Anglo American plc

08/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/30/2024 01:01

Anglo American agrees polyhalite fertiliser partnership with Chinese market leaders

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Anglo American agrees polyhalite fertiliser partnership with Chinese market leaders

30 August, 2024

Anglo American has signed Memorandums of Understanding ("MOU") with two major Chinese fertiliser companies, Sinochem Fertilizer and BeiFeng AMP, to further develop the market for polyhalite in China.

Sinochem Fertilizer, a member of Syngenta Group, is the largest distributor of agricultural inputs in China, with sales covering 95% of China's arable land. The business encompasses the entire fertiliser industry supply chain spanning R&D, production, distribution and agrochemical services. BeiFeng AMP is the third largest fertiliser distributor in China, focused on the three northeastern provinces known as the country's 'grain barn'.

The agreements will see both companies collaborate with Anglo American on the promotion and development of low carbon, soil friendly fertiliser products and practices, and jointly drive the establishment of polyhalite product standards in China. This will include joint commercial-scale demonstrations and further research on major arable crops such as corn, soybean, potato, rice and high value crops such as apple, citrus and grapes, building upon the already extensive crop trials that Anglo American has completed in recent years, as well as the development of regional sales opportunities, marketing strategies and supply arrangements.

Tom McCulley, CEO of Anglo American's Crop Nutrients business, said: "China is a key customer for us in our ambition to be a leader in sustainable crop nutrition. Given our Crop Nutrients business forms part of Anglo American's exceptional growth trajectory over the next decade, we are continuing to foster strategic partnerships across the agricultural industry to prepare the market for the full range of commercial and environmental benefits that polyhalite can offer farmers and the entire food value chain.

"With this in mind, we are focused on working closely with our strategic partners to encourage more sustainable farming practices through the uptake and adoption of our flagship multi-nutrient and low carbon POLY4 product, derived from the naturally-occurring mineral polyhalite which we will supply from our Woodsmith mine in the northeast of England."

Tielin Wang, Vice President of Syngenta China and General Manager of Sinochem Fertilizer, said:

"As a leading fertilizer distributor in China, Sinochem Fertilizer has significant advantages in production, R&D and marketing. We are delighted to collaborate with a company like Anglo American, which shares our vision and strategic goals. The signing of this MoU marks an initial achievement in our mutually beneficial partnership. We are eager to move beyond the agreement on paper to practical implementation, continuously advancing our collaborative projects. By leveraging our combined strengths, we're working together towards our goal to create substantial value for Chinese farmers."

Anglo American will contribute to a more sustainable way of feeding a growing global population from ever decreasing available farmland - by developing innovative polyhalite-based crop nutrition products from the Woodsmith mine in North Yorkshire in the UK. Polyhalite helps provide a more balanced and nutritious diet throughout a plant's life cycle, resulting in stronger, healthier and more productive crops, while supporting healthy soils and helping to reduce negative environmental impacts.

Globally, Anglo American's market development programme now totals more than 2,000 commercial-scale demonstrations in 40 countries across more than 80 different crops. The team has engaged with c.350 distributors, retailers, co-operatives, blenders and manufacturers, and engaged extensively with farmers, universities, NGOs, global research institutions, media, and membership associations to build out a greater understanding of the wide-ranging environmental and economic benefits of polyhalite as a natural mineral fertiliser.

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For further information, please contact:

Media Investors
UK UK
James Wyatt-Tilby Tyler Broda
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Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1470
Marcelo Esquivel Emma Waterworth
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8891 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8574
Rebecca Meeson-Frizelle Michelle West-Russell
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1374 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1494
South Africa
Nevashnee Naicker
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 3189

Notes to editors:

Anglo American is a leading global mining company and our products are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. Our portfolio of world-class competitive operations, with a broad range of future development options, provides many of the future-enabling metals and minerals for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast growing every day demands of billions of consumers. With our people at the heart of our business, we use innovative practices and the latest technologies to discover new resources and to mine, process, move and market our products to our customers - safely and sustainably.

As a responsible producer of copper, nickel, platinum group metals, diamonds (through De Beers), and premium quality iron ore and steelmaking coal - with crop nutrients in development - we are committed to being carbon neutral across our operations by 2040. More broadly, our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals to ensure we work towards a healthy environment, creating thriving communities and building trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, for society as a whole, and for our shareholders. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people's lives.

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