Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
A RUSSIAN agrochemical producer PhosAgro has recorded an increase in exports to 8,7 million tonnes with exports in nitrogen-based mineral fertiliser recording 6,5 percent growth and feed phosphate recorded 8,7 percent growth in 2023.
In a statement, PhosAgro chief executive officer Mr Mikhail Rybnikov said although they are still consolidating the final figures from all production sites, they are confident that they have set a new record in terms of agrochemical production.
He said the company invested a record amount this year in development and modernisation (including major overhauls) and next year he said they are planning to raise this bar by another 13 percent to rub 73 billion.
He said in accordance with the company’s comprehensive Development Strategy to 2025, these funds will be used both to develop unique ore and raw material base and to expand and upgrade the capacities of the facilities, which produce 57 grades of mineral fertilizers that are very popular among Russian farmers and in 100 countries around the world, on every inhabited continent.
“Our preliminary data also shows that exports increased to 8,7 million tonnes, with exports of nitrogen-based mineral fertilizers growing by 6,5 percent; and feed phosphates, by 8,7 percent.
“Our main sales markets remain in the global South: Latin America, Asia and Africa. In addition, we redirected about 1 million tonnes of exports previously sent to India and other Asian countries to Latin America during the year,” said Mr Rybnikov.
“This was driven by recovery in demand from Brazil and a more favourable pricing and logistics environment in Latin America as a whole. We continued to ramp up exports to Africa, exceeding 550 thousand tonnes in 2023.”
He said the company enjoyed a sharp increase, 18 percent, in exports to CIS countries.
Friendly States accounted for nearly 75 percent of all exports in 2023, up from 70 percent in 2022.
Mr Rybnikov added that as a result of self-imposed local sanctions, exports to countries in Northern and Eastern Europe as well as the Baltic states effectively stopped.
At the same time, shipments to Southern and Western Europe as well as the Balkans increased.
Total exports to Europe remained in the range of 2 million tonnes the same as in 2022 (but a third less than in previous years, when exports to Europe reached 2, 8–3 million tonnes).
In 2023, PhosAgro introduced both new products and new services to the domestic market, such as soil testing for agrochemicals and they began providing farmers with crop protection agents and domestic seeds for crop breeding from our partners.
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