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The future of fertilizer logistics in Brazil

Summary

Brazil has emerged as the global economy's agricultural powerhouse in recent years, on the back of outstanding improvements in crop production and exports. Addressing logistical challenges will be necessary, however, if Brazil's agricultural sector is to continue to flourish and realise its full potential, as Débora Simões of Agroconsult explains.

Abstract

Brazil has become more and more relevant to world food markets in recent years, to the extent that the country is now described as global agriculture’s powerhouse (Fertilizer International, 472 p30). Brazil’s agribusiness sector has flourished against a backdrop of ever growing global demand for agricultural products – itself driven by world population growth, economic expansion, biofuels incentives, shifts in food consumption and rising incomes. Brazilian grain production, for example, more than doubled between 2000/01 and 2014/15, according to data from the National Supply Company (Conab), increasing from 100.3 million tonnes to 209.5 million tonnes. Keywords: Agroconsult, Brazil, Fertilizers, Logistics, Distribution, Imports, Infrastructure, Ports, Investment, Transport costs

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Policy stability fuels modest growth

Summary

Biofuels demand has been sustained in recent years by blending mandates in producing countries and high levels of fuel consumption globally. The finalisation of biofuel policies in three key markets, the US, EU and Brazil, last year should ease short-term uncertainties and help boost global output by around one sixth by 2020. Low oil prices are also delaying the switchover from conventional crop-based production to advanced biofuels synthesised from waste biomass.

Abstract

BP’s 2016 Energy Outlook published in February reveals that the world’s thirst for liquid fuels shows no sign of being quenched. Biofuels and natural gas liquids (NGLs) look set to deliver almost half of the 19 million barrels per day (bbl/d) increase in global supply expected over the next two decades. Keywords: Biofuel, Biofuels, Advanced biofuels, Conventional biofuels, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Gasohol, Policy, Mandates, Renewable Fuel Standards, Outlook, Forecast, BP, IFA, International Fertilizer Association, OECD, FAO, IEA, USDA, EPA, Brazil US, EU, China, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Argentina, Demand, Nutrient demand, Production, Trade Feedstock, Sugarcane, Corn, Maize, Biomass, Wheat, Molasses, Jatropha, Vegetable oil

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Circular arguments about EU fertilizers

Summary

How fertilizers are traded and sold in the European market will change dramatically if rule changes proposed by the European Commission are adopted. We review the EU's new draft fertilizers regulation and its potential impact on what remains one of the world's major fertilizer markets.

Abstract

The EU fertilizer industry is an important part of Europe’s economy. The sector generates an annual turnover of e12.5 billion from more than 120 production sites across the continent and employs around 93,000 people. The industry also supports innovation and invested e66 million in research and development last year. Europe is also a sizeable market for fertilizers exported from Russia, North Africa and North America. The region’s farmers apply 16-17 million tonnes of nutrients annually to around 130 million hectares of farmland. EU fertilizer imports have grown since the 1990s as the region’s production base has contracted (Fertilizer International, 471 p25). keywords: EU, Europe, Draft Fertilizers Regulation, Policy, Labelling, Circular economy, Organic fertilizers, Mineral fertilizers, Nutrient recycling, Nutrient recovery, Phosphates, Phosphorus, Cadmium, Controlled Release Fertilizers, CRFs, IFA, International Fertilizer Association, Fertilizers Europe

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Sustainability matters

Summary

We review current international initiatives and cooperation on nitrogen use efficiency and phosphorus sustainability.

Abstract

Resource efficiency makes economic and environmental sense. In manufacturing, for example, maximising product output whilst simultaneously minimising water, energy and material inputs cuts costs and reduces the consumption of non-renewable resources. It can also help reduce exposure to commodity price volatility and minimise resource security risks in the supply chain. Keywords: Sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Nutrients, Efficiency, Nitrogen use efficiency, NUE, Global Partnership on Nutrient Management, GPNM, International Nitrogen Initiative, INI, The International Fertilizer Association, IFA, International Plant Nutrition Institute, IPNI, North American Partnership for Phosphorus, Sustainability, NAPPS, European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform, ESPP, EU Nitrogen Expert Panel

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IPNI in South Asia

Summary

Our correspondent David Hayes reviews the South Asia programme of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) in an exclusive interview with Dr Kaushik Majumdar, the programme's director for the last seven years.

