BRIC nations call for fertilisers output hike

BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) yesterday joined Africa in calling for effective measures to convert challenges into opportunities for enhancing the production of fertilisers in view of the rising demand due to burgeoning world population.
Diverse perspectives on current climate in the internal fertiliser market were highlighted at the concluding day of the 2nd Fertiliser Convention of Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA). It also included Olam International’s exploration of the challenges and potential of the African fertiliser production capacity and market. Olam was represented by Murari Mohan Rakshit, general manager (fertiliser division).
Zhang Rong, the secretary general of the Chinese fertiliser association, CNFA, provided key insights into how the Asian country is handling its rapidly developing nitrogen fertiliser industry as the world’s largest producer and consumer.
Fabio Eduardo Meneghi, market analyst partner at Agroconsult Consultoria and Projetos, addressed the key issue of increasing Brazil’s national fertiliser supply to meet its demands for mass crop production and the necessity to rely long term on nitrogen imports.
The Russian company, SIBUR – Fertilisers, offered a 10-year outlook for the country along with an exploration of the industry dynamics in the Russian Federation and fertiliser producer partners in the Ukraine and Belarus.
Earlier inaugurating the convention, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed Saleh al-Sada had called for developing an integrated petrochemical industry in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region to feed the global population, which according to UN estimates, is expected to surge to 8.2bn by 2050.
GPCA secretary general Abdulwahab al-Sadoun sought World Trade Organisation’s intervention in removing the trade barriers that currently exist in some of the key markets such as Asia and Europe.

Gulf Times