The Haifa Group, Haifa, Israel, is in the process of relocating its Multicote™ controlled release fertilizer (CRF) production at its Savannah, Ga., site to an existing facility in Lunel, France, which will expand production.
The company said it is looking to increase efficiencies by producing all of its CRF materials in France. CRF production in Israel stopped after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the company to close its anhydrous ammonia tank at the Port of Haifa (GM Oct. 20, 2017).
The Savannah plant has ceased coating operations, but blending and packaging are expected to continue for a few more months. Haifa will be building up inventories so that no new CRF will need be imported for the remainder of 2021.
Haifa will continue to supply CRF and its other products utilizing its broad warehousing network, including locations in Savannah, Tampa, Houston, New Jersey, and the Stockton and Los Angeles areas in California. Haifa has been selling its CRF across the U.S. for over 15 years. The Savannah plant also served all of the Americas, both North and South, as well as the Caribbean.
The $20 million, 20,000 mt/y Savannah facility was commissioned in 2016 (GM May 6, p. 1) with an estimated 20 employees. Certain equipment from the Savannah plant will be sent to France.