Brazil has called for fertilizers to be excluded from the list of sanctions currently imposed as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing fighting. Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Costa Dias addressing a virtual meeting of peers from countries of the Americas, including the United States, pointed out limiting or banning fertilizer trade has a direct impact on farming productivity, food availability, boosts food prices and threatens food security, mainly among the most vulnerable countries.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning to invest an initial sum of US$250 million for the production of fertilizers in the country. USDA said the goal is the reduction of input costs, which have been strongly affected by the sanctions imposed on Russia, (a leading global supplier) and stimulate competition in the US.
Mercosur country members plus associate Chile and Bolivia (in the process of joining the block) want fertilizers excluded from the list of sanctions on Russia, according to Brazilian Agriculture minister Tereza Cristina da Costa Dias.
Agricultural power Brazil faced with an insufficient stable supply of fertilizers for its farmers, and given the current volatility of international prices because of the war in Ukraine has made public the goals of its National Fertilizer Plan, which includes some sharing with Mercosur partners.
Brazil will be launching this month an ambitious national plan to stimulate investment in the country's fertilizer industry, cutting on foreign dependency now worsened by the Ukrainian war and shipping difficulties.
Brazil has imported record volumes of fertilizers during the first half of the year, some 14,1 million tons, an increase of 14% over the same period last year. The data was released by GlobalFert a specialized portal and points out June as the month with the highest volume.