Outokumpu announced that from January 1st, 2018, its ferrochromium business would be separated from the European business section and managed as a separate section. Its business segment would consist of four major segments, including Europe, the Americas, Long Products and Ferrochromium, and its business transparency would also increase accordingly. Ferrochromium operations, including Kemi's chrome ore and ferrochromium production, as an integral part of Outokumpu's core business that provided Outokumpu for better competitive advantage. In the first three quarters of 2017, sales of ferrochromium reached €458 million, up from €371 million in 2016, that of €354 million was made to intra-group sales. Gross operating profit (EBITDA) for the first three quarters reached €161 million euros, up from €80 million compared with the same period of last year.