Russian lowers fertilizer output by 19.3% in Jan-Sept, in Sept
MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) - Russian chemical enterprises lowered production of mineral fertilizers by 19.3% year-on-year in January-September 2009 to 10.72 million tonnes, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said.
In September, production fell by 6.7% year-on-year to 1.29 million tonnes as fertilizer output increased by 0.6% in comparison with August.
Production of nitrogen fertilizers increased by 2.4% to 5.5 million tonnes, phosphate - decreased 13.5% to 1.9 million tonnes and potash - 42% to 3.3 million tonnes.
Production of apatite concentrate in January-September dropped by 14% to 2.69 million tonnes and 6.9% to 323,000 tonnes in September but up 0.3% in comparison with August. OJSC Apatit , the leading producer of this item in Russia, lowered its output by 16.2% to 1.992 million tonnes.
Ammonium output shrank in January-September 2009 by 4.6% to 9.475 million tonnes. Ammonium output increased in September by 1.4% year-on-year to 1.044 million tonnes and 6.2% in comparison with August.
Sulphuric acid output in January-September dropped by 18% to 6.12 million tonnes, sodium carbonate - 22% to 1.7 million tonnes and caustic soda - 14.4% to 822,000 tonnes.