Russian-based fertilizer producer Eurochem expects to produce approximately 400,000 metric tonnes (t) of fertilizers in its Serra do Salitre complex in Brazil this year and plans to double output in 2025.
The company has already produced 100,000t of phosphate fertilizers at its Serra do Salitre complex, in Minas Gerais state since the start of operations in May.
The complex can produce 1mn t/yr of phosphate fertilizer, 1mn t/yr of sulphuric acid and 240,000 t/yr of phosphoric acid — the latter two used as feedstocks for phosphate fertilizers.
Eurochem expects to produce between 200,000-300,000t in the fourth quarter this year, Salitre complex operation executive David Crispim told Argus during the national mining event Exposibram.
The company sells its available volumes immediately after production, avoiding the need to hold inventories, he added.
The ramp up will continue during 2025, when Eurochem expects production at around 700,000-800,000t of phosphates, up to 80pc of Serra do Salitre's total capacity.
The company may also develop other products at Salitre, Crispim said.
Agriculture is a major industry in Brazil but the country still lags in manufacturing its own fertilizer, Crispim said. "We have a great appetite to grow in Brazil."
The project is in line with Brazil's goal to reduce the country's dependence on imports under the national fertilizer plan.
Eurochem acquired the Serra do Salitre project from Norwegian fertilizer producer Yara in 2022 for $452mn.
