Press Kit

OSTCHEM Holding is an international chemical corporation that is one of the major players in the nitrogen fertilizer market. OSTCHEM is ranked 3^rd in the world for nitrate production, 4^th for ammonia production and 12^th for urea production.

OSTCHEM as a part of Group DF manages the Group’s assets in nitrogen fertilizer production, distribution and shipment.

OSTCHEM’s production assets include Azot PJSC (Cherkasy, Ukraine), Concern Stirol PJSC (Horlivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine), Severodonetsk Azot Association PrJSC (Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine), Rivne Azot PJSC (Rivne, Ukraine), and Nitrofert JSC (Kohtla-Jarve, Estonia).

OSCHEM’s distribution business is handled by UkrAgro NPK PrJSC, which owns the top mineral fertilizer distribution network in Ukraine, consisting of 28 warehouses. OSTCHEM’s shipment business is represented by Nika Tera Specialized Sea Port LLC that specializes in handling fertilizers and other bulk cargo.

OSTCHEM enterprises’ core products are: nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate, CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate), UAN (urea ammonium nitrate), and ammonium sulphate. In addition to fertilizers, the Group`s enterprises produce organic chemicals and organic acids (adipic acid, succinic acid, methanol, caprolactam, vinyl acetate, polystyrene).

In 2010-2013, Group DF’s total investment in OSTCHEM enterprises was nearly UAH 3.5 billion.

OSTCHEM enterprises employ 23,5K people.

Azot PJSC (Cherkasy, Ukraine), a part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business) is one of the largest chemical enterprises in Ukraine. The enterprise is the largest ammonium nitrate producer in Ukraine and specializes in producing other nitrogen-based mineral fertilizers such as ammonia, urea, and UAN. Azot PJSC is also the only producer of caprolactam and ion exchange resins in Ukraine.

Azot has an annual production capacity of 1 million tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 964K tonnes of ammonia, 760K tonnes of urea, and 1.2 million tonnes of nitric acid.

Azot PJSC is one of the largest fertilizer suppliers on the domestic market, and also exports products to more than 50 countries around the world.

Azot’s plant has a quality management system based on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 international standards. Azot also registers chemical agents in accordance with REACH, the international standards of the European Union.

In 2010, Azot PJSC became a part of OSTCHEM Holding.

Over 2011-2013, Group DF invested about UAH 454.6 million into technical developments and modernization programs at Azot PJSC and another UAH 56.8 million into CSR projects.

The enterprise employs 4,5K people.

Concern Stirol PJSC (Horlivka, Donetsk Region, Ukraine), a part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business) is one of the largest chemicals enterprises in Ukraine. The plant is the largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers (ammonia and urea) in Ukraine. The enterprise also produces ammonium nitrate, UAN, organic resins, mineral acids, and salts. Concern Stirol PJSC is the only manufacturer of polystyrenes in Ukraine.

Concern Stirol has an annual production capacity of 1.47 million tonnes of ammonia, 940K tonnes of urea, 693K tonnes of ammonium nitrate, and 58K tonnes of polymer materials.

Concern Stirol PJSC is one of the largest Ukrainian nitrogen fertilizer exporters, supplying about 85% of its products to over 60 countries worldwide.

Concern Stirol PJSC developed and implemented a quality management system based on the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. In 2012, product certification is confirmed by Bureau Veritas Certification, an international technical association. The plant also registers chemical agents in accordance with REACH, the international standards of the European Union.

In September 2010, Concern Stirol PJSC became a part of OSTCHEM Holding, which invested about UAH 1.08 billion in the enterprise over 2010-2014. Due to these investments, the enterprise has implemented a range of projects. Among the largest were renovating the ammonia production line #1 (UAH 39 million, 2013), recovering integrated ammonium nitrate plant (UAH 74 million, 2013) and integrated urea plant (UAH 30 million, 2013), renewing ammonium nitrate production, and large-scale overhauls at the ammonia-making units.

