PhosAgro Boosts Fertilizer Production to a Record 9.5 Million Tonnes in 2019

Moscow, Russia – 29 January 2020. PhosAgro (MOEX/LSE ticker: PHOR), one of the world’s leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers, announces that its 4Q 2019 fertilizer sales volumes increased by 16% year-on-year to 2.3 million tonnes.

Total fertilizer production in 4Q 2019 increased by 2.8% year-on-year to 2,358.9 kt. Fertilizer and feed phosphate output for FY 2019 grew by 6.1% year-on-year to a record 9,521.8 kt.

Phosphate rock and nepheline concentrate production in 4Q 2019 rose by 3.2% year-on-year to 2,897.0 kt. For FY 2019, the output of phosphate rock and nepheline concentrate was up by 5.8% year-on-year and reached 11,694.7 kt.

Sales of phosphate-based fertilizers in 4Q 2019 grew by 16.6% year-on-year to 1,738.4 kt. Sales of phosphate-based fertilizers for FY 2019 increased by 9.4% year-on-year and reached 7,255.0 kt.

Sales of nitrogen fertilizers in 4Q 2019 rose by 14.5% year-on-year and amounted to 537.1 kt. Sales of nitrogen fertilizers for FY 2019 increased by 0.1% year-on-year and amounted to 2,197.3 kt.

Sales of phosphate rock and nepheline concentrate in 4Q 2019 grew by 4.6% year-on-year and amounted to 1,152.9 kt. For FY 2019, sales of phosphate rock and nepheline concentrate increased by 12.6% year-on-year and amounted to 4,446.2 kt.


PhosAgro production and sales volumes:





Commenting on the 4Q and FY 2019 operating results, PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev said:

“The Company continued its steady development in 2019 by unlocking the potential created during the previous investment cycle. Stable demand in our primary sales markets during the year made it possible to increase production volumes at our production facilities, and a balanced approach to ordinary maintenance enabled us to mitigate seasonal fluctuations in sales of our end product.

“As a result, fertilizer production surpassed 9.5 million tonnes in 2019, which was fully in line with the Company’s announced production guidance. This is a record level for us.

“Fertilizer production grew together with higher production volumes of feedstocks like phosphate rock, ammonia, sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid, which enabled us to maintain our self-sufficiency in these key inputs and guaranteed our cost advantage, thus increasing our global competitive position.

“PhosAgro’s flexible sales model enabled us to increase sales in 2019 to priority sales markets. For example, sales to the Russian and CIS markets grew by more than 10% year-on-year, exceeding 3 million tonnes, and sales to the European market over the same period increased by 28% to more than 2.6 million tonnes. As a result of this growth, these markets accounted for more than 32% and 28% of total sales volumes, respectively.

“Looking at fertilizer prices in late 2019 and early 2020, I would note that the price correction we saw throughout 2019 led to a large part of global producers reaching marginal profitability levels, which made the market more rational. This has laid the foundation for price growth in anticipation of seasonal recovery in demand.”


Production volumes by type:




In 4Q 2019, production in the phosphate and nitrogen segments increased by 2.3% and 4.6% year-on-year, respectively, due to an increase in productivity following the completion of technical upgrades at the Company’s production facilities in Cherepovets and Balakovo at the end of the last year. This growth was partially limited by the large volume of scheduled maintenance conducted in 4Q 2019, which were moved to the end of the year amid expectations of a seasonal slowdown in demand.

Sulphuric acid production increased by 4.7% year-on-year to 1,512.2 kt due to upgrades to one of the production lines in Cherepovets in December 2018.


Sales volumes by type:




In 4Q 2019, PhosAgro’s fertilizer sales rose by 16.1% year-on-year to 2,275.5 kt thanks to the favourable price ratio for agricultural products and fertilizers. Another factor behind the substantial increase in sales was the low base effect from 4Q 2018, when transport restrictions in Europe prevented the complete sale of traders’ stocks.

In 4Q 2019, sales of phosphate-based fertilizers grew by 16.6% year-on-year to 1,738.4 kt, mainly driven by increased sales of NPK and NPS fertilizers, which enjoyed more stable prices compared to DAP/MAP, and the premium for nutrients increased. Thus, the share of NPK(S) grades in the phosphate segment increased to almost 49% (from 47% in 4Q 2018).

In addition, PhosAgro increased sales of MCP by 45.6% year-on-year to 122.9 kt thanks to successful efforts to promote this product in the US market.

Phosphate-based fertilizers were mainly delivered to Europe, India and Latin America, where there was a more favourable pricing environment relative to the North American market. Sales in our priority domestic market in 4Q 2019 increased by 15.0% year-on-year due to the earlier start of seasonal demand and an effective distribution system that enables the Company to quickly respond to market changes.

In 4Q 2019, sales of nitrogen-based fertilizers rose by 14.5% year-on-year to 537.1 kt thanks to the start of seasonal demand for urea in world markets alongside affordable prices.


Sales volumes by key markets:




Main market factors

The prices of the main phosphate-based fertilizers continued to decrease in 4Q 2019 due to the end of seasonal demand in the key markets of Asia (India) and Latin America (Brazil, Argentina), along with weak demand coming from the United States and Western Europe.

At the end of December 2019, the world’s leading producers in Morocco, the United States and China announced plans to reduce production in order to stabilise prices in global markets.

In addition, seasonal demand in the markets of Europe and North America is expected to grow in 1Q 2020, and favourable weather conditions in India will help reduce inventories and, as a consequence, lead to earlier resumption of import demand.

The affordability of fertilizers relative to prices for agricultural products will remain the main driver behind the restoration of global prices for phosphate-based fertilizers in the short term.

All of the above factors have already started supporting demand for fertilizers in January 2020 and have led to a recovery in prices for the main product groups.