Itafos inativa fábrica de fertilizantes no Tocantins

: Fertilizers
19/11/25

A produtora canadense de fertilizantes fosfatados Itafos interromperá a produção em sua unidade com capacidade de 500.000t/ano em Arraias, no Tocantins, suspendendo os planos de transição da instalação para produzir insumos com maior valor agregado.

A decisão é tomada no momento em que os preços globais de fertilizantes continuam a cair para níveis muito baixos para sustentar a produção, disse o executivo-chefe interino da Itafos, Mhamed Ibnabdeljalil, em nota. Nos portos brasileiros, os preços do MAP 11-52 renovaram o menor nível da série histórica do indicador da Argus semanalmente em novembro. O indicador está em $293-295/t cfr.

A menor produção ajudará a empresa a gerenciar esse ciclo de preços enquanto o conselho avalia opções estratégicas para o negócio, disse Ibnabdeljalil. A empresa já havia desativado as minas dos locais, a barragem de rejeitos e a planta de beneficiamento no segundo trimestre de 2019.

A Itafos já havia começado este ano a modernizar a instalação para otimizar a produção de fertilizantes acabados com um portfólio de multiprodutos de superfosfato simples de grau superior (SSP), SSP com micronutrientes (SSP+) e compostos PK premium.

A Itafos Arraias adquiriu e processou rochas fosfáticas de alto grau de terceiros durante 2019, incluindo a celebração de um contrato plurianual de fornecimento de rochas fosfáticas do grupo marroquino OCP.

A empresa informou que continuará mantendo todas as licenças e autorizações da unidade em conformidade e cumprindo os regulamentos.

A Itafos vendeu os primeiros volumes de seu projeto Arraias no Brasil durante o segundo semestre de 2018. As vendas de Arraias renderam $25,6 milhões no ano passado. Do total, as vendas de SSP puro somaram $16,5 milhões, as vendas de SSP com micronutrientes chegaram a $3,6 milhões e as vendas de ácido sulfúrico foram de $5,4 milhões.

A empresa forneceu para a região centro-oeste do Brasil - o principal centro consumidor de fertilizantes - e para o Matopiba, que possui a maior taxa de crescimento anual do consumo no Brasil.

Por Kauanna Navarro

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25/12/18

Indian local urea sales on track for record in December

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CBAM documents outline preliminary ammonia values

25/12/17

CBAM documents outline preliminary ammonia values

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Mosaic halts SSP production in Brazil

25/12/16

Mosaic halts SSP production in Brazil

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Mosaic pauses Esterhazy potash mining after fatality

25/12/15

Mosaic pauses Esterhazy potash mining after fatality

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US-Belarus potash trade may soften MOP pricing outlook

25/12/15

US-Belarus potash trade may soften MOP pricing outlook

London, 15 December (Argus) — Potash trade between the US and Belarus is set to be reinstated after an absence of almost four years, following the lifting of US sanctions on Belarusian potash on 13 December with immediate effect — a move that could soften the outlook for global MOP prices as supply options increase. The relationship between the US and Belarus had started to ease earlier this year when Belarus agreed to release 52 political detainees from its prisons in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions on Belarusian flagship airline Belavia in September. This limited rapprochement generated talk among market participants of the possibility of a further lifting of US sanctions on Belarus, which could affect Belarusian potash. US sanctions on Belarusian potash , which is produced by state-owned Belaruskali and marketed by BPC, have been in place since 2021. But the announcement over the weekend has largely caught the market by surprise. 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Belarusian MOP has not touched US soil since February 2022, but in 2017-21 an average of 635,000 t/yr of Belarusian MOP was brought into the country. This policy change also comes just days after US president Donald Trump claimed he could impose severe tariffs on Canadian fertilizer imports, and the return of trade with Belarus may be used as leverage for the US in the current tariff war between the two countries. But the US will not be able to replace all of the 11mn-12mn t/yr of Canadian potash it needs with Belarusian product. It is also in line with Trump's strategy to secure the country's critical minerals needs. Trump included potash in the administration's list of American critical minerals this year and ordered the US government to fast-track permit reviews for critical minerals projects . The importance of potash was also highlighted when the White House spared a number of potassium-based fertilizer products — MOP, SOP, NOP, NPK and magnesium sulphate — from a raft of tariffs imposed earlier this year. In the US domestic market, traders appear largely unfazed by the new development. There have been strong MOP imports this year and there are currently healthy inventories of MOP across the Corn Belt. Additional volumes from Belarus could oversupply the market, pressuring prices downwards at a time when potash is already the most affordable nutrient domestically. But it is likely to take some time for Belarus to regain market share as it is possible that some companies may self-sanction against Belarusian potash — similar to companies self-sanctioning against Russian potash — while suppliers currently find prices in the US unattractive at $305-310/st fob Nola and alternative markets such as Brazil are providing a better netback, which could deter Belarus from promptly returning to the US market. Potash suppliers often switch between the US and Brazil, depending on which market is paying a premium. Moreover, the administrative processes to facilitate the return of Belarusian trade in the US will also likely take some time to be implemented. What's in it for Belarus? Belarusian potash is one of the most important commodities for the Belarusian economy and provides the country with a major source of foreign revenue. Following sanctions, Belarusian MOP practically disappeared from the global potash market in 2022. 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Without access to the US and EU markets, Belarus has leaned heavily on markets such as Brazil, China and southeast Asia, often pricing aggressively to maintain market share. The reopening of US trade offers a chance to reduce dependence on these regions. The lifting of the sanctions will also make it significantly easier for companies to trade Belarusian potash around the world, except in the EU and the UK, where sanctions remain on Belarus. Importers that had previously stopped taking Belarusian MOP may now be open to trading with Belarus again. By having an additional supply option, buyers may find they have a stronger negotiating position with existing suppliers, which could put downward pressure on prices. Conversely, markets where Belarus has a strong presence could see a reduction of Belarusian volumes if product shifts toward the US, potentially making those regions less competitive. The policy change also comes at a time when Belarusian MOP capacity is increasing capacity, with the 2mn t/yr Nezhinsky MOP project scheduled for commissioning in the second quarter of 2026, and underscores Belarus' commitment to continue growing its footprint in the global potash market. By Julia Campbell and Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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