Revenue for 2013 reached 72.15 bln RUB, operating profit amounted to 16.5 bln RUB. Against the background of adverse market developments, the company managed to strengthen its leadership in the nitrogen segment, by showing an increase in production and sales of key products.

Moscow, Russia (April 24, 2014)

• Revenue decreased to 72.15 bln RUB, compared to 75.33 bln RUB in 2012.
• Operating profit amounted to 16.5 bln RUB, compared with 22.73 bln RUB in 2012.
• Adjusted EBITDA comprised 20.12 bln RUB, compared to 25.99 bln RUB in 2012.

URALCHEM, OJSC (hereinafter URALCHEM or the Company), the Russian holding company of the URALCHEM Group, one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia, announced its audited IFRS financial results for the year 2013.

Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of URALCHEM, OJSC, commented on the Company’s results for the year 2013, “2013 proved to be a difficult year for fertilizer manufacturers. The decline in world prices affected the financial results of all the major players in the industry and URALCHEM was no exception. Against the background of adverse market developments, we worked actively to improve the efficiency of business processes, to increase productivity, profitability and to reduce operating costs. We managed to strengthen our leadership in the nitrogen segment, by showing an increase in production and sales of key products. Thanks to its chosen strategy, URALCHEM has continued to maintain a leading position among Russian producers in terms of margins, with the EBITDA margin at 28% in 2013.”

Financial Results

Revenue for 2013 decreased by 4% to 72.15 bln RUB, compared to 73.33 bln RUB in 2012. Operating profit amounted to 16.5 bln RUB (23% of revenue) compared with the operating profit of 22.73 bln RUB (30% of revenue) in 2012.

Adjusted EBITDA reached 20.12 bln RUB, compared to 25.99 bln RUB in 2012, a decrease of 23%.

The adjusted EBITDA margin for 2013 comprised 28% of revenue, compared with 34% of revenue for 2012.

Markets

In 2013, the global fertilizer market was affected by a number of unfavourable factors. Among them were the reduction of fertilizer subsidies in India and the depreciation of regional currencies in the countries of South and Southeast Asia, the leading importers of mineral fertilizers. During the year Thai baht and Indian rupee lost 10% against the US dollar. On the Brazilian and Turkish markets (traditionally important for the Russian fertilizer exports), the real and the lira decreased by 15% and 19% against the US dollar, respectively. Restructuring of potash sales and a deficiency of natural gas for the nitrogen sector in Egypt, South-East and South Asia, and Latin America also added to the uncertainty.

As a result, continuing high demand for fertilizers under worsening general macroeconomic conditions was not supported by solvency of the major importers. This was reflected in falling prices of the major fertilizers and created the prerequisites for a general decline in prices in the short and medium terms. China’s increasing role as a supplier of fertilizers, coupled with the expectation that the country’s costs will remain stable (or even reduce slightly) will significantly constrain other producers’ opportunities to increase prices, even seasonally. The US move away from the import of nitrogen products to domestic production will increase competition in other regions and will also put additional pressure on prices.

The price of ammonia FOB Yuzhny Port during 2013 decreased from US $600 per tonne in January to US $385 to US $425 per tonne in December. The main factors influencing the negative trend in world prices for ammonia were: a drop in demand from Indian manufacturers of fertilizers, moderate demand from industrialized countries in Asia, the weakening of phosphate fertilizer market and lower prices for urea. During the same period, ammonia deficit increased in the countries of Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America, which gave rise to the need for additional purchases of fertilizers from other regions. Also in 2013, industrial demand for ammonia remained high.

The price of urea FOB Yuzhny Port decreased by 24% during the reporting period to US $312 per tonne compared with US $408 per tonne in 2012. The most significant factor in the reduction in prices was the rise of China in the export markets, while the cost of production of urea in China significantly decreased due to the decrease in coal prices.

Steady growth of quotations of ammonium nitrate at the beginning of the year was replaced by a fall in mid-March. In late May prices stabilized, helped by repair works at plants in the CIS. By the end of the 2nd quarter, prices in the CIS received support from the industrial segment. Since the end of September, prices for ammonium nitrate started to restore due to the reduction of exports from Ukraine and the early-season purchases in the domestic markets of the CIS. During 2013 quotes for ammonium nitrate averaged $287 tonne, which was 6% lower than a year earlier (FOB Baltic).

