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In addition to Russia, which is at war, who are the other suppliers of fertilizers to Brazilian agriculture?

Written by Junior Aguiar
Published 08/03/2022 às 08:08
Updated 25/03/2023 às 10:00
Unigel Petrobras Fertilizer Factory
Unigel Agro Fertilizer Factory: Source: Disclosure

The concern among Brazilian farmers in relation to the purchase of fertilizers for planting the 22/23 crop only grows, as the main origin of the inputs used in Brazilian crops is Russia.

Europe is experiencing yet another chapter involving armed conflict between countries in its history. In addition to the deaths of soldiers and civilians, with no end in sight, the war between Russia and Ukraine triggers a series of problems in the global economy, affecting nations that have nothing to do with the fight in Eastern Europe. On the other side of the continent, Brazil, for example, is already threatened by a lack of fertilizer supply, as agriculture depends on Russian suppliers.

About 80% of the fertilizers or chemical fertilizers used in Brazilian agriculture are imported, and a good part of the products are from suppliers in Russia (about 23%), a country that has been suffering economic sanctions for promoting the war against the Ukrainians.

Brazil's dependence on fertilizers imported from other nations contradicts the fact that our country is a world power in agricultural production.

According to the Ministry of Economy, in 2021 alone, Brazilian agricultural producers purchased 41,6 million tons of the input, totaling US$ 15,1 billion.

Values ​​are high. They could be minimized if there were domestic production, but Petrobras has not been involved in the fertilizer market since 2016, when it sold its fertilizer factories.

The last sale was precisely to the Russians. The negotiation has gone through some imbroglios over the last few years, but should be completed by the middle of the year, from the Planalto Palace, even with the state of war that Russia is facing.

In addition, there is a lack of infrastructure for the disposal of what would be produced. Therefore, in view of this context, it is evident that the country is under pressure on agriculture and the supply of fertilizers is compromised.

Check the ranking of chemical fertilizer suppliers to Brazil by continent

Europe is the continent with the most fertilizer supplying countries for Brazil, with 22 economies. Russia is in first place overall and Ukraine in the last position among the partners of the old continent.

The Asian continent is the second with the most countries that sell fertilizers to Brazil, followed by Africa. It draws attention that the our neighbors of South America, together, do not reach 2%. Check out the details below:

Countries of Europe that sell fertilizers to Brazil

  1. Russia: 23%
  2. Belarus: 3,4%
  3. Germany: 2,8%
  4. Netherlands: 1,5%
  5. Norway and Belgium: 0,92%
  6. Finland: 0,63%
  7. Spain: 0,60%
  8. Lithuania: 0,30%
  9. United Kingdom: 0,20%
  10. Poland and Koveite: 0,16%
  11. Italy: 0,12%
  12. Turkey: 0,089%
  13. Georgia: 0,036%
  14. Ireland: 0,027%
  15. France: 0,017%
  16. Sweden: 0,010%
  17. Portugal: 0,0093%
  18. Czech Republic: 0,0053%
  19. Slovakia: 0,0025%
  20. Serbia: 0,0020%
  21. French Polynesia: 0,000068%
  22. Ukraine: 0,0000034%

Countries of Asia that sell fertilizers to Brazil

  1. China: 14%
  2. Oman: 3,2%
  3. Saudi Arabia: 3,1%
  4. Israel: 2,6%
  5. Jordan: 0,71%
  6. Turkmenistan: 0,55%
  7. Iran: 0,38%
  8. United Arab Emirates: 0,33%
  9. Azerbaijan: 0,30%
  10. Bahrain: 0,23%
  11. South Korea: 0,12%
  12. Indonesia: 0,0075%
  13. Singapore: 0,0062%
  14. India: 0,000022%

Countries of Africa that sell fertilizers to Brazil

  1. Morocco: 11%
  2. Qatar: 4,6%
  3. Algeria: 2,9%
  4. Nigeria: 2,6%
  5. Egypt: 1,9%
  6. Tunisia and Lebanon: 0,12%
  7. Senegal: 0,063%
  8. Libya: 0,040%

Countries of North America that sell fertilizers to Brazil

  1. Canada: 9,8%
  2. United States: 5,6%
  3. Dominican Republic: 0,000036%

Countries of South America that sell fertilizers to Brazil

  1. Chile: 0,64%
  2. Venezuela: 0,34%
  3. Bolivia: 0,25%
  4. Trinidad and Tobago: 0,088%
  5. Colombia: 0,064%
  6. Argentina: 0,021%
  7. Paraguay: 0,0084%
  8. Uruguay: 0,0078%

Countries of Central America that sell fertilizers to Brazil

  1. Mexico: 0,15%
  2. Guatemala: 0,022%

Australia accounts for 0,24% and is the only country in oceania in this ranking of international fertilizer suppliers. All data are from Comex Stat.

Main fertilizer companies in Brazil

  1. Bayer SA
  2. Adama Brasil SA
  3. Arysta Lifescience do Brasil IND. CHIM. AND AGROP. LTD
  4. Basf SA
  5. Binova Agro Industrial LTDA
  6. Brandt Agricultural Solutions Ltd.
  7. BRFértil SA
  8. Cibrafertil Brazilian Company of Fertilizers
  9. Fertgrow S/A
  10. Heringer SA
  11. Tocantins fertilizers
  12. FMC Chemicals of Brazil LTDA
  13. Haifa Chemicals of Brazil LTDA
  14. Inquima LTDA
  15. Life Agro do Brasil Commerce of Agricultural Inputs LTDA
  16. Mosaic Fertilizers do Brasil LTDA
  17. nortox SA
  18. Nutriplant Industria e Comercio Ltda
  19. Oxiquímica Agroscience LTDA
  20. Produtecnica Agroindustrial LTDA - EPP
  21. Rotam do Brasil Agroq. and Prods. Agricultural Ltd.
  22. Sipcam Nichino Brazil SA
  23. Stoller do Brasil LTDA
  24. Superbac Industria e Comercio de Fertilizantes SA
  25. Timac Agro Industria e Comercio de Fertilizantes LTDA
  26. TMF Indústria de Fertilizantes Inteligentes LTDA
  27. UPL do Brasil Ind e Com de Ins Agrop SA
  28. Vittia Fertilizantes e Biologicos SA
  29. Yara Brasil Fertilizante SA

The future of Brazilian agriculture and the new perspectives for importing and domestic production of fertilizers

Brazil has nothing to do with the war involving Russia and Ukraine, but the armed conflict in Eastern Europe exposed the problems of our economy regarding the production of fertilizers.

In order to no longer be dependent on Russia in importing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture are ready to go to Canada with the aim of expanding business involving these inputs.

Expectations for the announcement of the National Fertilizer Plan are also high. According to the ministry minister, Tereza Cristina, the program was already ready before the war and should be presented by the end of March.

Junior Aguiar

Journalist, graduated from the Catholic University of Pernambuco | Web content producer, analyst, strategist and communication enthusiast.

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