The current surplus of nitrogen fertilizers in the Ukrainian market reaches about 200,000 tons, which indicates that the Ukrainian agro-industrial complex is fully supplied with them for the spring sowing campaign, Oleg Arestarkhov, head of corporate communications at Group DF, said in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
“The issue with nitrogen fertilizers for Ukraine is completely closed. According to our estimates, as of March 30, their current surplus reaches about 200 thousand tons. There are significant reserves of fertilizers, and Ostchem continues to process all solvent requests from farmers and ship products without any problems,” Arestarkhov emphasized. .
According to him, the company closes the current demand for nitrogen fertilizers within the country.
“The only thing is that in some regions there are logistical problems with delivery due to hostilities,” said a representative of Group DF.
At the same time, he noted that supply chains are constantly being restored. “We are doing everything possible to completely update the logistics. Ukrzaliznytsia is helping us a lot, our logistics company (Nika Trans Logistics, part of Group DF – IF) is working, which delivers fertilizers, our Ukragro NPK warehouses are working,” he said. Arestarkhov.
He added that domestic Ukrainian consumers were and remain a priority, 95% of all fertilizers produced by Ostchem are shipped to the domestic market.
Commenting on the issue of exports, Arestarkhov noted that the government’s permission to export fertilizers in the amount of 70,000 tons per month will in no way affect the security of Ukrainian farmers on the part of the Ostchem holding. The head of corporate communications said that the export of fertilizers by the Black Sea is now impossible due to risks. “Road and rail transport will be the main ones, it is safer, although more expensive,” he said.
According to him, all Ukrainian companies, who wanted to, have already bought fertilizers. “We have not refused anyone. And now we are not refusing anyone. The strongest demand is for saltpeter and UAN. The volumes that we promised to ship to end consumers and contracted, we have shipped and are shipping. You see, now is a very responsible period for the country, and we are clearly aware that this is not just the fulfillment of the agreements concluded by Ostchem, this is a matter of Ukraine’s national food security,” summed up the representative of Group DF.
According to his estimates, the price of nitrogen fertilizers will not fall in the near future. “I don’t think there will be a fall in the near future, it’s unlikely. Rather, on the contrary. Although the winter period is over, the price of gas, which is the main raw material for the production of nitrogen fertilizers, for obvious reasons, remains too high at European hubs. Many factories in the world are stopped, and fertilizer producers that are working will not trade fertilizers at a loss, at a price below cost,” he explained.
Arestarkhov added that the balance between supply and demand is seriously disturbed in the world ammonia markets, and the problems affect not only nitrogen fertilizers, but also potash fertilizers, which are complex.
“The new price levels are something that many farmers are already accustomed to. It hurts businesses. Margins are falling for both fertilizer and agricultural producers. It will take time for global fertilizer markets to get out of the turbulence zone and return to a state of stability, balance and predictability Only peace and the solution of all geopolitical issues can stabilize the markets. Everything else is derivative,” the representative of Group DF emphasized.
Group DF is consolidating the assets of businessman Dmitry Firtash in the gas distribution, chemical, titanium and port industries, as well as in agriculture and media.
The nitrogen sub-holding of Ostchem includes Cherkasy Azot, Rivneazot, Severodonetsk Azot Association, as well as Stirol in the occupied Gorlovka (Donetsk region).
The armed invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine had a strong impact on the operations of PJSC “Philip Morris Ukraine”, the tobacco company had the most difficulties with logistics, since its factory and the largest warehouses of products are located in the Kharkiv and Kiev regions, where active battles are now being fought with Russian invaders.
“You can imagine the difficulty we faced when it comes to logistics and delivery of the product. It took us two weeks to resume deliveries in 12 regions and the product is still quickly disappearing from the shelves. Some of our partners stop paying on contracts, so we have to to cover this at the expense of our reserves,” said Maxim Barabash, CEO of the company, in a blitz interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.
Philip Morris was able to reopen ten branded Iqos smoke-free food stores across the country in the past week, he said, and plans to open two more this week.
