The fertilizer price and supply chain shocks caused by the war in Ukraine have supercharged the debate about the shift to more sustainable and efficient crop nutrition – with farmers and governments urgently looking for different approaches to maximise crop productivity.
Some 1,160 delegates from 475 companies and 76 countries gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the 89th International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Annual Conference, 30 May – 1 June 2022. We report on the main highlights of this three-day flagship event.
The drive for ever higher crop yields is shifting the focus onto secondary nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. In this article, we look at the role of magnesium and calcium in crop nutrition and the main fertilizer product options.
The Argus Fertilizer Europe Conference returns as an in-person event at the Hotel RIU Plaza España, Madrid, Spain, 17-19 October 2022.
The Woodsmith polyhalite project in the UK is starting to benefit from Anglo American’s ownership, with the mining major leveraging its key advantages to good effect. These include the company’s operational size and financial stability, its vast mineral extraction experience, and premium product marketing expertise. The company also believes that the fertilizer sector will benefit from its leadership in mining industry sustainability.
EuroChem has made a binding offer for Borealis Group’s fertilizer, melamine and technical nitrogen business.
The inclusion of several high-profile Russian business leaders on an EU sanctions list in March has led to round of high-level resignations from leading Russian fertilizer producers.
Anglo American plc has announced a number of senior leadership changes. Seamus French has decided to leave Anglo American at the end of 2021 after 14 years with the company and will be replaced as CEO of Bulk Commodities by Themba Mkhwanazi , currently CEO of Kumba Iron Ore. Mpumi Zikalala , currently managing director of De Beers Managed Operations, has been appointed as CEO of Kumba. Both appointments will take effect on 1st January 2022. Mpumi’s successor at De Beers Managed Operations will be confirmed in due course.
Meena Chauhan, Head of Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Research, Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.
Anglo American is developing the Woodsmith project in northeast England. This will access the world’s largest known deposit of polyhalite, a natural mineral fertilizer containing potassium, sulphur, magnesium and calcium – four of the six nutrients that every plant needs to grow.