In 2012-2015, the enterprise also runs a modernization programme that enables reducing energy consumption and decreasing harmful emissions to the atmosphere as well as providing operational safety. Due to this programme, Concern Stirol PJSC also extends ammonium processing to decrease the share of commercial ammonia.

Concern Stirol employs 4,5K people.

Severodonetsk Azot Association PrJSC (Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine), a part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business) is the largest chemical producer in Ukraine and Europe. The plant specializes in nitrogen fertilizers: ammonia, urea, ammonium, potassium and sodium nitrates, ammonium carbonates, products of organic alcohols and acids.

Severodonetsk Azot Association PrJSC is also the only producer of acetic acid, methanol and vinyl acetate in Ukraine. Altogether, its product line includes over 40 chemical products.

The enterprise`s annual production capacity is 1 million tonnes of ammonia, 550K tonnes of ammonium nitrate, and 390K tonnes of urea.

Severodonetsk Azot PrJSC remains one of the largest nitrogen fertilizer suppliers on the domestic market and also exports products to more than 120 countries around the world.

Severodonetsk Azot follows a quality management system based on ISO 9001: 2008 international standards. Product certification is confirmed by SGS (Great Britain), the international technical association. Severodonetsk Azot also registers chemical agents in accordance with REACH, the international standards of the European Union.

In April 2011, the Severodonetsk Azot Association PrJSC became a part of OSTCHEM Holding.

Severodonetsk Azot employs 8K people.

Rivne Azot PJSC (Rivne, Ukraine) is the largest chemical enterprise in Western Ukraine. It specializes in producing nitrogen fertilizers: ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and is the only CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate) producer in Ukraine. Rivne Azot is also the country’s largest calcium ammonium nitrate producer.

Plant`s annual production capacity is 420K tonnes of ammonia, 540K tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 450K tonnes of calcium ammonium nitrate.

Rivne Azot PJSC is one of the largest domestic nitrogen fertilizer exporters, supplying products to more than 40 countries around the world.

The enterprise has developed and implemented its own a quality management system based on international standards. All the plant’s products are packaged with Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

In 2011, Rivne Azot PJSC became a part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business), which has invested UAH 549 million in the enterprise over 2011-2013. Due to these investments, Rivne Azot PJSC has implemented a range of projects. Among the largest were launching a new weak nitric acid production line, launching a power production, regeneration facility based on steam recovery, and reconstruction of two non-concentrated nitric acid production units. The plant also implemented innovative control system for ammonia production and constructed a new present-day warehouse for non-concentrated nitric acid.

Rivne Azot employs 4,5K people.

UkrAgro NPK PrJSC (Kyiv, Ukraine) is a country’s largest mineral fertilizer distributor consisting of 28 warehouses located in all regions of Ukraine. Every warehouse is fully equipped for fertilizer reception, storage and shipping, and also provides liquid fertilizer services. UkrAgro NPK PrJSC also produces and sells mixed fertilizers (complex compound nitrogen fertilizers). The company cooperates with over 30 domestic and foreign producers. Its warehouses also sell seeds and crop protection products.

Since 2006, UkrAgro NPK PrJSC has been among top 5 largest mineral fertilizer distributors. Its sales capacity exceeds 700K tonnes. Warehouses of UkrAgro NPK PrJSC allow storing over 265K tonnes of dry fertilizers.

UkrAgro NPK’s product line includes over 100 items: traditional nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea, urea ammonium nitrate, ammonia water, and ammonia); phosphate and potassium fertilizers (potash chloride, potassium nitrate, and chloride-free fertilizers); complex fertilizers (calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate phosphate fertilizers, and diammophoska); mixed fertilizers based on different components and with different NPK proportions; water-soluble fertilizers for drip irrigation systems in open and protected ground; and sulphur-containing fertilizers (ammonium sulphate and potassium sulphate).

