A liquid fertiliser manufacturer has sealed a deal to ensure the UK maintains a supply for nitrogen fertilisers at a time of global uncertainty in nutrition and food markets.
Brineflow has created the strategic joint venture with German fertiliser giant HELM AG, a Hamburg producer with extensive liquid nitrogen manufacturing capabilities in Trinidad, which can ship large vessels to the UK from an area unconstrained by European gas shortages. Brineflow is currently commissioning Phase Two of one of Europe’s largest deep-water liquid fertiliser terminals at Port of Sunderland and, together with a sister import terminal at Great Yarmouth, can supply farmers covering 90% of British crop producing areas.
The company, which is headquartered in Great Yarmouth, identified Port of Sunderland due to its strategic location on the east coast and its access to key transport links.
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John Fuller, chairman of Brineflow, said: “The multimillion-pound distribution and storage hub in Sunderland will be open by Christmas once final commissioning is completed. It will be able to receive some of the largest ocean-going vessels and represents an important piece of UK infrastructure.”
The market for Brineflow’s Nitrasol range of liquid fertilisers has been growing fast as farmers realise the significant productivity and operational efficiencies they bring. The Wearside terminal demonstrates about a fifth lower total emissions when measured against comparable fertilisers and will play a key role helping UK farmers embrace net-zero.
Mr Fuller added: “The joint venture brings together two family-owned companies whose shareholders have traded with each other for nearly forty years. The Brineflow team will work with the whole of UK agriculture to provide security of supply for fertilisers at a moment where many traditional European sources have been adversely impacted by the Ukrainian war and tightness in energy markets.”
Tim Gaetgens, HELM’s VP crop nutrition business development, said: “The deal with Brineflow in Great Britain allows us to match our manufacturing strength with brand new terminals with the capacity to meet the structural increase in demand for liquid nitrogen fertilisers in the most environmentally compliant manner with the lowest total emissions.”
Matthew Hunt, director at Port of Sunderland, said: “We are incredibly proud to have Brineflow continuing to invest in the port. Britain’s farmers have been hit incredibly hard by the fertiliser shortages brought about by Covid and the war in Ukraine and the deal between Brineflow and HELM will be crucial in securing the foundations of the entire food chain.
“In September the agricultural sector was shocked by the announcement that CF Fertilisers had been forced to once again temporarily halt production at its site just down the road in Billingham due to surging gas costs. This was in addition to the permanent closure of their other UK Plant at Ince, near Chester. I’m sure this new terminal and the promise of continual supply will provide a huge boost to food producers across the UK.”
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