In its consolidated financial statements for the first half of 2017, the Grupa Azoty Group reported revenue of PLN 4.87bn (up 5% y/y), with EBITDA in excess of PLN 714m (up by close to 3% y/y) and net profit at PLN 378m (up 7% y/y). The improvement in performance continued to be driven by the Plastics segment, which together with the Pigments segment entirely offset the trends affecting the gas-reliant segments.

Today, a cornerstone laying ceremony officially marked the start of construction of Grupa Azoty S.A.’s new Research and Development Centre in Tarnów. The project will allow Grupa Azoty to expand its own research activities as part of the Group’s R&D efforts, and is consistent with the Group’s strategy to generate and implement innovation. It will also improve the competitiveness of Grupa Azoty’s products. Special guests who attended the ceremony included Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education, and Jadwiga Emilewicz, Under-secretary of State at the Ministry of Development.

After a series of audits carried out in 2017 by certification body DNV-GL, the Grupa Azoty Group companies, which are members of Fertilizers Europe, have been awarded certificates in Product Stewardship for best practices in the management of the fertilizer life cycle.

Product Management Audits are performed every three years by a certification body. The certificates are awarded in recognition of efforts of European fertilizer manufacturers towards best management practices in terms of product development, raw material acquisition, production, packaging, transport, storage, marketing and sales, product application, and services for farmers.

The award ceremony was held in Madrid on June 22nd 2017 as part of the annual meeting of Fertilizers Europe. On behalf of the Grupa Azoty Group companies, the certificates were collected by Paweł Łapiński, Vice President of the Management Board.

The certificates testify to the high standards of the European fertilizer industry and its positive efforts towards achieving sustainable practices. They are also the best evidence that the Grupa Azoty Group meets the top health, safety and environmental standards throughout fertilizer life cycle.

The next audit is scheduled for 2020.

Grupa Azoty S.A. received an Acknowledgement Letter and Cup of the Leader of Polish Export, awarded by the Association of Polish Exporters.

On June 21st 2017, Grupa Azoty S.A. and its subsidiaries entered into gas supply contracts with Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A.