Brazil will become even more important in the coming years as a source of global food security, and Egypt plays a significant role in this context as a supplier of fertilizers to the Brazilian market. This panorama was presented by representatives of the Brazilian government at the seminar "Brazil and Egypt: Opportunities in Bilateral Trade" in Cairo.

"Egypt is an important source of fertilizers for Brazil. In 2021, the Arab country exported 1.4 million tons of fertilizers to the Brazilian market, totaling $284 million. Brazil currently imports 85% of the fertilizers it uses in agriculture and is the fourth-largest consumer of nitrogen, the third-largest consumer of phosphorus, and the second-largest consumer of potassium in the world.

Russia, China, and Canada are the top three fertilizer suppliers to Brazil, accounting for 22%, 15%, and 10% of the total imports, respectively. However, Arab nations are also among the main sources of the product. Morocco ranks fourth with 7%, Qatar seventh with 4%, and Egypt in ninth place with 3%. Other Arab nations such as Oman, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia are also among the top 20 suppliers. These figures refer to NPK fertilizers: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Russia, China, Qatar, Algeria, and Iran are the major suppliers of nitrogen fertilizers imported by Brazil, while Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and China are the largest suppliers of phosphorus fertilizers. The ranking of major potassium exporters to Brazil includes Canada, Russia, Belarus, Israel, and Germany.

Brazil imports about 85% of the main fertilizers used in agriculture. Russia and Belarus are the main fertilizer suppliers worldwide. Approximately 25% of the fertilizers imported by Brazil come from Russia, and this country is responsible for about 100% of the ammonium nitrate that reaches the national market. Since Russia invaded Ukraine and faced international sanctions, it has suspended the delivery of fertilizers to several countries while negotiations take place. As a result, domestic fertilizer producers have been able to increase their customer base and, consequently, production.

Fertilizers have strategic importance for the country, and the current context will lead to an increase in domestic consumption, boosting internal production.

Source: Monitor Mercantil 10/05/22