to deliver predictable and reliable distributions to our unitholders," said Albert Chao, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited about the Partnership's future and continuing to deliver long-term value to our unitholders."
OpCo's Ethylene Sales Agreement with Westlake Chemical is designed to provide for stable and predictable cash flows. The agreement provides that 95% of OpCo's ethylene production is sold to Westlake Chemical for a cash margin of $0.10 per pound, net of operating costs, maintenance capital expenditures and reserves for future turnaround expenditures.
On January 25, 2021, the Partnership announced that the Board of Directors of Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC had approved a quarterly distribution for the fourth quarter of 2020 of $0.4714 per unit to be payable on February 19, 2021 to unitholders of record as of February 4, 2021, representing the 26th consecutive quarterly distribution to our unitholders. MLP distributable cash flow provided trailing twelve-month coverage of 1.08x the declared distributions for the fourth quarter of 2020.
