Belarus’ OJSC Gomel Chemical Plant, the country’s largest producer of phosphate fertilizers, started deliveries of its products to Russia for the first time this year, according to a recent Interfax report, citing Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchik.
Some $97 million worth of phosphate fertilizers were exported to Russia from Belarus in the January-September 2022 period, “despite the surplus on the market,” according to the report, citing Parkhomchik.
Belarus has taken measures to re-orient exports of “complex fertilizers” to Russia, as well as to produce new brands that are not subject to sectoral restrictive measures, and are part of Belarus’ actions to “minimize” the impact of Western sanctions that ban exporting potash from Belarus, according to the report, citing the minister.
The Gomel Chemical Plant is Belarus’ largest producer of phosphate fertilizers. The company has capacity to produce complex fertilizers, ammophos, superphosphate, and NPK fertilizers of various grades, according to its website. Gomel Chemical Plant’s nameplate production capacity includes 1.1 million mt/y of DAP/MAP, according to the Green Markets database.
In addition to its potash production capabilities, Belaruskali OAO is understood to have an estimated 240,000 mt/y of NPK fertilizer production capacity and some 100,000 mt/y of bulk blending capacity. In past years before Western sanctions were imposed, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, as well as Russia, have been reported to be consumers of Belaruskali’s NPK fertilizers.