By KYIV. Jan 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The enterprises of Ostchem, Dmytro Firtash’s Group DF nitrogen holding, produced 1.754 million tonnes of nitrogen products in 2022, in particular Cherkasy Azot 1.117 million tonnes and Rivneazot 592,000 tonnes, Group DF said.
"For comparison, in 2021, the total production of Ostchem enterprises amounted to 5.3 million tonnes. Thus, in 2022, the total drop in the production of Ostchem mineral fertilizers compared to 2021 was 66.9%," the release states, according to which this year, according to the optimistic scenario, the Ukrainian fertilizer market is expected to grow by 15-20%.
According to it, among the main reasons for the decline in production was the loss of control over Severodonetsk Azot, which until February 27 managed to produce 5,000 tonnes of nitrogen fertilizers.
Among other reasons, the destruction of supply and distribution chains, a decrease in export volumes due to regulatory and logistical restrictions, power outages due to massive destruction of energy infrastructure facilities, high gas prices, as well as a fall in effective demand from farmers by at least 40% are indicated.
The head of Ostchem, Serhiy Pavliuchuk, pointed out that last year the plants fulfilled their obligations to farmers and large agricultural holdings and today they continue to ship finished products.
