Port of Sunderland - Major fertiliser deal to safeguard UK food supply
Posted on 30 November 2022
A British manufacturer of liquid fertilisers has entered into a strategic joint venture with German fertiliser giant HELM AG to ensure that the United Kingdom maintains security of supply for nitrogen fertilisers at a time of international uncertainty in global nutrition and food markets.
Brineflow is currently commissioning Phase Two of one of Europe’s largest deep-water liquid fertiliser terminals at Port of Sunderland and, with a sister import terminal at Great Yarmouth, can supply farmers covering 90per cent of British crop producing areas.
HELM AG is based in Hamburg and is a producer of fertiliser with extensive liquid nitrogen [UAN] manufacturing capabilities in Trinidad and can ship large vessels to the British market from an area unconstrained by European gas shortages.
John Fuller OBE, chairman of Brineflow, said: “The multi-million-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 appreciate the significant productivity and operational efficiencies they bring. Built to the latest and most demanding environmental standards, the Sunderland 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 and become more competitive in global markets.
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.”
Great Yarmouth-based Brineflow identified Port of Sunderland due to its strategic location on the east coast and its access to key transport links.
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.”
