Brazilian Bioinput Industry Spent 18% of Its Total Revenue in Taxes in 2022
Brazil
There was a 15% growth in Brazil’s bioinputs market in the 2023/24 season, reaching sales of US$ 920 million – considering the final price for the farmers. Average annual growth rate was 21% in the last three years, four times higher than the global average. In 2023, bioinsecticides were 34% of the market, followed by bionematicides, 24%, biofungicides, 22%, bioinoculants + solubilizers, 19%. (Blink; CropLife Brasil)
In compliance with a court decision, Anvisa approved the toxicological evaluation of Rainbow’s technical chlorfenapyr. (Anvisa)
Harsco Environmental, which operates in the treatment of steelmaking waste, is investing US$ 40.40 million in two plants in the State of Minas Gerais to increase fertilizer production capacity from 300,000 to 500,000 tonnes/year by 2025. The company uses slag from steel production to obtain fertilizers, metal scrap, etc. (Harsco Environmental)
There has been a significant increase in fertilizer prices, especially for nitrogen and phosphorus, while potassium has maintained stable prices due to strong supply and good import volumes. High nitrogen prices are attributed to supply shortages in Egypt, which is facing difficulties to manufacture urea. Although Egypt is not one of the main suppliers of urea to Brazil, local restrictions since May 20th have increased the price of CFR Brazil urea by 21%. The price increase of fertilizers, without a proportional increase in grain prices, is damaging the exchange rate for farmers, especially in the case of corn. (Itaú BBA)
20th Meeting of the Network of Laboratories for Recommendation, Standardization and Dissemination of Microbial Inoculant Technologies for Agriculture happened on June 25th and 26th, in Londrina, State of Paraná, to discuss results and research advances for microbiological inoculants. The event “aims to help transfer research results to industry; help standardize rules for the certification of quality organic products…”, said Embrapa Soybean’s researcher Marco Nogueira. (Relare)
With the soybean fallow period in effect, the Rondônia Agrosilvopastoral Health Defense Agency – Idaron began its inspection work around the State’s farms, to prevent the spread of the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, which causes the Asian rust. “The Agency maintains a database with all the information on the regions where soybeans are usually planted. With this information in hand, Idaron professionals trace daily routes and travel by car, recording the current situation of all farms involved in soybean cultivation using photos”, said the plant health inspection and defense manager, Jessé de Oliveira. (Idaron)
Terraplant, from the State of Santa Catarina, launched the first 3-in-1 organomineral fertilizer in Brazil, which combines organic fraction, essential mineral and oxides. According to Alex Becker, research coordinator at the company, oxides immediately correct soil pH, increasing nutrient availability and neutralizing toxic aluminum. Unlike limestone, which takes 90 to 120 days to act, the oxide offers instant correction, said Becker. (Terraplant)
Ronaldo Rodrigues is the new director of innovation, research and development at UPL Brasil. He takes over the position from Walter Dias, who was promoted to global head of development. (UPL Brasil)
EuroChem completed its first batch of Monoammonium Phosphate – MAP made at the Serra do Salitre Mineroindustrial Complex, which opened up over two months ago. 1,200 tonnes of MAP have been produced. (EuroChem)
The role of entomology [study of insects] in cotton farming will be the subject of lectures at the 14th Brazilian Cotton Congress, from September 3rd to 5th, in Fortaleza, State of Ceará. According to Lúcia Vivan, researcher at Fundação MT, entomology is crucial in cotton farming. “In the case of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis), this involves defining the number of pesticide applications, the use of digital tools, the destruction of ratoons and volunteer plants and compliance with the fallow period, in addition to resistance management and many other factors”, said Vivan. (Abapa; Fundação MT)
The bioinputs industry paid US$ 86.73 million in taxes in 2022, or 18% of its total revenue. US$ 81.11 million referred to its internal transactions, while US$ 5.62 million resulted from the import process. Investment in R&D in Brazil was US$ 14.86 million, or 3% of the total revenue of companies in this market. (Markestrat; CropLife Brasil; Blink Consultoria)
Agricultural Defense Agency of the State of Goiás – Agrodefesa and Correios signed a technical cooperation agreement to strengthen interception and inspection of illegal seeds, seedlings and live plants. The focus is to prevent the introduction and spread of pests and diseases. “The introduction of any pest or disease that could cause damage to the farms and to other sectors that depend directly or indirectly on agriculture will have a negative impact on the economy and on food production”, according to José Ramos, president of Agrodefesa. (Agrodefesa; Correios)
According to Luciana Mazza, partner at the law firm Mazza & Manente de Almeida Advogados, in 2022 the 7th, 8th and 9th Federal Civil Courts of the 1st Region approved 26.3% of lawsuits for toxicological evaluation of chemical pesticides (Chemical Formulated Product). This represents 15 of the 57 assessments approved by Anvisa in compliance with court decisions in 2022. (Mazza & Manente de Almeida Advogados)
