Article
Trends in chemical industry

Information agency Credinform has prepared a review of trends in activity of the largest Russian chemical companies. The largest Russian chemical companies (TOP-10 and TOP-1000) in terms of annual revenue were selected according to the data from the Statistical Register for the latest available periods (2014 - 2017). The analysis was based on data of the Information and Analytical system Globas.

Net assets is a ratio reflecting the real value of company's property. It is calculated annually as the difference between assets on the enterprise balance and its debt obligations. The ratio is considered negative (insufficiency of property), if company’s debt exceeds the value of its property.

Table 1. The largest Russian chemical companies with the highest and lowest net assets rate in 2015 – 2017
Name, INN,
region, activity
Net assets value,
bln RUB
Solvency index Globas
2015 2016 2017
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 JSC URALKALI
INN 5911029807 Perm region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
102.6 up168.2 up209.0 189 High
2 JSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim
INN 1651000010 Republic of Tatarstan
Manufacture of synthetic rubber in primary forms
92.0 up108.7 up132.4 134 Superior
3 JSC TOGLIATTIAZOT
INN 6320004728 Samara region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
69.0 down67.3 up68.2 199 High
4 Kazan JSC Organichesky Sintez
INN 1658008723 Republic of Tatarstan
Manufacture of plastics in primary forms
35.2 up47.5 up53.7 127 Superior
5 JSC MINUDOBRENIYA
INN 3627000397 Voronezh region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
39.8 up43.8 up47.0 200 Strong
996 KEMEROVO JSC AZOT
INN 4205000908 Kemerovo region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
-9.1 up-1.1 up6.8 194 High
997 JSC EKOPET
INN 3904087321 Kaliningrad region
Manufacture of plastics in primary forms
-10.6 up-2.1 down-2.2 313 Adequate
998 Public Stock Company Soda Crimea Plant
INN 9106001900 Republic of Crimea
Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals
-4.0 up-2.8 up1.2 252 Medium
999 BOR MINING CHEMICAL COMPANY
INN 2505009506 Moscow
Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals
Process of being wound up,17.02.2016
-6.6 up-4.6 down-5.0 600 Insufficient
1000 JOINT STOCK COMPANY UNITED CHEMICAL COMPANY URALCHEM
INN 7703647595 Moscow
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
In process of reorganization in the form of merger of other legal entities, 13.07.2018
-83.0 up-40.9 down-73.1 273 Medium

Up — growth indicator in comparison with prior period, Up — decline indicator in comparison with prior period.

For the last ten years, the average values of TOP-1000 net assets showed the increasing tendency (Picture 1).

Picture 1. Change in average net assets value of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016 Picture 1. Change in average net assets value of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016

For the last three years, the share of enterprises with lack of property is growing (Picture 2).

Picture 2. The share of enterprises with negative net assets value in ТОP-1000 Picture 2.The share of enterprises with negative net assets value in ТОP-1000

Sales revenue
In 2016, the total revenue of 10 largest companies amounted to 34% from ТОP-1000 total revenue (Picture 3). This fact testifies high level of competition within the industry.

Picture 3. Shares of TOP-10 in TOP-1000 total revenue for 2016 Picture 3. Shares of TOP-10 in TOP-1000 total revenue for 2016

In general, the relative stability in sales revenue is observed (Picture 4).

Picture 4. Change in average revenue of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016 Picture 4. Change in average revenue of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016

Profit and loss
In 2016 profit of 10 largest companies amounted to 63% from TOP-1000 total profit (Picture 5).

Picture 5. Shares of TOP-10 companies in TOP-1000 total profit for 2016 Picture 5. Shares of TOP-10 companies in TOP-1000 total profit for 2016

For the last ten years, the average net profit values show the growing tendency (Picture 6).

Picture 6. Change in average net profit of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016 Picture 6. Change in average net profit of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016

Main financial ratios
For the last ten years, the average values of the current liquidity ratio were within the recommended values - from 1.0 to 2.0 (Picture 7).

The current liquidity ratio (ratio of total working capital to short-term liabilities) shows the sufficiency of company’s assets to meet short-term obligations.

Picture 7. Change in average values of current liquidity ratio of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016 Picture 7. Change in average values of current liquidity ratio of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016

For the last ten years, the decreasing tendency of ROI ratio is observed (Picture 8).

The ROI ratio is calculated as a ratio of net profit to sum of stockholder equity and long-term liabilities and shows the return from equity involved in commercial activities and long-term borrowed funds.

Picture 8. Change in average values of ROI ratio in 2007 – 2016 Picture 8. Change in average values of ROI ratio in 2007 – 2016

Assets turnover ratio is the ratio of sales revenue and company’s average total assets for a period. It characterizes the effectiveness of using of all available resources, regardless the source of their attraction. The ratio shows how many times per year the full cycle of production and circulation is performed, generating the corresponding effect in the form of profit.

For the last ten years, this business activity ratio demonstrated the downward trend (Picture 9).

Picture 9. Change in average values of assets turnover ratio of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016 Picture 9. Change in average values of assets turnover ratio of chemical companies in 2007 – 2016

Production structure
The largest share in TOP-1000 total revenue is held by enterprises engaged in manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds (Picture 10).

Picture 10. Distribution of manufactured products in TOP-1000 total revenue, % Picture 10. Distribution of manufactured products in TOP-1000 total revenue, %

67% of ТОP-1000 companies are registered in the Unified register of small and medium-sized enterprises of the Russian Federal Tax Service (Picture 11).

Picture 11. Shares of small and medium-sized enterprises in ТОP-1000, % Picture 11. Shares of small and medium-sized enterprises in ТОP-1000, %

Main regions of activity
Companies of ТОP-1000 are unequally located across the country and registered in 63 regions of Russia. The largest enterprises in terms of revenue are located in Moscow and Republic of Tatarstan (Picture 12).

