Belarus, also known as Belarus, is one of the world's leading exporters of Potassium Chloride, used in the manufacture of fertilizers, however, the political crisis in the country is making it difficult to export this product, affecting, thus, food prices in Brazil. The eastern European country represents 20% of the world production of potassium, being, the first supplier of this item to Brazil.
Belarus is considered the last dictatorship in Europe, having as president Alexander Lukashenko, elected in 1994. In May 2021, an opposing journalist was arrested, after the government ordered the plane the journalist was on to land in Minsk, in the country's capital. Thereby, countries like UK, Canada, USA and among others, decided to sanction the country's economy, including exports of petroleum products and potassium chloride.
With the political crisis and announced sanctions, the price per ton of Potassium Chloride has suffered a shock, what used to cost US$ 300, started to cost US$ 700, which turned out to be a problem for those who make use of fertilizers., as is the case in Brazil, represents, approximately, 25% of production costs. The price of fertilizers increased by 40% a 80%, in 2021, which is not the only problem, since a possible shortage of the product is already on the agenda. The Port of ParanĂĄ spent two months without receiving a ship with the product. Even with stocks still high, the predicted scenario is not the most beneficial, making it difficult for Brazilian producers to export.
How is it a food chain, this scenario can and will harm end consumers. Some commodities such as soybeans and corn have market-controlled prices, that is, producers end up harming themselves because their profit margin decreases and they cannot control the price of the product, in addition to being subject to a price increase in the market.
Around 50% of the fertilizers used in the country are turned to soy, corn, cane and coffee. Even so, any crop requires fertilization on a larger or smaller scale, that is, to plant this fertilization is needed, so it ends up hurting itself in every way, the impact is felt and immediate.
BREMBATTI, Katia. How the crisis in Belarus can affect the price of food in Brazil. Available in: < https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/business/como-a-crise-na-belarus-pode-afetar-o-preco-da-comida-no-brasil/ >. Access in: 13 October 2021.