In 2013, UkrAgro NPK launched a new business specializing in selling sunflower and corn seed from leading world producers, such as Syngenta, Pioneer, Limagrain, Euralis, and Monsanto, and crop protection products from such makers as BASF, Bayer AG, Dow Agro Science, DuPont, Syngenta, Monsanto, NewFarm, Chemtura, Sammit Agro, and FMC.

All UkrAgro NPK products are registered and meet world quality standards.

In 2012, UkrAgro NPK became part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business).

UkrAgro NPK employs 450 people.

Nika Tera Specialized Seaport LLC (Mykolayiv, Ukraine), a part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business), is an advanced, highly automated sea terminal that specializes in handling fertilizers, grain and bulk cargoes.

The Nika Tera terminal includes three specialized cargo sections: a grain complex, a cargo-handling complex for ground storage of fertilizers, and a cargo-handling complex for ground storage bulk cargoes.

The Nika Tera terminal is located in Mykolayiv Region near the Black Sea, on the left bank of the Buh Estuary. It has 7 berths 1,3K metres in length, 5 of which are operated for commercial purposes. Its territory borders on the Zhovtneva railway station, providing a convenient logistic connection for the terminal’s customers.

In the autumn of 2011, Nika Tera became a part of Group DF, which invested over USD 86.2 million in seaport development over 2011-2014. These investments allowed Nika Tera to expand its capacities significantly: grain storage was increased from 40K to 210K tonnes; mineral fertilizer storage from 125K to 175K tonnes. The biggest projects included construction of a modern silo-type grain elevator and a urea handling section.

In 2013, Nika Tera handled 3.7 million tonnes of cargo; the majority of it was grain. The terminal transhipped 3.2 million tonnes of cargo during the first 9 months of 2014; most of it was grain and nitrogen fertilizers.

Nika Tera employs 1K people.

Nitrofert JSC (Kohtla-Jarve, Estonia), a part of OSTCHEM Holding (consolidating Group DF’s fertilizer business), is the only mineral fertilizer producer in Estonia. The plant specializes in ammonia and urea production.

Plant`s annual production capacity is 180K tonnes of ammonia, and 220K tonnes of urea.

In 2006, Nitrofert instituted a quality management system based on ISO 9001: 2000 international standards.

In 2014, Nitrofert JSC became a part of Group DF.

Nitrofert is located in Ida-Viru County, an industrial region of Estonia called Kohtla-Jarve, 150 km from Tallinn, the capital and the largest port city.

Currently, the enterprise employs about 480 people.

Synkiv Agro (Synkiv, Ternopil region, Ukraine) is an industrial-scale greenhouse complex, which represents the agribusiness of Group DF. The complex was constructed in 2012.

Synkiv Agro specializes in growing vegetables, cultivating tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Its annual capacity is 4K tonnes of tomatoes, 1,55K tonnes of peppers and 350 tonnes of cucumbers.

The greenhouse complex covers a total area of 20 ha. Its infrastructure consists of the main greenhouse that grows vegetables over 10 ha, a seedling greenhouse capable of growing 8.4 million plants per annum, and a storage and packing workshop.

The total investment into the construction of the greenhouse complex was about USD 30 million.

Synkiv Agro products are mainly sold on the domestic market, although some of its products are exported to CIS countries under the ‘Synkivskiy Yarmarok’ brand.

Synkiv Agro uses state-of-the-art Dutch equipment and advanced Israeli vegetable growing technologies. It is equipped with computerized systems for sprinkling, temperature control, nutrition and fertilization, as well as round-the-clock plant lighting.

Synkiv Agro employs 90 people.

Motronivsk Mining and Concentration Complex (Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine). Group DF launched the Motronivsk MCC construction project in 2014.

The project basis is open pit construction for ore production on the Motronivsk and Annivk site of the Malyshev zirconium-rutile-ilmenite sand field, and concentrating complex for zirconium, rutile and ilmenite concentrates delivery.