In the phosphate fertilizers segment there was global decline in prices due to a lack of current demand. The main factor for the price reduction was a sharp drop in import demand in India due to the accumulation of significant reserves of phosphate and compound fertilizers in the country. Increased stocks were the result of low phosphorus usage in 2012 due to the drought that hit the country during the application season. Also, a significant reduction in imports was brought about by lower government subsidies and depreciation of the rupee against the dollar. At the same time, on the expectation of falling prices, importers in other regions adopted a policy of procurement to meet current needs only. The price of phosphate fertilizers on the basis of FOB Tampa averaged US $443 per tonne in 2013, which was 17.4 % lower than in 2012.

Financial Situation

Cash generated from operating activities in 2013 amounted to 14.47 bln RUB, compared to 20.63 bln RUB in 2012.

As at 31 December 2013, the Company’s net debt amounted to 148.997 bln RUB. The increased size of the debt is largely due to a loan of 126.27 bln RUB which the Company obtained from VTB Capital to finance the purchase of 19.99% of shares in OJSC “Uralkali” in December 2013.

The Company’s US dollar-denominated loan portfolio amounts to more than 140.89 bln RUB. The weighted average interest rate of the loan portfolio in dollars equals 3.7% annually.

For more information, please visit the Company web site http://www.uralchem.com or use the following contact information:

Public Relations Department
URALCHEM, OJSC
Tel: +7 (495) 721 89 89
Email: pr@uralchem.com
Web: http://www.uralchem.com

URALCHEM, OJSC is one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia and the CIS with production capacities of over 2.8 million tonnes of ammonia, 2.5 million tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 1.2 million tonnes of urea and 0.8 million tonnes of phosphate and compound fertilizers per year. URALCHEM, OJSC ranks first in Russia for production of ammonia and ammonium nitrate, and second for the production of urea. Key production assets of URALCHEM, OJSC include Azot Branch of URALCHEM, OJSC in Berezniki, Perm Region; OJSC Minudobrenia, Perm; MFP Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Works, OJSC Branch in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Kirov region; Voskresensk Mineral Fertilisers, OJSC in Voskresensk, Moscow region.

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of URALCHEM. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions. We do not intend to update these statements and our actual results may differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

Despite the difficult market conditions, the company maintained its revenues at the level of 2012. Thanks to its chosen strategy, URALCHEM has continued to maintain a leading position in the industry in terms of margins, with the EBITDA margin at 32%.

Moscow, Russia (December 11, 2013)

– Revenue increased to 56.26 bln RUB, compared to 55.96 bln RUB in the first nine months of 2012.
– Operating profit amounted to 14.63 bln RUB, compared with 17.09 bln RUB in the first nine months of 2012.
– Adjusted EBITDA comprised 17.32 bln RUB, compared to 19.55 bln RUB in the first nine months of 2012.

URALCHEM, OJSC (hereinafter URALCHEM Holding or the Company), the Russian holding company of the URALCHEM Group, one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia, announced its unaudited IFRS financial results for the first nine months of 2013*.

Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of URALCHEM, OJSC, commented on the Company’s results for the first nine months of 2013, “In the second half of 2013 the global market situation took a downward turn for fertilizer producers. Despite the difficult market conditions, URALCHEM maintained its revenues at the level of 2012. The Company is one of the leaders in the nitrogen segment in terms of output of ammonia per production unit. It is actively upgrading facilities, seeking to reduce costs and developing production of high-margin niche products. Thanks to its chosen strategy, URALCHEM has continued to maintain a leading position in terms of margins, with the EBITDA margin at 32%. The Company has maintained its financial stability together with its ability to develop strategic operations, as confirmed, among other things, by successive improvements of loan terms provided by banks.”

