Brazil, one of the largest agricultural exporters in the world, is still dependent on the foreign market when it comes to fertilizer. According to a balance sheet by ANDA (the national association for the diffusion of fertilizers), of the 40 million tons delivered to the market last year, only 6 million came from the domestic market, which means that the country imports 85% of the product it consumes. This disproportion makes the market at the mercy of the dollar price. Fertilizers are important additives for agriculture to provide nutrients for plant growth. According to Marcelo Morandi, Chief Environmental Officer at EMBRAPA, one of the biggest challenges currently facing the industry is to have a stable market that gives more options to the domestic market. According to Morandi, of the three most important elements that plants need, namely NPK fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), Brazil is still dependent on imports for the last two, especially potassium, due to the few natural sources here in the country.
Sources: Folha de São Paulo/Datamar News