ST. PETERSBURG, October 31 - RAPSI. The hearing of the lawsuit by Metahim, a major chemical producer, against PhosAgro AG and Apatit, PhosAgro's unit, has been adjourned until November 25. The claimant demands to provide the required raw materials supplies.

Metahim has been controlled by SevZapProm since 2004 and is a part of the Metallurg holding. It produces sulfuric acid, sodium tripolyphosphate as well as potassium carbonate.

In the winter of 2011, Apatit reduced supplying apatite concentrate to Metahim. Metahim's management said that this could result in the reduction of personnel. It added that about 1,400 employees were under threat of losing their jobs if it did not enter into a long-term contract on the supplies of raw materials with PhosAgro.

Metahim filed the lawsuits with the St. Petersburg Commercial Court against PhosAgro AG and Apatit. In June the case was submitted to the Murmansk Region Commercial Court.

Metahim also submitted a complaint to the Federal Antimonopoly Service stating that Apatit intentionally avoided the supplies contract. However, the watchdog concluded in March that Apatit did not violate the antitrust law.