At the first stage of the project implementation, the open pit will be constructed with a capacity of 2,7 million m³ ores in a year. In particular, according to the business plan, the first stage of Motronivsk Mining and Concentration Complex project handover is already planned in the IV quarter of 2017. It is supposed that the enterprise will be able to produce an ilmenite concentrate – about 120K tons, zirconium – 14K tons, rutile – 20K tons annually.

Thanks to Motronivsk MCC construction, about one thousand and a half new workplaces is planned to create in the Dnipropetrovsk region within 2 years.

Today 838 people work at the enterprise and 9 contracting organizations are involved at construction where 250 - 300 more people are provided with work. The project investor – Group DF group of companies – already invested about $115,7 million. Concentrating mill construction will cost Group DF another $186,7 million (within 4-5 years).

Mezhdurechensk Mining and Concentration Complex (Irshansk, Zhytomyr Region, Ukraine) specializes in mining and producing ilmenite concentrate, with a capacity of 100K tonnes per year. Ilmenite concentrate is used in the production of titanium dioxide.

Mezhdurechensk MMC is part of Group DF’s titanium business.

Titanium ores are mined in open pits in the Isakivskiy and Pivdenniy sections of the Mezhdurechensk field.

Valky Ilmenite (Irshansk, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine) specializes in mining and producing ilmenite concentrate. Valky Ilmenite’s annual capacity is 45K tonnes per year. Ilmenite concentrate is used to produce titanium dioxide.

Valky Ilmenite is a part of Group DF’s titanium business. 

Titanium ores are mined in open pits in the Valky-Hatsivskiy field. The enterprise has a license to develop the Stremyhorodskiy field for ilmenite and apatites.

Zaporizhzhia Titanium and Magnesium Combine LLC (Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine) is the only producer of titanium sponge in Ukraine and Europe. The plant specializes in producing titanium slag, titanium ingots, slabs, and titanium oxide and titanium aluminium alloys.

Cabinet Resolution #955 dated October 3, 2012 and entitled “Certain aspects of establishing Zaporizhzhia Titanium and Magnesium Combine LLC, determined that 49% of ZTMC is owned by Group DF and 51% remains in state hands. In 2013, ZTMC became a part of Group DF’s titanium business.

According to an agreement between the State Property Fund of Ukraine and Tolexis Trading Limited (TTL), TTL transferred USD 110 million into several investment projects at ZTMC’s production facilities.

Zaporizhzhia Titanium and Magnesium Combine is an export-oriented enterprise, with 95% of its output going to Russia, Europe (Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, and Luxembourg) and Asia (China and Korea).

Plant`s annual capacity is 10,680 tonnes of titanium sponge. After ZTMC LLC joined the Group DF titanium business, it began producing titanium ingots and slabs on an industrial scale for the first time, as products of a new processing stage. Current annual output capacity is 1K tonnes of titanium ingots and slabs. ZTMC plans to expand production to 12K tonnes per year.

Group DF launched a large-scale investment program aimed at expanding output capacity and modernizing the plant. According to plans, ZMTC will open new titanium metal production facilities: titanium slag for up to 150K tonnes per year and titanium sponge for up to 40K tonnes per year.

Modernization plans include expanding titanium tetrachloride production, reducing the cost of products, and improving quality. In addition, ZTMC’s program anticipates certifying all such improvements.

ZTMC employs 3,5K people.

Inter Media Group (Kyiv, Ukraine) is the largest media group on the Ukrainian TV market. Inter Media Group was founded in 2005 and includes the Inter, Inter+, NTN, K1, Mega, Enter Film, K2, Pixel, and ZOOM TV channels and other media assets.

IMG Limited shareholders are companies owned by Dmitry Firtash and Serhiy Liovochkin. Its majority shareholder is Dmitry Firtash’s GDF Media Ltd. 100% of IMG stock is under the management of GDF Media Ltd.