Grupa Azoty ZAK has successfully completed its latest investment project, installing a new oxygen compressor at the Ammonia Department of its plant in Kędzierzyn Koźle, set to bring about notable improvements in process and workforce safety. Worth nearly PLN 77m, the project marks another milestone in the New Energy Concept, one of the flagship investment programmes currently underway at Grupa Azoty ZAK.

The three months ended September 30th 2023 saw improved demand, notably in the Agro Segment and, to a degree, in the Chemicals Segment, especially relative to the prior quarter. This led to an increase in production volumes and a decrease in fertilizer inventories. However, most Grupa Azoty products were offered at prices that were lower than those from the previous year by an average of 52%. The Group estimates to have generated consolidated revenue of PLN 3,075m, EBITDA of PLN -348m, and an EBITDA margin of -11.3%.

The Grupa Azoty Group has released estimates of production volumes for September 2023, showing that production at the Grupa Azoty Group companies is steadily growing in line with rising demand for fertilizers. According to estimates, in September the Group companies produced 64,000 tonnes of compound fertilizers, compared to 54,000 tonnes in August. In the case of specialty fertilizers, the output for September is estimated at 15,000 tonnes, compared with 9,000 tonnes in August. The drop in estimated production of nitrogen fertilizers, from 251,000 tonnes in August to 227,000 tonnes in September, was mainly a consequence of an emergency shutdown at Grupa Azoty ZAK, which the company announced on September 5th.

Grupa Azoty Group’s financial results for the second quarter of 2023 are in line with the estimates presented on September 18th 2023. In the three months ended June 30th 2023, the Grupa Azoty Group generated consolidated revenue of PLN 3,491m, EBITDA of PLN -608m, and an EBITDA margin of -17.4%. As highlighted in the press release regarding estimated results, the reporting period witnessed the convergence of adverse market factors impacting all producers in the European fertilizer and chemical industry. Those adverse developments arose as a consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the European Union’s decision to suspend tariffs on imports of urea and ammonia from countries outside the EU.

In the three months ended June 30th 2023, the Grupa Azoty Group generated consolidated revenue of PLN 3,491m, EBITDA of PLN -608m, and an EBITDA margin of -17.4%. During the period, the Grupa Azoty Group and other European producers faced macroeconomic headwinds due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, leading to reduced demand in the markets for the Group companies’ products and their downstream markets. Based on the production volume estimates published by the Grupa Azoty Group since the beginning of this year, we have observed an upward trend in fertilizer demand since the third quarter. If the trend continues, it is expected to have a positive impact on the Group’s financial results in 2023.

The Grupa Azoty Group has released estimated output figures for August, highlighting the third consecutive month of steady growth in nitrogen fertilizer production. In August, Group companies manufactured an estimated 251,000 tonnes of nitrogen fertilizers, a substantial rise from 140,000 tonnes in May. As regards compound fertilizers, in July the Group reported production of 47,000 tonnes, with estimates for August at 54,000 tonnes. This upward trend has been primarily driven by a marked improvement in demand, especially evident when compared to the demand patterns from the first half of 2023.