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Join on Telegram Rabat – Brazil met with Morocco and nine other Arab countries as it faces a dire shortage of fertilizer stocks as its main suppliers Russia and Belarus face sanctions and reduced exports. Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Tereza Cristina organized a meeting this Thursday with several Arab countries in order to find new sources of fertilizers amid a severe disruption in fertilizer supplies from Eastern Europe.
The conflict in Ukraine is rapidly accelerating a trend that has long been anticipated. Morocco’s role as gatekeeper to most of the world’s phosphate is set to boost its international standing and domestic economy amid rapidly growing demand.
The conflict in Ukraine is having a severe impact on Brazilian agriculture, as the country depends primarily on Russian and Belarussian fertilizer exports. The two countries face heavy sanctions from the West and have limited certain exports in retaliation.
Read also: Morocco Feels Impact of Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine
In response to a looming crisis for local farmers, Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Cristina invited ambassadors of ten Arab countries to discuss new fertilizer supplies, with Morocco as the most obvious candidate as it holds over 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves.
Cristina aims to link Brazilian agricultural companies with Arab suppliers, to ensure a steady and reliable supply of much-needed fertilizers.
“It is very important to show the potential of the Arab countries for this supply, so that Brazilian companies know this potential. We are living in an important moment of crisis but also of opportunities for both sides,” Cristina told the gathered Arab ambassadors during the meeting.
Read also: Doors Open for OCP as Ukraine Crisis Pauses Russian Fertilizer Exports
President of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Osmar Chohfi added that “the Arab countries are important suppliers of different types of fertilizers for Brazilian agribusiness, and Brazil is very important for the Arab countries in terms of food security.”
Reporting on the meeting, CNN Brazil highlighted: “Today, countries like Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Oman and Algeria are responsible for 26% of fertilizers imported by Brazil. The idea is to increase the percentage to try to compensate for the decrease in purchases from Russia and Belarus.”
As Brazil is offering to export much-needed food products in exchange for fertilizer imports, the country’s proposition is likely to be well-received by Morocco and other attendees at the meeting.
