Acron boosts output 11% in 2009
MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Russian fertilizer holding Acron boosted output of commercial product 11% to 5.1 million tonnes in 2009, the company said in a statement.
Output of ammonia and mineral fertilizers rose 17% to 4.3 million tonnes.
"In 2009, Dorogobuzh boosted commercial output by 48%. This increase was mainly due to stable operation of all the facility's units in the reporting year. Moreover, modernization of Dorogobuzh's ammonium unit in H2 2008 expanded its capacity and dramatically increased efficiency, allowing Dorogobuzh to report peak operating results," the statement says.
Straight nitrogen fertilizer output was up 29% to 2.202 million tonnes, including 1.435 million tonnes of ammonium nitrate (up 44%), 450,000 tonnes of urea (unchanged) and 318,000 tonnes of urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) (up 20%).
Output of organic synthesis products fell 41% to 355,000 tonnes and output of inorganic synthesis products was up 6% to 844,000 tonnes.
"[S]trong demand for nitrogen fertilizers required that the Group's facilities utilize their urea and ammonium capacity to the maximum. The Group's consolidated ammonia output was almost 1.7 million tonnes, a record in the Group's history. The Dorogobuzh facility's ammonia and ammonium nitrate units also performed at an all-time high. When demand for liquid UAN picked up in the second half of 2009, the Veliky Novgorod facility was able to increase its output by 20% year-on-year," it says.
Production of complex fertilizers increased 6% to 2.12 million tonnes, including 1.932 million tonnes of NPK (up 7%) and 189,000 tonnes of bulk blends (up 6%).
"This production increase was solely due to the Dorogobuzh facility. The Veliky Novgorod facility reduced its output of complex fertilizers 6%, and Hongri Acron's output of complex fertilizers was down 4%."
Acron "reduced its output of organic synthesis products by 41%.
Lower methanol output for the year was mainly caused by Hongri Acron's suspension of methanol production as a response to adverse pricing conditions in China. Furthermore, reduced demand in the Russian woodworking industry also resulted in lower methanol output and processing at the Novgorod facility."
"Inorganic synthesis products were down 6%, mainly due to lower output of technical-grade ammonium nitrate. However, this decrease was offset by higher output of agricultural ammonium nitrate."
"After a sharp slump in fertilizer production and prices in late 2008, the global market for nitrogen and complex fertilizers recovered completely by H2 2009; demand strengthened and world prices experienced a slight uptick. In 2010, strong demand for fertilizers is expected in the Group's major sales markets as the global economy recovers. The recovery will allow the Group's facilities to operate their ammonia and fertilizer capacity at maximum levels."
"While recovery in the organic and inorganic synthesis products segment is proceeding at a slower pace, Acron is still making concerted efforts to develop this line of business. In 2010, Acron expects to increase methanol output and processing."
| Product (tonnes) | 2009 | 2008 | Change, % |
| Ammonia | 1 682 | 1 494 | 13% |
| incl. own use | 1 425 | 1 242 | 15% |
| Straight nitrogen fertilizers, including: | 2 202 | 1 710 | 29% |
| incl. own use | 249 | 260 | -4% |
| Ammonium nitrate | 1 435 | 997 | 44% |
| incl. own use | 63 | 59 | 5% |
| Urea | 450 | 449 | 0% |
| incl. own use | 186,4 | 200 | -7% |
| Urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) | 318 | 264 | 20% |
| Complex fertilizers, including: | 2 120 | 1 996 | 6% |
| incl. own use | 35 | 31 | 14% |
| NPK | 1 932 | 1 813 | 7% |
| incl. own use | 35 | 31 | 14% |
| NP | 0 | 5 | |
| Bulk blends | 189 | 178 | 6% |
| Organic synthesis products, including: | 355 | 601 | -41% |
| incl. own use | 183 | 274 | -33% |
| Methanol | 77 | 187 | -59% |
| incl. own use | 66 | 98 | -33% |
| Formaldehyde | 126 | 193 | -35% |
| incl. own use | 117 | 174 | -33% |
| Urea-formaldehyde resins (UFR) | 153 | 221 | -31% |
| incl. own use | 1 | 1 | 0% |
| Inorganic synthesis products, including: | 844 | 901 | -6% |
| Low-density and technical-grade ammonium nitrate | 177 | 273 | -35% |
| Calcium carbonate | 527 | 484 | 9% |
| Liquid carbon dioxide | 41 | 45 | -9% |
| Argon | 6 | 7 | -9% |
| Hydrochloric acid | 93 | 93 | 0% |
RTS$#&: AKRN, DGBZ