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Brazil's Pelotas port resumes operations

  • : Agriculture, Fertilizers
  • 24/05/21

Brazil's Pelotas port, one of the three main ports in flood-swept southern Rio Grande do Sul state, resumed operations on Tuesday.

Cargo handling had been suspended since the beginning of May as heavy rains hit the region in late April and caused the biggest flood in the history of the state.

The port of Rio Grande, the largest in the state and one of the most relevant for grains and fertilizers in Brazil, continues to operate normally. Rio Grande did not suspend operations at any time during the floods, but cargo handling slowed in recent weeks. For safety reasons, the port authority reduced the draft to 12.8 meters (42ft) at the Bunge, Bianchini and Termasa/Tergrasa terminals.

The port of Porto Alegre has suspended operations because Lake Guaiba's level is at 4m, 1m above its flood level, according to the state's civil defense.

There are 77 stretches of on 46 highways in Rio Grande do Sul totally or partially blocked, including roads, bridges and ferries.

Since the floods began, 464 cities have been impacted, affecting around 2.4mn people. The floods have left 161 people dead, 85 missing and over 581,600 people displaced.


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25/01/16

Brazil to face weaker La Nina conditions

Brazil to face weaker La Nina conditions

Sao Paulo, 16 January (Argus) — Many government agencies expect a weaker La Nina weather pattern in Brazil — partially because of its delayed start — that could help reverse damages from a previous droughtand boost hydroelectric power generation. La Nina conditions emerged a month later than expected, starting only in January, according to national meteorology institute Inmet. Its presence was confirmed by the US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and is 40pc likely to last until March-May. Delayed La Nina conditions and its weaker effects on Brazil's climate may be linked to the global average temperature hitting an all-time high in 2024 , according to the World Meteorological Organization. La Nina conditions develop when the surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler-than-average across the central and central-eastern regions. But global oceans have been running much warmer for more than a year, which could have delayed the phenomena, according to NOAA. Its usually causes heavier rains in Brazil's northern and northeastern regions, while central-southern states experience drier weather and heatwaves. Brazil, along with South America as a whole, has a history of droughts , agricultural losses , and higher ethanol prices in previous La Nina seasons, but the effects this year will be milder and potentially beneficial to industries in some regions. Agriculture Despite its conditions set to last throughout the first quarter of 2025, Brazil's 2024-25 crop is expected to hit a record 322.3mn metric tonnes (t), up from 297.8mn t in the previous crop, according to national supply company Conab. Still, most forecasts rely on previous favorable conditions during the development of the 2024-25 crop. The soybean crop is set to be 13pc higher than in 2023-24, reaching 166.33mn t. Corn also is expected to increase production, reaching 119.6mn, a 3.3pc rise from the previous crop. But previous dry weather and low precipitation harmed center-southern sugarcane producers, which are responsible for 91pc of the national sugarcane output. The 2024-25 sugarcane crop is forecast to reach 678.7mn t, a 4.8pc decline from the previous season, according to Conab. La Nina's conditions may recover some of the sugarcane crop this season. Northeastern sugarcane production, harmed by last year's drought, will face a period of heavy rains brought by the phenomenon in January. But the sugarcane crop is already projected to decline by 30pc from the previous crop regardless, according to northeastern sugarcane producers' association Unida. The last time La Nina hit Brazil, in 2020-23, roughly 40pc of the main center-south sugarcane crop was at risk from dry weather . Ethanol Ethanol production is set to increase by 1.3pc in 2024-25 from the previous season, according to Conab. Still, sugarcane ethanol is outlined to shrink by 2.8pc thanks to 2024's dry weather and wildfires in the southeast. Electricity La Nina's late arrival enabled the summer rainy period in Brazil. The main hydroelectric reservoirs recovered from last year's drought and will end this month above half of their capacity, according to national grid operator ONS. Regardless of La Nina's presence, most of the central-southern states are expected to have above-average rains in January-April, according to Inmet. Temperatures are also set to stay above the historical average in the central-western, southeastern, southern and northern states. By Maria Frazatto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil Potash, Keytrade sign potash offtake deal


25/01/16
25/01/16

Brazil Potash, Keytrade sign potash offtake deal

London, 16 January (Argus) — Brazilian fertilizer company Potassio do Brasil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada-based Brazil Potash, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss trading firm Keytrade to supply up to 1mn t/yr of potash from its Potassio Autazes project in Amazonas. Potassio do Brasil already has an existing offtake agreement with Brazilian agricultural firm Amaggi for about 500,000 t/yr. The Potassio Autazes project has a planned capacity of 2.4mn t/yr and began construction in September. It is expected to start operating in 2029. Potash from this project will be destined for the domestic market. Brazil currently imports about 96pc of its potash needs. By Julia Campbell Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Узбекистан начал поставлять карбамид в Бразилию


