Brazil ‘guaranteed’ fertilizers until early 2023, says Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said Tuesday (31) that fertilizer supplies for Brazil are “guaranteed” until early 2023.

The statement was made during the president’s visit to the agribusiness technology fair “Bahia Farm Show” in the municipality of Luis Eduardo Magalhaes in Bahia. Also present at the event was former Minister of Citizenship João Roma (PL).

The President spoke again about his negotiations with the Kremlin on Russian fertilizers. “A few weeks ago I negotiated with the Russian President on the supply of fertilizers to our Brazil, this happened last week. Almost 30 ships have docked here, fertilizers for our crops until the beginning of next year is guaranteed,” Bolsonaro said.

The problems Brazil faces, he said, can also be seen in the rest of the world, such as food and fuel inflation.

The agricultural industry has been watching the development of the war between Russia and Ukraine with concern. In March of this year, importers of fertilizers, which are the main inputs for sale in Brazil, already reported an increase in the order of US$100 per ton.

The increase is directly related to the war in Ukraine. Russia, one of the world’s most important fertilizer suppliers, has been the target of embargoes because of the invasion in the neighboring country.

The sanctions have not yet reached fertilizers, but they are hindering payments. In addition, the country has suspended new exports on the grounds that the war has impeded the logistics of production flow.

Brazil depends on imports and gets about 20% of the fertilizer it uses from Russia. Another sanctioned country, Belarus, is also one of the main national suppliers. Imported inputs account for about 80% of Brazil’s consumption.