São Paulo – Brazilian imports of fertilizers rose 68.3% in the first half, in comparison with the same period last year, totalling 2.73 million tonnes, according to figures disclosed on Tuesday (29) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.
Foreign purchases grew to supply the heated domestic demand, as Brazil depends on foreign inputs. The country’s trade reached 3.48 million tonnes of fertilizers in the first two months of 2011, growth of 10.3% over the first two months in 2010.
Domestic production, in turn, totalled just 1.36 million tonnes in the same period, small growth of 2.2% as against January and February last year, showing significant presence of imported products.
In this area, the countries of the Middle East and North Africa are great suppliers to Brazil. Fertilizers are the second main item in the export basket of these regions to the country, losing only to oil and oil products.
According to a Ministry press statement, the executive director at the National Association for Promotion of Fertilizers (Anda), David Roquetti, stated that sugarcane, cotton, coffee, maize and rice cultures have boosted demand. He added that the volume traded in the first two months of the year was the second highest volume registered in the period.
The ministry also added that, based on figures disclosed by the National Association of Vegetable Defence (Andef), the pesticide sector had a turnover of 1.27 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 764 million) in the first two months, growth of 10% over the first two months of 2010.
*Translated by Mark Ament
