OREANDA-NEWS. LOTOS remains one of Poland's fastest-growing networks of service stations. As at the end of H1 2014, 430 service stations operated under LOTOS brand, including 158 LOTOS Optima stations (42 more than in the same period last year).

In H1 2014, the retail segment reported an operating profit of PLN 6.1m, compared with a loss of PLN -22.3m in H1 2013. One of the factors that contributed to the improved performance was successful implementation of solutions designed to enhance the network's operational efficiency.

In Q2 2014, the Gdansk refinery utilisation was adjusted to accommodate difficult market conditions. The refinery's capacity utilisation rate in the period was 91% (up 3.3% quarter on quarter). With its operations stable, the refinery maintained throughput of 2,379 thousand tonnes (up by 5.0% quarter on quarter).

In Q2 2014, liquid fuel consumption in Poland declined by 2.8% year on year. Despite the shrinking domestic market, LOTOS maintained its sales on a level comparable to that achieved in the same period last year, while expanding its market share in H1 2014 by 1.3pp, to 33.8%.