Picture 12. Distribution of TOP-1000 revenue by the regions of Russia Picture 12. Distribution of TOP-1000 revenue by the regions of Russia

Financial position score
An assessment of the financial position of TOP-1000 companies shows that almost half of them have above average financial position (Picture 13).

Picture 13. Distribution of TOP-1000 companies by financial position score Picture 13. Distribution of TOP-1000 companies by financial position score

Solvency index Globas
Most of TOP-1000 companies got superior/high or strong/medium Solvency index Globas, this fact shows the ability of the companies to meet their obligations in time and fully (Picture 14).

Picture 14. Distribution of TOP-1000 companies by Solvency index Globas Picture 14. Distribution of TOP-1000 companies by Solvency index Globas

Conclusion
A complex assessment of activity of the largest Russian chemical companies, taking into account the main indexes, financial ratios and indicators, demonstrates the presence of favorable trends. However, the growing share of enterprises with lack of property, decrease in average values of ROI and assets turnover ratios are negative factors.

According to the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), in general, within 2017 - 2018 the slight increase of industrial production indexes in the chemical industry is observed (Picture 15).

Picture 15. Industrial production indexes in the chemical industry in 2017 - 2018, month-to-month (%) Picture 15. Industrial production indexes in the chemical industry in 2017 - 2018, month-to-month (%)
Ranking
Assets turnover of chemical companies

Information agency Credinform offers a ranking of the largest Russian enterprises of chemical sector. The companies with the largest volume of annual revenue (TOP-10) were selected for the ranking, according to the data from the Statistical Register for the latest available periods (2014 - 2017). Then they were ranked by equity turnover ratio (Table 1). The analysis is based on data of the Information and Analytical system Globas.

Equity turnover ratio (times) is calculated as a relation of revenue to annual average sum of equity and demonstrates the company’s usage rate of all available assets.
Equity turnover ratio reflects the turnover rate of own capital. The high value of this indicator shows the effectiveness of use of own funds. Accordingly, low ratio value shows inaction of the part of own funds.

For getting of the most comprehensive and fair picture of the financial standing of an enterprise it is necessary to pay attention to all combination of indicators and financial ratios.

Table 1. Net profit, revenue, equity turnover ratio, solvency index Globas of the largest Russian enterprises of chemical sector (TOP-10)
Name, INN, region,
principal activity
Revenue,
bln RUB
Net profit (loss),
bln RUB
Equity turnover ratio,
times
Solvency index Globas
2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SOCIETE PAR ACTIONS FERMEE L`OREAL
INN 7726059896 Moscow
Manufacture of perfumes and cosmetics
up48.5 up50.3 up3.3 up7.6 down6.24 down4.75 118 High
LLC HENKEL RUS
INN 7702691545 Moscow
Manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing agents; perfumery and cosmetics
up48.5 up50.3 down4.75 up7.6 down6.24 down4.75 167 High
JSC NEVINNOMYSSKY AZOT
INN 2631015563 Stavropol territory
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
down42.8 down38.8 down11.6 down7.3 down4.52 down3.82 177 High
NOVOMOSKOVSK JSC AZOT
INN 7116000066 Tula region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
down43.4 up44.0 down12.6 down10.7 down4.14 down3.59 206 Strong
KAZAN JSC ORGANICHESKY SINTEZ
INN 1658008723 The Republic of Tatarstan
Manufacture of plastics and synthetic resins in primary forms
up75.4 down72.0 down18.2 down15.2 down1.82 down1.42 127 High
JSC ACRON
INN 5321029508 Novgorod region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
down50.2 up54.8 down11.1 down7.6 down1.71 up2.17 206 Strong
JSC NIZHNEKAMSKNEFTEKHIM
INN 1651000010 The Republic of Tatarstan
Manufacture synthetic rubber in primary forms
up153.4 up162.1 down25.1 down23.7 down1.54 down1.35 134 High
JSC URALKALI
INN 5911029807 Perm territory
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
down131.3 up135.7 up66.3 down40.8 down0.97 down0.72 189 High
JSC TOGLIATTIAZOT
INN 6320004728 Samara region
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
down44.3 down42.2 down1.3 down0.8 down0.65 down0.62 199 High
JSC UNITED CHEMICAL COMPANY URALCHEM
INN 7703647595 Moscow
Manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds
In process of reorganization in the form of merger of other legal entities since 13.07.2018
up59.9 up62.3 up42.1 down-13.7 down-0.97 down-1.09 273 Medium
Total for TOP-10 companies down713.0 up726.7 up196.5 down106.0    
Average industrial value for TOP -10 companies down71.3 up72.7 up19.7 down10.6 down2.63 down2.20
Average industrial value down0.4 n/a up0.07 n/a down2.19 n/a

Up — growth of indicator in comparison with prior period, Up — decline of indicator in comparison with prior period.

The average value of equity turnover ratio of TOP-10 companies is above the industry average. In 2017, only one company from TOP-10 list demonstrated the growth of the ratio.

Picture 1. Equity turnover ratio and revenue of the largest Russian enterprises of chemical sector (TOP-10) Picture 1. Equity turnover ratio and revenue of the largest Russian enterprises of chemical sector (TOP-10)

The industry average values of the equity turnover ratio have decreasing tendency over the past ten years (Picture 2).

Picture 2. Change in the average industry values of the equity turnover ratio of largest Russian enterprises of chemical sector (in 2007 – 2016) Picture 2. Change in the average industry values of the equity turnover ratio of largest Russian enterprises of chemical sector (in 2007 – 2016)