Expanding Fertilizer Distribution: "Belaruskaliy" Unveils New Routes, Reaching from the Baltic to the Caspian
Belarusian Potash Giant Overcomes Trade Barriers to Boost Exports
Despite the complex geopolitical landscape and trade restrictions, Belaruskali, a Belarusian potash enterprise, has demonstrated resilience in the export of potassium fertilizers. In the year 2024, the company reported a 7.2% increase in production volumes compared to the previous year.
Natalia San'ko, the acting deputy chief engineer for technology at Belaruskali, attributes this success to the rapid reorganization of logistics schemes, enabling the enterprise to find new routes for shipping its products. Potassium fertilizers are now being exported via the Baltic and Caspian Sea ports, as well as by rail to China, Vietnam, and through Russia and Azerbaijan to Iran.
A notable innovation in the company's operations is the shift to soft containers weighing 500 kilograms for product packaging. This change allows for bulk loading of the product into sea containers without requiring specialized port equipment. The result, as San'ko stated, was an increase in shipments volume, reaching levels seen prior to the imposition of sanctions in the first quarter of 2024.
Yevgeny Knotko, the chief engineer for mining operations at Belaruskali, noted that in 2024, the company supplied 87.4% of its produced products to external markets, with a production capacity utilization of 77.8%. Despite this external focus, the company continues to meet the domestic demand for potassium fertilizers in Belarus.
In earlier remarks, President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belaruskali had managed to restore the export of fertilizers to pre-sanction levels.
Belaruskali's strategic importance lies in the global agricultural sector's continued demand for potassium fertilizers, with potassium chloride (MOP) being the largest segment by demand due to its crucial role in crop yield and disease resistance. China, in particular, is boosting investments worldwide in potash production to ensure food security, underscoring the strategic value of potash fertilizers on the global market.
- The manufacturing industry of potassium fertilizers in Belarus, specifically Belaruskali, has been significantly aided by the finance sector, enabling the enterprise to reorganize logistics and find alternative routes for exporting their products.
- In the face of trade barriers, the Belarusian potash industry, led by Belaruskali, has shown a remarkable shift in its business practices, such as adopting soft containers for product packaging, which not only bypasses the need for specialized port equipment but also increases the volume of shipments.
- Amid the global competition in the potash industry, the energy-intensive manufacturing processes of Belaruskali remain crucial, particularly in supplying potassium chloride (MOP) to countries like China, where investments are being increased to secure food security and ensure a stable global market for potash fertilizers.
