OREANDA-NEWS. July 21, 2011. Acron Group Announced Consolidated Output (Operating Results for Acron, Dorogobuzh and Hongri Acron).

Product, ‘000 t

H1 2011

H1 2010

YOY

Ammonia

900.2

885.7

2%

Incl. own use

792.4

743.7

 

Nitrogen fertilisers

1,239.9

1,134.0

9%

Incl. own use

174.5

140.1

 

Ammonium nitrate

753.4

686.7

10%

Incl. own use

43.6

26.1

 

Urea

228.4

224.0

2%

Incl. own use

130.9

114.0

 

Urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN)

258.1

223.3

16%

Complex fertilisers

1,292.0

1,203.4

7%

Incl. own use

15.2

9.9

 

NPK

1,140.4

1,126.0

1%

Incl. own use

15.2

9.9

 

Bulk blends

151.6

77.4

96%

Organic compounds

188.3

176.7

7%

Incl. own use

98.2

87.7

 

Methanol

37.4

41.7

-10%

Incl. own use

34.9

32.2

 

Formalin

68.5

61.4

12%

Incl. own use

62.9

55.1

 

Urea-formaldehyde resins (UFR)

82.4

73.6

12%

Non-organic compounds

382.3

341.0

12%

Low-density and technical-grade ammonium nitrate

114.2

94.1

21%

Calcium carbonate

165.9

143.0

16%

Liquid carbon dioxide

27.0

22.3

21%

Argon

3.5

3.1

13%

Hydrochloric acid

71.7

78.5

-9%

TOTAL COMMERCIAL OUTPUT (output less own consumption)

2,922.4

2,759.4

6%

Comments:

In H1 2011, the Group’s total commercial output was up 6% year-on-year to 2,922,000 tonnes. Higher commercial product capacity utilisation and stable operation of production facilities allowed an output increase.

Nitrogen Fertilisers and Ammonia

With the aim to fully meet the higher seasonal demand for nitrogen fertilisers Acron and Dorogobuzh production facilities increased their ammonium nitrate output 15% and 7% respectively. Liquid UAN output increased 16%. The main regions for nitrogen products sales in the reporting period were Russia, CIS, Latin America and North America.

Complex Fertilisers

In H1 2011, dry blended fertilisers accounted for major output growth in the complex fertiliser sector; their increase was considerable at both Dorogobuzh and Hongri Acron production facilities. Bulk blends are expected to reach the pre-crisis level this year. Due to ongoing strong demand from Asian countries, NPK operations at the Group’s three facilities are proceeding at full capacity.

Organic and Non-organic Compounds

In the reporting year, the Group’s facilities continued to ramp up production of industrial products. Dorogobuzh resumed production of low-density and technical-grade ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate, and overall performance of Russia-based production facilities in terms of these products increased 21% and 16% respectively. Liquid carbon dioxide and UFR output also increased 21% and 12% respectively.

Global Prices

Global economic recovery and ongoing rise in demand for agricultural products drive the price upswing in the global mineral fertiliser market.

Indicative Global Prices for Mineral Fertilisers (USD per tonne)

 

 

H1 2011

H1 2010

YOY

Ammonia

FOB Yuzhny

486

337

44%

Urea

FOB Baltics

376

249

51%

Ammonium nitrate

FOB Baltics

309

216

43%

UAN

FOB Black Sea

289

178

62%

NPK

FOB FSU

417

313

33%