Fertilizer International 518 Jan-Feb 2024
31 January 2024
CRU acquires BCInsight’s industry publications
The ownership of Fertilizer International magazine transferred from BCInsight Ltd to CRU, the global commodities experts, at the start of the year.
CRU confirmed the purchase of BCInsight’s leading fertilizer and chemical industry publications on 4th January. The strategic acquisition will reunite the magazines Fertilizer International, Nitrogen+Syngas and Sulphur with their sister conferences owned by CRU.
As a result of the acquisition, BCInsight’s publications are combining with CRU Events to form CRU Fertilizer Communities. This new integrated business unit will improve engagement, knowledge-sharing and networking across the fertilizer and wider chemicals industries.
All of BCInsight’s employees have also transferred across to CRU, namely Lisa Connock (Managing Editor), Richard Hands (Editor of Nitrogen+Syngas and Sulphur magazines), Simon Inglethorpe (Editor of Fertilizer International), Marlene Vaz (Subscriptions and Advertisement Manager) and Tim Stephens (Design and Production).
Fertilizer International will continue as the official magazine of the longstanding CRU Phosphates and Fertilizer Latino Americano conferences. The title has a long association with CRU dating back to a lengthy period of ownership between 1986 and 2007. The magazine has been published continuously for nearly 55 years, having been founded in July 1969 by The British Sulphur Corporation (Fertilizer International 490, p20).
Nicola Coslett, CEO of CRU Communities at CRU, said: “I am delighted to bring these publications back into the CRU family and to welcome Lisa Connock and her BCInsight team to CRU. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive and valuable resources to the global fertilizer community. We have worked as partners for many years, and I am confident that, together, we will create an even more vibrant and dynamic community that fosters innovation and collaboration opportunities to our clients who are at the centre of our fertilizer and chemicals communities.”
Chris Lawson, Head of Fertilizers at CRU, said: “Expanding technical expertise alongside our unrivalled team of dedicated and highly experienced analysts will enhance CRU’s ability to deliver even more comprehensive and insightful information to our clients. With so many new entrants into the ammonia, phosphate and fertilizer industries, the need for technical knowledge and insights has never been more important.”
Lisa Connock, Director and Technical Editor at BCInsight, said: “After working closely with Nicola for so many years, it was clear CRU Communities would be a great home for our publications. CRU’s fertilizer and related conferences have long been recognised as premier events in the fertilizer sector, attracting industry leaders, experts, and key stakeholders from around the world. I am incredibly proud of the community we have built together, and I look forward to serving our customers with an even stronger offering as we embark on a new phase of growth together.”
BCInsight is an independent private publishing company providing market leading publications online and in print. These provide analysis, technical articles, comment and statistics on the world-wide production, trade, transportation, handling and consumption of fertilizers, fertilizer raw materials, sulphur and other basic chemicals.
The company publishes three bimonthly titles, two annual directories and an online buyer’s guide, namely: Sulphur, Nitrogen+Syngas, Fertilizer International, Sulphur Industry Directory, Fertilizer Industry Directory and BCInsightsearch.com. These are all transferring to CRU ownership.
The three magazines will continue to operate under their existing names – and maintain their commitment to delivering high-quality technical content and meaningful market insights to readers. CRU says the acquisition will allow the magazines to leverage its extensive data and thought leadership to further enhance their reach and influence across the whole fertilizer industry.
