PhosAgro PJSC exported 8.7 million mt of fertilizers in 2023, a 1% increase on 2022’s export volume of 8.6 million mt, the Russian fertilizer group reported last week, citing preliminary data. PhosAgro’s nitrogen fertilizer exports increased 6.5% year-over-year, while phosphates exports rose 8.7%.
According to PhosAgro CEO Mikhail Rybnikov, the main sales areas remain Latin America, Asia, and Africa. “At the same time, in 2023 we note a redistribution of supplies of about 1 million mt from India and other Asian countries towards Latin America,” Rybnikov said. “This is due to the restoration of demand from Brazil and more favorable pricing and logistics conditions with regard to Latin America.”
The group’s shipments to Europe in 2023 remained at the 2022 level of around 2 million mt. This is down by around a third compared with previous years, when PhosAgro’s exports to Europe reached 2.8-3 million mt annually, Rybnikov said. He noted that shipments to countries in Northern and Eastern Europe and the Baltic states have stopped, while shipments to Southern and Western Europe and the Balkans have increased.
PhosAgro’s shipments to Africa in 2023 exceeded 550,000 mt, up from 540,000 mt in 2022. Exports to countries neighboring Russia increased 18%. PhosAgro reported that in total, exports to “friendly” states accounted for almost 75% of the group’s exports in 2023, compared to 70% in 2022. Fertilizer shipments to Russian farmers were up 11% in 2023, although the group did not provide an actual volume figure.
PhosAgro in early December reported that it expected production of fertilizers and feed phosphates in full-year 2023 to reach 11.3 million mt, a 1.8% increase on 2022’s output of 11.1 million mt (GM Dec. 8, 2023).