The first-quarter investment totalled CZK 1 billion. The investment went primarily into the boiler house construction for the steam cracker in Litvínov, the boiler house in Neratovice and into the development and modernisation of the Benzina network, especially into the development of the Stop Café concept.

“We were successful in the retail segment where we are witnessing ongoing growth. We have expanded the number of filling stations in the Czech Republic and entered the Slovak market where we eventually want to become one of the important players,” says Krzysztof Zdziarski, Chief Executive Officer of Unipetrol, adding: “The financial results were affected by the adverse macroeconomic situation, just as we had expected. Although we managed to increase the volume of products sold in year-on-year terms, high purchase prices of crude-oil and low margins had a fundamental impact on our results.“

The volume of processed oil amounted to 1.8 million tonnes. Unipetrol’s refinery capacities were utilised to 86%; in the petrochemical segment, it was at 88%. Sales volumes of refinery products amounted to 1.48 million tonnes and of petrochemical products to 450 thousand tonnes.

In the retail segment, Unipetrol continued investing in the modernisation of the Benzina network of filling stations, development of the refreshments concept, Stop Cafe, which is currently available at 276 out of 412 stations. In the first quarter of the year, Unipetrol opened three new outlets in the Czech Republic: two operated stations – in Kadaň in northern Bohemia and in Bantice in southern Bohemia, and one express, self-service filling station on the premises of the Olympia shopping mall in Brno. Unipetrol thus further strengthened the leading position of the Benzina brand in the Czech market and increased its market share to 23.4% (as at 31 January 2019).

Unipetrol Group’s Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (CZK million)