Brazil's Açu exports Eurochem's Salitre phosphate rock

: Fertilizers
23/01/16

Russia-based fertilizer producer Eurochem is exporting 22,000 metric tonnes (t) of Serra do Salitre's phosphate rock via the Açu port, in Rio de Janeiro state.

That is the first time Açu exports phosphate rock to Europe.

The export process is part of an agreement between Eurochem and Açu, according to Joao Braz, the port's director of terminals and logistics.

The cargo is heading to Antwerp port, in Belgium, in a deal between Eurochem Brazil and Eurochem Belgium, according to a source heard by Argus. The phosphate rock beneficiated in Brazil may be used as raw material in Eurochem's European units.

The agreement between Eurochem and Açu foresees more cargoes to be exported until mid-2024. Açu port expects volumes through the Açu-Antwerp logistics corridor to reach 100,000t-130,000t in 2023.

The arrangement reinforces Açu's strategy of expanding its fertilizer operations. The port has "a proven logistical flow and the support of municipal and state governments" and "can operate several loads of fertilizers," Braz said.

Açu port has made Rio de Janeiro a relevant state for Brazil's fertilizer sector since 2020. To meet the terminal's growing demand, the port will triple its Multicargo Terminal's static storage capacity by opening two new warehouses in the first half of 2023. Today, the Multicargo Terminal has one warehouse with static capacity of 25,000t and will soon have three warehouses with 75,000t of covered static capacity. The new warehouses will bring an additional operational capacity of 500,000 t/yr and 550,000 t/yr for copper concentrate and fertilizers, respectively.

Eurochem phosphate rock was beneficiated in the Serra do Salitre project — in Brazil's Minas Gerais state — which was bought by the firm in February 2022. The mine and the phosphate rock beneficiation plant are operating, while fertilizer production is expected to begin in 2024. The Russian firm expects the facility's annual capacity to reach 1mn t of MAP/NP and TSP/SSP.

Phosphate rock is a main raw material for phosphate fertilizer production. Brazil imported 1.9mn t of phosphate rock in 2022, mainly from Peru, Egypt and Morocco, each accounting for around 50pc, 18pc and 14pc, respectively. That is a 6pc increase from 2021 imports, which totaled 1.8mn t. Brazil exported almost 722,200t of phosphate rock in 2022, mostly to Paraguay, up by more than seven times from the almost 100,600t exported in 2021.

By Renata Cardarelli

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