OREANDA-NEWS. November 15, 2012. EuroChem announced that the Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency confirmed EuroChem’s BB/Stable long-term credit rating.

In its report published 29 October, 2012, S&P highlighted EuroChem’s adequate liquidity, moderate financial policy, healthy profits and supportive industry trends, as well as advantageous cost competitiveness from its vertical integration, as key factors supporting the rating.

While the majority of the group’s products are exported, since most of its profits derive from assets located in Russia, the Russian country risk remains the principal constraint on its rating.

The company’s large capital expenditures over the next few years tied to various projects, including complex potash mining projects, continue to be seen as limiting a positive rating action.

At the same time, the ratings agency concluded that the further broadening of the company’s product portfolio through the greenfield potash expansion projects, with the accompanying reduction in capital expenditure, could eventually support a higher rating.

S&P’s full report on EuroChem is available on the rating agency’s website at www.standardandpoors.com

EuroChem is a leading global agrochemical company, producing primarily nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, as well as certain organic synthesis products and iron ore. The Group is vertically integrated with activities spanning from mining and natural gas extraction to production, logistics, and distribution. In addition to its main operations in Russia, Lithuania and Belgium, EuroChem is currently developing two sizeable potash deposits in Russia with the Gremyachinskoe (4.6 mtpa) and Verkhnekamskoe (3.4 mtpa) greenfield projects.