RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Canpotex, a company that exports potash from Canada’s two largest mining companies, has informed Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina that it intends to increase its sales to Brazil beyond the current volume of 4 million tons per year, the ministry said Tuesday.
The minister is in Canada to ensure better supply to Brazil, the world’s largest importer of fertilizers. The mission is taking place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and economic sanctions against key producers such as Belarus and Russia, which are major exporters of potash and other raw materials to the Brazilians.
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“We are continuing discussions with various suppliers so that our agriculture continues to ensure food security for Brazil and the entire world,” the minister said, according to a ministry statement.
According to the statement, Tereza Cristina also met with the presidents of Brasil Potash, Gensource, Nutrien, and Fertilizer Canada, as well as with Canadian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Paul Samson.
During the meetings, the minister spoke about the importance of potassium for food production in Brazil, which imports about 95% of the total consumption of this commodity.
“For Brazil to continue to expand its food supply and contribute to global food security, we need an adequate supply of these commodities,” he said.
In addition to maintaining and expanding fertilizer trade, the minister urged companies to consider investing in projects in Brazil, which last week launched a national fertilizer plan to reduce foreign dependence from 85 percent to 45 percent by 2050.
Currently, Brazil is the world’s fourth-largest consumer of fertilizer, with a share of about 8%.