Biggest fertilizer ship in the history of Brazil arrived at the Port of Santos
José Victor Alves Costa is the new general coordinator of the General Coordination of Pesticides and Related Products, of the Agricultural Defense Secretariat. (Ministry of Agriculture)
It ends on 02/08/23 the deadline for commercialization of carbendazim-based products, according to Anvisa’s Resolution from August 2022. Decision to suspend the use of carbendazim-based products was based on evidence of carcinogenicity. There are 41 formulated products and 33 technical products based on the substance with active registration in Brazil, registered by 24 companies. Farmers that purchase products until February 8th will be allowed to continue using them until stocks run out. (State of Goiás Agency for Agricultural Defense; Anvisa)
The Fertilizer Purchasing Power Index reached the most favorable level of the past 19 months in January, at 0.99. This is because of the reduction in fertilizer prices (-2%) in relation to commodities (-1.5%), in addition to the decrease in maritime freight and taxation in Brazilian ports. Lower fertilizer prices were led by urea, potassium chloride and monoammonium phosphate. Brazil had a higher demand for phosphate fertilizers than the global market, while demand for potassium remained stable. Other relevant factors were the lower global demand for nitrogen products and the reduction in natural gas prices. (Mosaic Fertilizers)
Researchers from Bayer and Embrapa evaluate different production systems as strategies for managing weeds resistant to herbicides. Activities are being developed in different regions, in corn, wheat, soybean, cotton and pasture crops. “In the evaluated systems, we saw how much herbicide was spent, and how much the farmers had in financial return. Over four years, even with a high investment, there was a higher profitability and better product quality. So, even when investing a lot in the production system and with a greater number of mechanisms of action used, there is an economic return when compared to the farmer who uses low investment for the management of weeds resistant to herbicides”, explains researcher Décio Karam, from Embrapa Corn and Sorghum. (Bayer; Embrapa)
75 tonnes of pesticides were seized, valued at approximately US$ 8.35 million, in an operation launched by the General Investigations Police Station in Americana, State of São Paulo. Cargo was destined for the States of Mato Grosso and Goiás. Product was in packages with adulterated labels and was assessed as highly harmful to the environment and public health, being illegal to be sold in Brazil for being considered carcinogenic. (DIG; Ibama; MAPA)
Biggest fertilizer ship in the history of Brazil arrived at the Port of Santos. Wilson Sons, an integrated port and maritime logistics operator, carried out the agencing service for the ship Affinity Diva, from China, that was carrying a record cargo of 85.2 thousand tonnes of ammonium sulphate. (Wilson Sons; Allied Harvest)
Fertilizer deliveries reached 37.71 million tonnes between January and November 2022. A reduction of 11.3% compared to the 42.54 million tonnes registered in the same period in 2021. In November 2022, 3.74 million tonnes were delivered, a reduction of 10.8% compared to the previous year. State of Mato Grosso received 23.9% of deliveries, equivalent to 9 million tonnes. (National Association for the Diffusion of Fertilizers)
Nitrogen Fertilizers Unit III – UFN3 has the capacity to manufacture 30.4% of the total nitrogen fertilizers used in Brazil in 2022, effectively reducing dependence on imports. Annual production at UFN3, when fully operational, should reach 1.3 million tonnes. (Semadesc)
Promip, a Brazilian biopesticide manufacturer, announced that it will open its second biofactory in the country. Company claimed that this should triple its production capacity, reaching 200 tonnes/year of bioinputs. According to Marcelo Poletti, CEO and co-founder of Promip, the company plans to achieve a growth of 30% per year, with projected revenues of US$ 58.27 million to US$ 97.12 million by 2028. (Promip)
Imports of Canadian products reached US$ 5.186 billion (FOB) in 2022, an increase of 101% compared to 2021. Highlight for the chemical industry, especially fertilizers, that increased by 151%, totaling US$ (FOB) 3.7 billion and representing 72% of total imports (Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce)
Company Potássio do Brasil, that is trying to mine potash in Autazes, State of Amazonas, says that the site can generate 2.2 million tonnes/year, with the creation of 1,300 direct jobs and 2,600 indirect jobs. Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, defended the exploration of the deposit to reduce Brazil’s dependence on potassium imports, that currently costs US$ 14 billion/year. “We have in Autazes, for example, a deposit outside an indigenous reserve (…) as big as the Canadian deposits for the production of potassium chloride…”, stated Fávaro. Today, 96% of the national consumption of the nutrient is imported. Experts point to risks to the environment and to local communities. (Potássio do Brasil; MAPA)
Syngenta announces the acquisition of the entire share capital of Feltrin Sementes Ltda. Value of the transaction was not disclosed. (Syngenta)
André Passos Cordeiro, executive president of the Brazilian Association of Chemical Industries, says that Brazil has the capacity to build six or seven new nitrogenous production plants worth US$ 2 billion each, with a unitary production capacity of 2 million tonnes. However, Cordeiro points out that 90% of the national production of natural gas is controlled by Petrobras, that does not have sufficient flow routes. (Abiquim)
The European Commission adopted new rules that reduced limits allowed for the presence of clothianidin and thiamethoxam in food, both pesticides used in Brazil. Decision also applies to imported products. Despite not allowing the use in its territory, the EU continues to manufacture pesticides for export. Brazil is one of the main purchasers of European neonicotinoids. (European Chemicals Agency)
Approved 2,184 pesticide registrations in the past four years, a record number recorded since the beginning of the historical series. Of the total, 98 are new. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the record is because of the changes in regulations of product analysis by Anvisa and Ibama. (General Coordination of Pesticides and Similar Products – MAPA)
Stolen agricultural pesticides valued at US$ 580 thousand were recovered from abandoned trucks on the highway BR-364, in Frutal, State of Minas Gerais. According to the Federal Highway Police, the theft took place in the State of Goiás. (PRF)
INPI publishes the Technological Radar of Fertilizers, made within the framework of the National Fertilizer Plan. The report indicates that in the last 10 years there has been a significant increase in the filing of patents related to organic fertilizers and technologies for nutrient release modification or control. China was the largest generator of patents on phosphate and potassium fertilizers, followed by the USA. For phosphates, the main non-Chinese filers of patents were Mosaic and Yara. Regarding potassics, the main companies were Israel Chemicals, K+S and Mosaic. Regarding nitrogen fertilizers, 369 patent files were registered between 2010 and 2021. (National Institute of Industrial Property)
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