Key products
The Group classifies mineral fertilizers as nitrogen (single-component) fertilizers and compound fertilizers, the latter including at least two of the following key components: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K).
Nitrogen fertilizers
Nitrogen fertilizers are substances or mixtures of substances where nitrogen is the primary plant nutrient. The Group’s product range includes a number of nitrogen fertilizers: urea, nitrate fertilizers (including ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, UAN), nitrogen-sulfur fertilizers (obtained by blending fertilizers in the manufacturing process: ammonium sulfate nitrate, solid and liquid mixtures of urea and ammonium sulfate, and ammonium sulfate). Natural gas is the key feedstock for the production of nitrogen fertilizers.
Urea − a nitrogen fertilizer containing 46% nitrogen; it is produced in Puławy (PULREA®, PULGRAN®), Police (mocznik.pl®), and Kędzierzyn. Urea is a universal fertilizer – it can be used for all crops at various growth stages, both in solid state and as a solution. Outside agriculture, urea is used for technical purposes, mainly for manufacturing of adhesive resins, which find application in the chipboard industry. Urea may also be further processed into urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN − RSM®), a liquid fertilizer, or into melamine.
Nitrate fertilizers
- Ammonium nitrate is a nitrogen fertilizer easily soluble in water, containing between 30% and 34% of nitrogen. The Group offers a wide variety of the product in various granule forms and sizes, such as mechanically granulated ZAKsan® manufactured in Kędzierzyn, with excellent sowing properties; the PULAN® beaded ammonium nitrate from Puławy; or 30 makro” ammonium nitrate manufactured in Tarnów.
- Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) is a nitrogen fertilizer with nitrogen content of up to 28%. It is a universal fertilizer, suitable for all types of soil, well soluble and easily absorbed by crops. The Group markets CAN in a number of granule varieties. The offering includes granulated Salmag® fertilizers (including varieties with a sulfur or boron content), manufactured in Kędzierzyn; or bead fertilizers, such as Saletrzak 27 (CAN 27) standard or Saletrzak 27 with boron.
- Urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN-RSM®) is a liquid nitrogen fertilizer coming in three varieties: with 32%, 30% and 28% nitrogen content. Thanks to its form, UAN–RSM® is easily absorbed by plants. It is also produced with an admixture of sulfur, as UAN–RSM®S.
Nitrogen-sulfur fertilizers
These fertilizers improve sulfur content in the soil, enhance arable crops’ ability to absorb nitrogen, and thus increase the quality and volume of crops.
- Ammonium sulfate is a simple nitrogen fertilizer with sulfur, containing 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur. It is a by-product in the manufacture of caprolactam and in flue gas desulfurisation processes. The Group offers a wide range of ammonium sulfate in various granule forms and sizes: selection, macro, standard, and crystalline.
- Saletrosan®, or ammonium sulphate nitrate, is a nitrogen fertilizer with sulfur, obtained by blending ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. It contains 26% nitrogen and 13% sulfur.
- Polifoska® 21 is a nitrogen fertilizer with sulfur; it is an ammonium sulfate-urea mix, containing 21% nitrogen and 33% sulfur.
- PULASKA® is a liquid nitrogen fertilizer with sulfur; it is obtained by blending urea and ammonium sulfate, and has a 20% nitrogen and a 6% sulfur content.
- PULGRAN®S – urea-ammonium sulfate, is a nitrogen fertilizer in the form of white hemispherical pastilles, obtained by blending urea and ammonium sulfate. It is manufactured in two varieties: 37% nitrogen/21% sulfur and 33% nitrogen/31% sulfur.
Compound fertilizers (NPK, NP)
NPK and NP compound fertilizers are universal fertilizers which, depending on composition, can be applied to various types of crops and soil. Aside from the primary components (nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K)), these fertilizers contain secondary nutrients such as magnesium, sulfur or calcium, and may contain microelements such as boron or zinc.
Compound fertilizers may be used to provide nutrients to all types of arable crops. The Group’s current offering includes more than 40 varieties of compound fertilizers, which are marketed under the following trade names: Polifoska®, Polidap®, Polimag® Super Fos Dar 40™, Amofoska®, etc. The Group also offers dedicated fertilizers, custom-made to satisfy customers’ specific requirements.
Phosphorites (phosphate rock) − feedstock for the manufacturing of compound fertilizers, naturally occurring in various parts of the globe. Phosphate rock is a sedimentary rock containing phosphate-bearing minerals which, after being extracted and beneficiated, are used mainly to produce phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid thus obtained is an intermediate product used to manufacture compound fertilizers (NP and NPK).
Ammonia − feedstock for the manufacture of fertilizers, produced in a process of direct synthesis of nitrogen and hydrogen. Ammonia is the basic intermediate product used to manufacture nitrogen fertilizers and compound fertilizers. It is also used in the chemical industry, e.g. for the manufacturing of caprolactam or polymers, or as a cooling agent. Natural gas is the key feedstock for the production of ammonia.
PLASTICS
Engineering plastics
Engineering plastics exhibit high thermal resistance and good mechanical properties. The wide range of the plastics’ properties makes them a product of choice for many industries, including automotive, construction, electrical engineering, household appliances, and the food and textile industries.
The Group manufactures polyamide 6 (PA6) and modified plastics (with admixtures affecting the physical and chemical properties of the final plastics) based on polyamide 6 and other engineering plastics (POM, PP, PBT, PA6.6). It also offers modified plastics, custom-made to meet customers’ specific requirements.
Polyamide 6 (PA6) is a high-quality thermoplastic in granular form used for injection processing. It is the leading product among engineering plastics. The Group’s very popular brands in this segment are Tarnamid® and Alphalon®.
Caprolactam
Caprolactam is an organic chemical compound and an intermediate product used for the manufacture of polyamide 6 (PA6). It is produced mainly from benzene and phenol. Synthesis of caprolactam yields ammonium sulfate as a by-product.
CHEMICALS
OXO products
This product group comprises OXO alcohols, plasticizers, and aldehydes.
OXO alcohols
Among OXO alcohols, the leading product is 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH), used as a semi-product for a number of processes, including esterification, manufacture of acrylates and fuel additives. They are also used in the paint and varnish industry. Other OXO alcohols manufactured by the Group include n-Butanol and Isobutanol.
Plasticizers
Plasticizers represent an important product group. Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A. manufactures three types of plasticizers marketed under the following trade names: Oxoviflex® (DEHT), Oxoplast Medica® (DEHP), Oxoplast® O (DEHP) and Oxoplast® PH (DPHP). They are used in the construction and automotive industries, as well as for the manufacturing of footwear, cables, wires, packaging, and medical products. The Group’s flagship plasticizer a is non-phthalate plasticizer DEHT (DOTP), marketed as Oxoviflex®.
The OXO complex also manufactures aldehydes used as semi-products for the production of OXO alcohols. The product offering for third-party customers includes n-butyric aldehyde and isobutyl aldehyde.
The OXO segment also manufactures hydrogen and octanol F used as a flotation agent.
Sulfur
The product offered by Grupa Azoty SIARKOPOL is mined sulfur. Sulfur is mainly used to produce sulfuric acid, whose primary application at the Group is the manufacture of DAP (a two-component fertilizer). Sulfur is offered in various forms, including liquid and granulated sulfur. For the Group’s needs, sulfur is also purchased from other suppliers who obtain it as a by-product from flue gas desulfurisation or crude oil refining.
Melamine
It is a non-toxic, non-flammable product in the form of a white powder, used for the production of synthetic resins, thermosetting plastics, adhesives, paints, varnishes (including furnace varnishes), auxiliary materials for the textile industry, fire retardants, and other.