Barabash stressed that during the war with the Russian Federation, the company focuses on the safety of its employees.
“Those who work in stores and warehouses have an air raid shelter nearby. The rest of the teams work remotely, helping both in commercial and volunteer projects, for example, our colleagues with evacuation and delivery of humanitarian aid,” the CEO explained.
He recalled that Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) in March took concrete steps to wind down the work of its branch in the aggressor country Russia: it stopped the planned investments and withdrew the current ones, namely the installation of a new line for the production of tobacco sticks for Iqos Iluma worth $150 million. In addition, the company canceled the launch of new commercial projects in 2022 and removed a number of cigarette brands from sales in Russia
“Currently, the company is working on options for a proper exit from the Russian market,” Barabash said about the corporation’s plans in the Russian Federation.
Philip Morris International, which includes PJSC “Philip Morris Ukraine”, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tobacco products. It produces cigarettes in more than 50 factories and sells them in 180 countries.
The company has been operating in Ukraine for more than 20 years, owns a factory in the Kharkiv region. More than 1.3 thousand people work at the company’s enterprises.
PJSC “Philip Morris Ukraine” in 2020 increased its net profit by 5% compared to 2019 – up to UAH 2.73 billion, assets increased by 18% over the year – up to UAH 11.51 billion, and retained earnings – by 55, 5%, up to UAH 7.79 billion.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock said that Germany is ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine after the end of the war, German media reported.
“If guarantees are needed, then Germany will also be there (among the countries guaranteeing Ukraine’s security – IF-U) and will give guarantees,” Burbock said in the “Menschen bei Maischberger” program on the ARD TV channel.
“We stand in full solidarity and 100 percent with Ukraine,” Burbock said, noting that this applies to both the peace talks and the more recent peace order.
However, as noted by Die Zeit, the minister admits that the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are not such that a breakthrough could be expected near. According to Burbock, when the Russian side talks about guarantees or neutrality, they mean something completely different than the Ukrainian side.
As reported, on March 29, Ukraine proposed signing a new international treaty on security guarantees, which would include an article similar to Article 5 of the NATO Charter.
Ukrposhta has started paying pensions for April in all regions of Ukraine, including the difficult areas of Luhansk, Kherson, Chernihiv, Sumy and other regions, the company’s press service said on Wednesday.
The national postal operator notes that all clients served by Ukrposhta receive pension and payments specifically and in cash.
“If a person has changed their place of residence, the company has a mechanism for redirecting payments to any available branch. To do this, you need to contact the contact center of Ukrposhta or the Pension Fund and indicate the data of the new location. If a pensioner who previously received a pension from a bank does not yet have access to a bank branch, he can apply to the Pension Fund of Ukraine to receive a pension at the nearest branch of Ukrposhta or submit an application through the postman or at any post office,” the report says.
According to Ukrposhta, in March, the company delivered 85% (UAH 8.9 billion) of pensions in cash to cities and villages across Ukraine, where it was safe.
Ukrposhta has started paying pensions for April in all regions of Ukraine, including the difficult areas of Luhansk, Kherson, Chernihiv, Sumy and other regions, the company’s press service said on Wednesday.
The national postal operator notes that all clients served by Ukrposhta receive pension and payments specifically and in cash.
“If a person has changed their place of residence, the company has a mechanism for redirecting payments to any available branch. To do this, you need to contact the contact center of Ukrposhta or the Pension Fund and indicate the data of the new location. If a pensioner who previously received a pension from a bank does not yet have access to a bank branch, he can apply to the Pension Fund of Ukraine to receive a pension at the nearest branch of Ukrposhta or submit an application through the postman or at any post office,” the report says.
According to Ukrposhta, in March, the company delivered 85% (UAH 8.9 billion) of pensions in cash to cities and villages across Ukraine, where it was safe.
Ukraine is bleeding. If we do not arm them with weapon to overcome Russia, we shall be the next victim of Putin.
Source – YouTube channel Anton Gerashchenko
