OSLO, NORWAY: Yara International ASA has signed an agreement to acquire the fertilisers blending unit of Adubos Sudoeste in Catalao (Goias State, Brazil) further expanding its participation in the agricultural market.
The investment is aligned with the company’s strategy to track the development of the agriculture market in Goias – which has outgrown the national average in recent years.
Although part of the production may be sold to Tocantins State farmers, the focus of this unit will be rural producers in Goias State, particularly growers of soybean, corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and garlic.
Currently, the unit has a total capacity of 300 thousand tonnes per year. After the acquisition approval, Yara will begin the process of adapting the unit to the company’s standards.
This investment highlights Yara's commitment to Brazilian agriculture. In recent years, Yara has invested approximately $1.5 billion in the country, including the acquisition of Bunge Fertilizantes (2013), the joint venture with Galvani (2014), the construction and revitalization of the most moderns industrial blending units of Brazil, in Sumare (SP) and Porto Alegre (RS), as well as the announcement of a substantial investment in its Rio Grande complex, made in the beginning of this year.
According to Lair Hanzen, president of Yara Brazil, the agricultural market in Goias State – which is responsible for a huge part of the main Brazilian export crops, such as soybean and corn – is essential to the company's plans in the country.
"To invest in fertiliser distribution in Goias is strategic for Yara and reinforces our commitment to provide the best solutions to Brazilian farmers. Besides that, we maintain the efforts to increase the fertiliser production in order to reduce the national dependence on imports of raw materials," said Hanzen.
© Worldofchemicals News