Top potash producer Nutrien to stop blending fertilizer in Brazil, sources say

By Ana Mano SAO PAULO, July 19 (Reuters) - Nutrien (NTR.TO) , the world’s largest potash producer, will stop blending fertilizers in Brazil after deciding to shut its last two active processing plants in the country, said three people familiar with the latest phase of a major turnaround effort. The sources, who requested anonymity as the move has not been announced, said the plan to halt blending operations at Nutrien’s Itapetininga and Araxa units is another step to reposition the company on the local market. The Canadian firm declined to comment. Nutrien is shifting its focus to reselling farm inputs through its network of local retailers in Brazil as part of a sharp strategic shift after acquisitions and investments failed to yield the expected returns. In May 2022, when Nutrien was still investing to boost fertilizer blending capacity in Brazil, the company said it planned to have a total of 12 such facilities in the country. Two years on, Nutrien indefinitely halted three of its five Brazilian blenders as part of the ongoing reorganization. Two of the sources said Nutrien has also closed several Brazil retail locations this year due to tough market conditions. The company declined to comment on its dwindling retail network in Brazil, a major importer of fertilizers. Nutrien has been working on a turnaround in the region since April 2023, when senior executives started leaving the company amid reorganization. Last year, Nutrien booked a $465 million impairment charge related to its South American acquisitions. In March, Reuters first reported Nutrien decided to sell assets in the region. As Nutrien shrinks to improve results, the departure of another three director-level Brazilian employees was announced this week in an internal memo seen by Reuters. Nutrien declined to comment on the departures.