Financial Results

Revenue for the first nine months of 2013 grew to 56.26 bln RUB, compared to 55.96 bln RUB in the first nine months of 2012. Operating profit amounted 14.63 bln RUB, or 27% of revenue, compared with the operating profit of 17.09 bln RUB, or 32% of revenue, in the first nine months of 2012.

During the first nine months of 2013, adjusted EBITDA reached 17.32 bln RUB, compared to 19.78 bln RUB in the first nine months of 2012, a decrease of 12%.

The adjusted EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2013 comprised 32% of revenue compared with 37% of revenue for the same period in 2012.

Markets

From the beginning of the year, there was a decrease in demand for ammonia from the industrial segment in East Asia and the producers of phosphate fertilizers in India and North Africa. Demand in the US decreased because of the late start of planting. Partially the market was offset by the decrease in production in Egypt, Trinidad and Saudi Arabia. Recovery began in early August. There was a decline in exports from Ukrainian enterprises, and on the other hand, lower prices provided for growing interest in procurement. Average quotes for ammonia in January-September 2013 amounted to $498 / ton, which is only 4% lower than in the same period in 2012 (FOB Yuzhny Port).

In early 2013, high seasonal demand in Europe and the United States, limited supply from Egypt, and low initial stock in the European market resulted in increased prices for urea. However, in mid-February, prices began to decline, reducing further until the end of the first half of the year. Importing countries were postponing purchases in anticipation of lower prices, while Chinese exporters were actively accumulating stock expecting the “export window”. In the 2nd quarter there was a decrease in production in regions with high costs, namely in Romania and Ukraine. Amid rising purchases from India, Turkey and Latin America, there was a short period of stabilization in June. However, after then, prices continued to decline because of massive Chinese exports. Average quotes for urea in January-September 2013 amounted to $339 / ton, which is 17% lower than in the same period a year earlier (FOB The Baltic Sea).

Steady growth in quotations for ammonium nitrate at the beginning of the year was replaced by a fall in mid-March. In late May, prices stabilized, helped by turnarounds at factories in the CIS. By the end of the 2nd quarter, prices in the CIS received support from the industrial segment. During January-September 2013 quotes for ammonium nitrate averaged $291 / ton, which is 4.6 % lower than a year earlier (FOB, The Baltic Sea). Starting from late September, prices for ammonium nitrate began to recover due to reduced exports from Ukraine, as well as to the beginning of the purchase season in the domestic market of the CIS.

In the phosphate fertilizers segment there was a global decline in prices due to a lack of current demand. The main reason came from India, where high levels of stock, reduction of state subsidies and depreciation of the rupee against the dollar led to a significant reduction in imports. Importers in other regions changed their procurement tactics to just satisfy the current demand, playing on the falling market. Average DAP/MAP quotes for the three quarters of 2013 fell by 14.7 % compared with the previous year, reaching $481 / ton (FOB, The Baltic Sea). Low market activity is expected until the end of the year and in the first quarter of 2014.

Financial Situation

Cash generated from operating activities in the first nine months of 2013 amounted to 13.14 bln RUB, compared to 14.71 bln RUB in the same period of 2012.

As at 30 September 2013, the Company’s net debt amounted to 23.531 bln RUB. The weighted average interest rate of the loan portfolio in the first nine months of 2013 equalled 4.5% annually compared to 5.8% annually during the same period in 2012.

For more information, please visit the Company web site http://www.uralchem.com or use the following contact information:

Public Relations Department
URALCHEM, OJSC
Tel: +7 (495) 721 89 89
Email: pr@uralchem.com
Web: http://www.uralchem.com

URALCHEM is one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia and the CIS with production capacities of over 2.5 million tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 2.2 million tonnes of ammonia, 0.8 million tonnes of MAP and DAP, 0.8 million tonnes of complex fertilizers and 0.5 million tonnes of urea. URALCHEM is the second largest ammonium nitrate producer in the world and number one in Russia. URALCHEM’s key production assets include Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Works, OJSC in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Kirov region; Azot, OJSC in Berezniki, Perm region; Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers, OJSC in Voskresensk, Moscow region.

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of URALCHEM. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions. We do not intend to update these statements and our actual results may differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.