Brazil seeks more Moroccan fertilizers

Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Marcos Montes is expected in Morocco this week to seek more fertilizers for his country after a halt of Russian exports, Reuters reported.

Brazil relies on imports for about 85% of its fertilizer needs and is concerned about a potential global shortage of the products after Western nations imposed sanctions on key producers, Belarus and Russia, while China restricted exports, the news agency said.

Morocco is poised to become a leading supplier building on the world’s largest phosphates reserve.

State-owned OCP, which produces phosphates and soil nutrients, said it will boost supply to 12 million tons this year, amid market disruptions created by Russia’s decision to stop exporting all fertilizers and ammonia.

Marcos Montes said Morocco is part of a regional tour that will also lead him to Tunisia and Jordan, two other phosphates producing countries.