RFPA Congratulates PhosAgro on Reaching Production Milestone at Cherepovets Plant

The Russian Fertilizer Producers Association (RFPA) hereby congratulates PhosAgro on the production of its 100 millionth tonne of phosphate-based mineral fertilizer at its Cherepovets production facility.

“PhosAgro’s rapid growth has enabled it to bolster its leading position in the global mineral fertilizer industry. The Company plays an important role in providing domestic farmers with eco-efficient mineral fertilizers, and it is a reliable guarantor of food security in Russia and around the world. It is symbolic that this production milestone was achieved at the same time that the RFPA is marking its 15th anniversary and the Russia–Africa Summit is being held, where one of the most important topics being discussed is Africa’s food sovereignty,” said RFPA President Andrey Guryev in a congratulatory telegram addressed to PhosAgro CEO Mikhail Rybnikov.

PhosAgro’s Cherepovets plant produced its milestone 100 millionth tonne of phosphate-based fertilizer during the night of 27–28 July 2023.

The plant has been keeping count since 26 February 1976. It was precisely at that time that the first granules of ammonium nitrate phosphate fertilizer, a mineral fertilizer containing three plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), were produced at the Cherepovets Chemical Plant’s complex mineral fertilizer shop. This event marked the completion of the first phase of construction of the new plant.

The shop produced 43,981 tonnes of product in 1976, and production volumes gradually rose as the facility expanded and capacity increased. Although it took 35 years to produce the first 50 million tonnes, the plant’s workforce produced the next 50 million tonnes in just 12 years.

This kind of breakthrough became possible once the plant joined PhosAgro. Since then, productivity has nearly doubled thanks to investments, the modernisation of production facilities and the refinement of workflows.

“Today, PhosAgro’s Cherepovets plant is one og the largest mineral fertilizer production facility in Russia and in Europe. Its products are supplied to Russian consumers and to over 100 countries around the world. We use eight industrial process systems to produce 56 brands of complex phosphate-based mineral fertilizers, including products containing micronutrients. At the same time, it takes only 4 to 12 hours to transition from producing one brand to another,” said Alexey Gribkov, the plant’s Director.

Over just the past 10 years, PhosAgro has invested RUB 400 billion to develop and modernise its production facilities, which has made it possible to increase the volume of minerals processed as well as the amount of finished product shipped to consumers every year.