Salt supplies by state-run enterprise Artyomsol (Donetsk region) to Russia in 2016 fell by 29.6% YoY, to 606,800 tons.
The company said in a press release that its large consumers last year were Hungary, Poland and Romania. In 2016 supplies to Armenia, Belarus, Germany and Estonia grew. Shipments to consumers in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria were resumed.
Salt production reached 1.67 million tons in 2016, down by 17% YoY.
The complete ban on imports of the company’s products imposed on November 1, 2016 affected the operation of the company. Warm winter of 2015/2016 season in the EU countries also influenced the company’s indicators, as well as a lack of railway transport, unstable consumer demand and other factors.
Artyomsol managed to boost production of some goods. The packaged salt output grew by 13.7%, to 242,000 tons.
In contrast to 2015, last year the key market for the enterprise was domestic market instead of the Russian market. Some 725,600 tons of salt or 43.5% of total sales was shipped to Ukrainian consumers, up by 5% YoY.
The company’s profit was UAH 187.6 million, but due to the debt of the previous years the company had to create a reserve for troubled debts that reduced the net profit indicator. Net profit totaled UAH 93.2 million.
Artyomsol is the largest enterprise engaged in the production and sale of salt (NaCl) in Central and Eastern Europe. (Interfax/Business World Magazine)