Abstract

The South Asia programme of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) has come a long way over the past two decades. It’s presence in India over this period has coincided with government efforts to expand food production by educating farmers in modern husbandry methods. This has resulted in greater use of mineral fertilizers and other improvements in agricultural technology across the country. Keywords: International Plant Nutrition Institute, IPNI, South Asia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Yield, Site Specific Nutrient Management, SSNM, Soil testing, 4Rs, Nutrient stewardship, Fertilizer recommendations, Field trials, Agronomy, Wheat, Rice, Maize

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The agronomic benefits of polyhalite

Summary

Sirius Minerals has conducted 150 polyhalite fertilizer trials on 24 crops in 13 countries over the last five years. We report on the latest findings of the company's crop study programme in China and Brazil, and summarise the main agronomic benefits of this multi-nutrient fertilizer.

Abstract

Sirius Minerals is hoping to break ground on a 10 million t/a polyhalite mine in the North Yorkshire region of England later this year, following planning approval from the UK government in 2015 and the publication of a definitive feasibility study in March (Fertilizer International, 472 p12). Construction of the $2.9 billion mine could begin as early as September, if the finance is all in place, with the start of production currently scheduled for 2021 (Fertilizer International, 473 p11). Keywords: Polyhalite, Sirius Minerals, ICL, Potassium, Sulphur, Magnesium, Calcium, NPK, POLY4, SUPER6, Polysulphate, UK, China, Brazil, Field trials, Yield, Agronomy, Nutrient uptake, Disease resistance, Crops, Tea, Chilli peppers, Sugarcane, Oilseed rape, Soybean

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K+S enters a new world

Summary

K+S's flagship Legacy project, Canada's largest mining venture, is being commissioned over the summer and is set to reach two million tonnes of potash production capacity by the end of next year. We profile this enormous engineering undertaking in advance of the first tonne of potash production, now expected sometime in the second quarter of 2017.

Abstract

2016 looks like being a milestone year for independent German potash producer K+S Group, and its subsidiary K+S Potash Canada (KSPC), as it moves closer to completing its landmark Legacy project, Canada’s first new greenfield potash mine in more than 40 years. The large-scale solution mine is located at Bethune, 50 km north of Moose Jaw in the prairies of Saskatchewan. The mine, situated deep in Canada’s remote interior, is some 2,000 km to the east of Vancouver and separated from the Pacific by the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Legacy project, Potash, Solution mining, K+S, KSPC, Capex, Investment, Commissioning, North America, Canada, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Vancouver, Port Moody, Bethune, Moose Jaw, Amec Foster Wheeler, Veolia, Babcock & Wilcox, CH2MHILL, Pacific Coast Terminal, PCT, Canadian Pacific, CP, National Steel Car

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Asia and Latin America drive the market

Summary

The feed phosphates market is expanding thanks to strong global demand for animal feed, particularly in Asia and Latin America, which in turn is linked to rising pork and poultry production. World feed phosphates consumption has been growing at 1.4% per annum on average over the last decade, a trend that is expected to continue this year and into 2017. Ma'aden's entry into the market next year could hit prices, if it were to supply large volumes of feed phosphates to Southeast Asia, India and East Africa. Integrated feed phosphate producers able to offer high quality products should enjoy a competitive advantage in what is already an oversupplied market. Strong distribution networks and comprehensive customer service also hold the key to this lucrative niche market.

Abstract

Calcium phosphates are widely used as feed additives in livestock and poultry nutrition and provide a readily-available digestive source of phosphorus and calcium. They help maximise meat, egg and milk production by building and maintaining a strong animal skeleton and aiding muscle growth. The main inorganic feed phosphates sold globally are MCP (monocalcium phosphate), MDCP (monodicalcium phosphate), DCP (dicalcium phosphate) and DFP (defluorinated feed phosphate). These are generally assessed by their phosphate content and how digestible this is (Table 1). Keywords: Feed phosphates, Outlook, Demand, Capacity, Consumption, Production, Operating rates, Animal feed, Poultry, Beef, Aquaculture, Latin America, Europe, North America, Brazil, Asia, China, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, MCP, MDCP, DCP, DFP, TCP, Phytase, DDGS, CRU, IHS, PotashCorp, Mosaic, JR Simplot, Timab Phosphates, Roullier, Vale, Yara, Yunnan Phosphorus Chemicals, EuroChem, EcoPhos, Sinofert Yunlong, Sichuan Lomon, OCP, Ma’aden, PhosAgro, Apatit

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