Mosaic announced this Wednesday (8) that it will carry out a new round of reductions in its operations in Brazil due to the scarcity of sulfur, the main input used in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. In a statement sent to suppliers, the company stated that this is an "unprecedented scenario" and classified the measures as "temporary adjustments to its operational plan". According to the US multinational, this context is linked to "external factors, beyond the company's control", such as geopolitical instability, restrictions on maritime routes and pressures on the global supply chain, which have further affected the global supply of sulfur. Among the measures that will be adopted in this new round are:
- The extension of the temporary shutdowns of operations at the production units in Catalão and Tapira (MG);
- The temporary and partial hibernation of the Uberaba Complex in September;
- An assessment of the need for a temporary shutdown at the Fospar (PR) plant due to the depletion of sulfuric acid stock;
- The temporary shutdown of the blending plants in Candeias (BA) and Catalão (GO); and
- The reduction in production at the blending plants in Palmeirante (TO) and Sorriso (MT).
The statement also informs that the decision impacts contracts signed with suppliers, leading to some agreements being reviewed and adjusted. The duration and reversal of the restrictions will depend on factors such as the stabilization of sulfur prices and the reopening of international shipping routes. In April, Mosaic had already announced the suspension of operations at its phosphate rock mines in Araxá (MG) and Patrocínio (MG), as well as the decommissioning of the Araxá mining and chemical complex.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.