Total sales (net of excise tax, VAT and customs duties) increased by RUB 234,854 million, or 6%, to RUB 4,007,522 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. More detailed information on our sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is presented in the table below.
Net sales of gas decreased by RUB 39,981 million, or by 2%, to RUB 2,084,404 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 net sales of gas to Europe and other countries increased by RUB 2,775 million, or 0%, to RUB 1,227,090 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This change was primarily due to an increase in average prices in RUB terms (including customs duties) by 3%, which was partially compensated by the decrease in volumes of gas sold by 3%, or 4.3 bcm.
Net sales of gas to FSU countries increased by RUB 15,237 million, or 5%, to RUB 304,952 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The change was due to an increase in average prices in RUB terms (including customs duties) by 20% and a decrease in volumes of gas sold by 13%, or 5.5 bcm.
Net sales of gas in the domestic market increased by RUB 15,437 million, or 3%, to RUB 552,362 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This is primarily explained by the increase in the average domestic price for gas by 11%, which was partially compensated by the decrease in volumes of gas sold by 8%, or 12.9 bcm.
Net sales of refined products increased by RUB 224,419 million, or 22%, to RUB 1,226,510 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013 due to an increase in volumes sold by Gazprom neft Group to customers in the Russian Federation as well as by an increase in prices.
Net electric and heat energy sales increased by RUB 40,969 million, or 16%, to RUB 291,941 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was mainly driven by inclusion of OAO Moscow Integrated Power Company (OAO MIPC) in the consolidated financial statements from September 2013.
Operating expenses increased by RUB 421,983 million, or 16%, to RUB 3,018,824 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
The major factor leading to an increase in operating expenses was an increase in charge for impairment provisions by RUB 104,506 million, or 308%. Such an increase was mainly driven by accrual of provision for doubtful trade accounts receivable of NAK Naftogaz Ukraine in the amount of RUB 83,927 million.
Furthermore, the increase in operating expenses was influenced by the item «Taxes other than on income», which increased by RUB 53,138 million, or 10%. The increase was mainly caused by the dynamics of mineral extraction tax rate.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2014 profit for the period attributable to owners of OAO Gazprom totaled RUB 556,254 million which is RUB 302,519 million, or 35%, lower compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Net debt balance (defined as the sum of short-term borrowings, current portion of long-term borrowings, short-term promissory notes payable, long-term borrowings, long-term promissory notes payable, net of cash and cash equivalents and balances of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal under the terms of certain borrowings and other contractual obligations) increased by RUB 152,329 million, or 14%, from RUB 1,112,798 million as of December 31, 2013 to RUB 1,265,127 million as of September 30, 2014. This increase resulted from depreciation of Russian Ruble against U.S. dollar and Euro that was partially offset by increase in cash and cash equivalents.
В филиале «ЛуТЭК» началась ремонтная кампания 2015 г.