Brazil leads imports of Russian fertilizers in 2024.
Brazil's dependence on agricultural inputs reinforces Russia's strategic importance as a supplier.
247 – Brazil was the largest buyer of mineral fertilizers from Russia in 2024, surpassing countries such as India and China, according to data from the UN's Comtrade platform and customs information released by Sputnik Brazil. From January to November, Brazilian imports reached US$3,38 billion (R$19,98 billion), reaffirming the central role of Brazilian agriculture on the global stage.
India and China, the second and third largest buyers, purchased US$1,46 billion (R$8,63 billion) and US$1,31 billion (R$7,74 billion), respectively. Total Russian exports to these three markets reached US$6,16 billion (R$36,4 billion), consolidating them as the main destinations for Russian mineral fertilizers.
In addition to these countries, the list of the ten largest importers included the United States (US$ 1,19 billion), Mexico (US$ 669 million), Indonesia (US$ 412,9 million), Poland (US$ 397 million), South Africa (US$ 286,2 million), Thailand (US$ 279 million), and Colombia (US$ 185,5 million). The European Union bloc, including all member countries, imported Russian fertilizers totaling US$ 1,65 billion (R$ 9,75 billion).
Strategic dependence
The figures reinforce Brazil's dependence on imported agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers, which are essential for the production of soybeans, corn, coffee, and other products that make Brazil one of the world's largest agricultural exporters. On the other hand, they consolidate Russia as a strategic player in the global supply of these inputs, at a time of increasing complexity in international supply chains.
Sputnik Brazil highlighted that this data reinforces the importance of trade relations between Brazil and Russia, particularly in a sector as vital as agriculture. With the growing demand for food, this partnership is likely to continue to be an important pillar for Brazilian agribusiness.
Challenges and prospects
Experts point out that, although Brazil managed to meet its fertilizer demand in 2024, the increased dependence on a few suppliers represents a strategic challenge. In this context, diversifying import sources and increasing domestic fertilizer production are considered crucial steps to reduce vulnerabilities during periods of global crises.
