São Paulo – Petrobras resumed fertilizer production in January at the Bahia Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant (Fafen-BA). Fertilizers are essential for agriculture. Brazil, one of the world’s largest food producers, depends on imports of the input for planting, with Gulf and North African Arab countries among its main suppliers.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Fafen-BA on Thursday (14) at the Camaçari Industrial Complex, alongside Petrobras president Magda Chambriard, Agriculture Minister André de Paula, other federal government representatives, and Bahia Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues.
According to Petrobras, Fafen-BA has the capacity to produce 1,300 metric tons of urea and the same amount of ammonia per day. The plant received BRL 100 million (USD 20 million) in investments and currently operates at 90% capacity, supplying 5% of national demand. The estimate is to reach 20% of domestic production once two additional units — Fafen Sergipe and Araucária Nitrogenados S.A. — begin operations. In the medium term, the goal is to supply 35% of national demand with the opening of another factory in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
According to Brazil’s presidential office, the resumption of fertilizer production in the country began in 2023, when plants previously leased to another company were taken back by the state-controlled oil company as part of a national fertilizer production plan.
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Brazilian fertilizer imports up 5.4% in January
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
