Petrobras suspends fertilizer production at two key plants in Brazil

Brazil’s state-controlled oil and gas company Petrobras has temporarily suspended fertilizer production at two nitrogen facilities — Ansa and Fafen Sergipe — following operational incidents that affected plant operations.

The Ansa plant in Paraná state was shut down on April 30 after an incident in the compressor room. The facility had only recently resumed operations after being idle since 2020. Ammonia production at the site continues, while the company is preparing a timeline for restarting fertilizer output.

The second unit, Fafen Sergipe, halted operations due to a power system failure that damaged key equipment. According to the company, the plant had recently resumed partial activity after a prolonged shutdown under its previous operator, but has now been suspended again.

The two facilities have significant production capacities: Ansa can produce up to 720,000 tonnes of urea and 475,000 tonnes of ammonia annually, while Fafen Sergipe has capacity for 650,000 tonnes of urea, 450,000 tonnes of ammonia, and 320,000 tonnes of ammonium sulfate. The temporary shutdown reduces Brazil’s domestic fertilizer availability.

It is important to note that Brazil is one of the world’s largest fertilizer consumers and remains heavily dependent on imports to supply its agricultural sector. Against this backdrop, reduced domestic production increases its exposure to global price volatility and supply disruptions.

Tags: Brazil, fertilizers