25/01/16
25/01/16

Узбекистан начал поставлять карбамид в Бразилию

Riga, 16 January (Argus) — Компания Uzkimyoimpeks в декабре приступила к контейнерным поставкам карбамида в направлении Бразилии. Первый блок-поезд с 54 сорокафутовыми контейнерами (по 28 т карбамида в каждом) компания отправила 11 декабря с терминала First Dry Port Terminal в Ташкенте. Состав с удобрениями производства компании Maxam-Chirchiq отправлен транзитом через Туркменистан и Азербайджан в направлении грузинского порта Поти. В Поти контейнеры планируется погрузить на морское судно для доставки в бразильский порт Паранагуа. Ожидается, что вся партия карбамида будет доставлена из Узбекистана в Бразилию в течение 60—70 дней. Из Узбекистана в Поти контейнеры планируется доставить за 20 дней, а морская перевозка займет 35—45 дней. До конца текущего года компания планирует вывезти в направлении Бразилии всего 108 контейнеров с карбамидом. Услуги по экспедированию контейнеров до конечного пункта оказывает компания First Dry Port Terminal, которая владеет терминалом для сухих грузов, площадью в размере 22 га в районе железнодорожной станции Сергели в Ташкенте. Станция оборудована восемью подъездными путями общей длиной 5,3 км. С данного терминала вывозится также минеральная продукция в направлении портов Латвии и Эстонии. Uzkimyoimpeks, дочерняя госкомпании Узкимесаноат, оператор экспортно-импортных операций химической продукции предприятий Maxam-Chirchiq, Аммофос-Максам и других производителей Узбекистана. ________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических обзоров рынка транспортировки грузов в странах Каспийского региона и Центральной Азии — в отчете Argus Транспорт Каспия . Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

India's domestic urea sales remain strong in 1H January


25/01/16
25/01/16

India's domestic urea sales remain strong in 1H January

Amsterdam, 16 January (Argus) — Indian urea sales likely hit 2.3mn-2.4mn t in the first half of this month, with domestic offtake remaining strong after record-high sales in December 2024. Sales to end-users were over 2.3mn t in the first half of January, latest provisional data show, indicating offtake for the month may exceed 4.5mn t. Urea sales were 3.54mn t in January 2024. Production is on track to reach around 2.5mn t this month, while urea inventories have slipped to around 5.5mn t as of 16 January, the data show. Stocks started the year at around 6.1mn t. International urea prices have surged in recent weeks, eclipsing levels in 2024, largely driven up by sustained import demand from India because of its strong domestic appetite. Sales likely hit a fresh record-high for an individual month at 5.2mn t in December . Market participants are keenly awaiting the results from Indian importer and supplier RCF's urea purchase tender, which closes on 23 January . By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Tariff war is a lose-lose proposition: Canada


25/01/15
25/01/15

Tariff war is a lose-lose proposition: Canada

Calgary, 15 January (Argus) — Any retaliation by Canada to tariffs imposed by the US would be designed to apply political pressure, the country's energy minister said today in Washington, DC, but a potential tariff war between the two countries is a lose-lose proposition. "We are not interested in something that escalates," Canada's minister of energy and natural resources Jonathan Wilkinson said in a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center. But until tariffs are imposed, Canada does not know how it will need to respond. Canada will likely focus on goods that are "important to American producers," but also those for which Canada has an alternative. "The point in the response is to apply political pressure," said Wilkinson, who advocated for stronger trade ties between the two countries byway of energy and critical minerals. US president-elect Donald Trump plans to impose a 25pc tariff on all imports from both Canada and Mexico when he takes office on 20 January. So far he has not signaled any plans to exempt any goods, including oil and gas. Alberta's premier Danielle Smith and now Wilkinson are promoting the flow of more crude to ensure North America's energy security. "We can enhance the flow of Canadian crude oil from Alberta," said Wilkinson by boosting capacity on pipelines like Enbridge's 3.1mn b/d Mainline crude export system. "The US cannot be energy dominant without Canadian energy." The incoming administration would be open to such pipeline expansions, said Heather Reams, president of Washington-based non-profit Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. "It's something that the Trump administration and Republican members in Congress would be interested in revisiting to ensure that there is a steady flow of the energy that's needed to fuel our mutual economies," Reams said on the panel. Enbridge's Mainline moves Canadian crude from Alberta to the US Midcontinent, where Wilkinson expects consumers will be faced with higher gasoline prices — adding as much as 75¢/USG at the pump — should tariffs be imposed. Americans could also see higher food prices if tariffs are put on potash, a fertilizer mined in Saskatchewan and used by US farmers, she said. Development of critical minerals like germanium, gallium and others should be pursued further to minimize the US' exposure and dependence on China, according to Wilkinson, echoing comments made by Ontario premier Doug Ford on 13 January in his own appeal to enhancing trade ties with the US. "We cannot be in a position where China can simply manipulate the market," said Wilkinson, citing that country's dumping of nickel. "We should form a true energy and minerals alliance." By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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