Acron Group’s Fertiliser Output Up 19% in 9M 2017

Group’s Consolidated Output (including operating results for Acron, Dorogobuzh and North-Western Phosphorous Company)

Mineral fertilisers

Industrial products

Phosphate inputs

* Commercial output is output less in-house consumption.

** The Results do not include Hongri Acron’s output (the facility was sold in 2016)

Chairman of Acron’s Board of Directors Alexander Popov comments on the results:

“Acron Group’s facilities increased mineral fertiliser output 19% in nine months of 2017. They achieved all-time high results for 9M and H1 due to sustainable operation of the ammonia unit commissioned in 2016 in Veliky Novgorod and upgrades to key production units at both facilities.

“The Group increased ammonia output by almost 25%, with the new Ammonia-4 unit more than tripling its output year-on-year to 582,000 tonnes (9M 2016: 176,000 tonnes). Following upgrades to the urea units at Acron’s Veliky Novgorod facility, urea output increased 19%. Ammonium nitrate output at the Acron and Dorogobuzh facilities increased 19% and 12%.

“Complex fertiliser output was up 46% over nine months of the year. Acron Group is adapting to changing market conditions and growing demand for complex fertilisers by increasing its output and range of brands. The Group will continue to produce new brands of NPK and blended fertilisers to meet the market’s needs.

“The Group hit another record with its NPK output, which climbed 17% due to implementing the project, which increased capacity at the two Veliky Novgorod-based NPK units to 2,000-tpd. In 2016, Dorogobuzh also revamped its NPK unit as part of a scheduled overhaul.

“In the reporting period, apatite concentrate output increased 5% despite poor results for Q1, which were caused by considerable overburden operations. In Q2 and Q3, apatite concentrate output hit a record high. 

“We will continue to see output increase as an effect of our new investment programme for production expansion through 2025”.

Market Trends

Nitrogen fertiliser prices actively recovered in Q3 2017: in early July, urea prices were $180 FOB Baltics, and by late September they reached $260. The recovery was supported by strong demand from Brazil, which has boosted urea imports 50% this year. In September, the market was supported by aggressive demand in India, where favourable weather conditions encouraged generous fertiliser application. At the same time, higher coal prices triggered a cost increase in China. These factors combined to provide support for urea prices.