The Secretariat of Agricultural Defense published Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1127 – which changes reference specifications for pesticide products with approved use for organic agriculture. (SDA)
“It is important to say that our return to the fertilizer business is due to a very clear reason: fertilizers are a good opportunity to significantly expand our gas market. Natural gas is our product. It is the input with the greatest impact on the price of fertilizers”, said Magda Chambriard, the new president of Petrobras. (Petrobras)
On June 11th to 13th, the Mineral Technology Center of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations participated in the FertBrasil Congress, held in Campinas, State of São Paulo. The event had lectures on innovations in fertilizers and inputs for plant nutrition in tropical regions. Researchers Marisa Monte and Caroline Brigido talked about the latest fertilizer technologies and highlighted the production of thermo-fertilizers based on hydrated aluminosilicates of iron, magnesium and potassium. (MCTI)
The Cordius brand, from Corteva, has just completed five years on the market. According to Marcelo Bohnen, leader of the company’s soybean portfolio, the Cordious brand has already commercialized 19 soybean cultivars, with the support of more than 50 partners. (Corteva)
With an investment of US$ 45.94 million, Cibra opened up a fertilizer factory in São Luís, State of Maranhão. According to Santiago Franco, CEO of the company, this new unit is an integral part of the company’s expansion plan, which aims to invest a total of US$ 280 million by 2026. (Cibra Fertilizantes)
According to data recently released by Pecege Consultoria e Projetos, the sugar-ethanol sector invested more in fertilizers in the 1Q/2024, reaching only 22% of the physical volume that was negotiated in the whole of 2023, while in the same period purchases were at 12%. “This is a response to two main factors: the prospect of a harvest with lower returns; and the positive fluctuations in nutrient prices, which caused fear among buyers”. (Pecege Consultoria e Projetos)
On June 21st, XP Investimentos informed its clients who had investments in the Agribusiness Receivables Certificates (CRAs) of Yara Brasil fertilizer company, scheduled to be settled the previous day, that the amounts had not been fully paid. The reason was the default of nine of 26 companies that had commercial operations with the company and whose debts were the basis for issuing the bond. (XP Investimentos)
Latin America
Argentina‘s National Health and Agro-Food Quality Service published resolution No. 657/2024, which establishes limits for heavy metals in fertilizers, based on similar EU regulations. “It is necessary to adapt the values of the duly established limits, in order to unify the parameters in force in the region for the quantification of heavy metals”. (Senasa)
Argentine Association of No-till Farmers – Aapresid presented results of research carried out in the Pampas region on the response to the use of biostimulants and biofertilizers on the yield of agricultural crops. The combined use of biological products – applied to seeds – with traditional fertilizers increased wheat productivity from 202 to 368 kg per hectare. “The analysis of the results opens an interesting door for biostimulation as a tool to mitigate the effects of abiotic and biotic stress.” (Aapresid)
Bolivia and Brazil are discussing criteria to resume fertilizer sales. Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos – YLB guaranteed to Brazilian authorities its willingness to supply fertilizers produced “with high quality and competitive standards”. The matter was discussed in Brasília, in a meeting attended by executives from YLB, the Bolivian Hydrocarbon Industrialization Company, and Petrobras. (YLB)
Yara will invest US$100 million to increase its fertilizer production in Colombia, which should reach 80 thousand tonnes. (Yara Fertilizantes)
According to María Helena Latorre, executive director of the Crops Promotion Chamber of the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia, the country is capable of producing its own agricultural inputs, and has 13 factories. “With regards to crop protection, such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, Colombia imports active ingredients and formulations that are sold locally and abroad are manufactured here”. Adama, BASF, Bayer, Corteva, FMC, Gowan, Sumitomo, Syngenta, Precisegro, UPL and Yara participate in the Crops Promotion Chamber. (ANDI; Portfolio)
José Escalante, president of the Union of Agrochemical Manufacturers and Formulators of Mexico, praised the appointment of Julio Berdegué Sacristán as the country’s next Minister of Agriculture. According to Escalante, the next Minister was open to dialogue regarding pesticides. “The list of these phytosanitary products in Mexico is very similar to that in Japan, the USA or the EU, and if there are differences it is due to the different crops that are cultivated in Mexico”. When speaking about the potential ban on glyphosate, Escalante said he “considers that glyphosate can maintain the competitiveness of Mexican farmers”. (UMFFAAC)
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