March 25, 2025
Ameropa Reflects on a Challenging and Transformative 2024
- Sales decreased by 17.9% to CHF 6.3 billion.
- Group result affected by low fertilizer production suffering from high European gas prices
- Ameropa Foundation looks back on successful transformation of a Brazilian community
Despite a challenging market environment in 2024, Swiss agricommodity group Ameropa, took important steps to strengthen its business for the future.
Sales decreased by 17.9% year-on-year, from CHF 7.7 billion to CHF 6.3 billion. This was partially driven by volume decline of 5.5% but also in line with the continuing trend of decreasing price levels for grains and oilseeds, down from peak levels seen in 2022-2023.
Most notably, Ameropa faced significant operational challenges in its Romanian fertilizer plant Azomures, due to the ongoing energy crisis in Europe. European gas prices more than doubled from Q1 to Q4 and remained as much as 10 times higher than in most global areas of fertilizer production. This made it impossible for Azomures to operate consistently, which, in turn, brought substantial headwinds to the Group results.
The Grains & Oilseeds Division also faced challenges due to severe drought in Southeast Europe, which significantly reduced crop yields and impacted both volumes purchased and exported. The corn crop alone declined 35% compared to the previous year while at the same time local costs increased substantially by the introduction of a 1% sales tax in Romania. Other trade within the Division – including South Africa, West Africa and Asia – all saw solid results.
Despite the challenges in Romania, Ameropa’s Fertilizer Division remained resilient, navigating volatile markets to serve customers and suppliers worldwide to maintain a market-leading position. In Australia in particular, favourable weather for agriculture helped drive a strong return to profitability in its East Coast distribution channel.
Internally, 2024 marked an important leadership transition for Ameropa with the appointment of Josh Zacharias, a member of the fourth generation of shareholders, as Group CEO. Ameropa also re-organized its structure at the end of the year into two primary Divisions – ‘Fertilizers’ and ‘Grains & Oilseeds’ – which is expected to bring streamlined supply channels and greater agility in dynamic markets. This new structure will also be supported by the modernization of Ameropa’s IT systems, which made substantial progress in 2024 and targets to have a new global system in place by January 2026.
Furthermore, along with the residents of Mãe Luiza in Natal, Brazil, the Ameropa Foundation celebrated the ten-year anniversary of Arena Do Morro on 22 March 2024, bringing together 400 attendees to mark a decade of impactful community change; Violence in the neighborhood has significantly decreased, and today, Mãe Luiza has transformed into a vibrant community of about 16,000 inhabitants, recognized as a model for surrounding favelas.
The Ameropa Foundation also participated in eight different projects throughout Romania and continued its projects in Uganda', notably continuing to support the Kamwokya Tresor Life Centre, a community centre and playground, located in Uganda’s capital Kampala.
While challenges continue, Ameropa remains committed to delivering reliably for its customers, partners, and communities.
About Ameropa
Ameropa is a Swiss agricommodity group with operations spanning the entire value chain from production to trading and distribution. Founded in 1948, it is a family-run company that values long-term relationships and traditions while embracing new ideas. Ameropa is committed to being a reliable partner in the agricultural industry with a global vision for sustainable growth.
Further information:
Andreas Zivy
andreas.zivy@ameropa.com
Phone +41 61 307 50 25