EAST DUBUQUE, Ill. — The parent company of an East Dubuque nitrogen fertilizer facility reported increased sales and net income in the final quarter of 2021 compared to the previous year.

CVR Partners this week reported net sales of $189 million and net income of $61 million for the fourth quarter. That compared to net sales of $90 million and a net loss of $17 million during the same period last year.

Mark Pytosh, CEO of CVR Partners, said in a press release that pricing continued to strengthen in the fourth quarter.

“We expect the momentum to continue into the spring 2022 planting season,” Pytosh said. “With grain prices near multi-year highs and crop inventory levels near multi-year lows, farmer economics remain very attractive.”

The company also announced a fourth-quarter cash distribution of $5.24 per common unit, to be paid March 14 to unitholders of record as of March 7.