Brazilian nitrogen fertilizer plants begin urea production
Published by Oliver Kleinschmidt,
Deputy Editor
World Fertilizer,
In January 2026 Petrobras has reported that two nitrogen fertilizer plants, one in Sergipe and one in Bahia in Northeast Brazil, have both begun to produce urea, thus securing the nations fertilizer production future.
The month of January marks an important step forward in the resumption of nitrogen fertilizer plants in the Northeast of Brazil. In Sergipe, the unit, which had already been producing ammonia since 31 December 2025, began urea production on 3 January 2026. The Bahia plant had its maintenance completed last month and is now in the commissioning phase, with urea production expected to begin by the end of January.
Together, the plants will produce ammonia, urea, and ARLA 32 (Automotive Liquid Reducing Agent), with initial investments of R$38 million in each. The resumption of Nitrogen Fertilizer Factories (FAFENs) has already generated 1350 direct and 4050 indirect jobs. The Sergipe Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant, located in the municipality of Laranjeiras, has the capacity to produce 1800 tpd of urea, equivalent to 7% of the national market. In Bahia, the plant located in Camaçari can produce 1300 tpd of urea, which corresponds to 5% of the national market. The FAFEN-BA operation also includes the Ammonia and Urea Maritime Terminals at the Port of Aratu, in the city of Candeias.
“The two FAFENs, together with Araucária Nitrogenados SA (ANSA), another national fertilizer plant of Petrobras, located in Paraná, will account for 20% of all urea demand in Brazil. Our expectation is to increase national production to 35% in the coming years, with a new plant under construction in Mato Grosso do Sul,” stated William França, Director of Industrial Processes and Products at Petrobras.
The production of nitrogen fertilizers by FAFENs will primarily contribute to recovering the national capacity for strategic inputs for agribusiness, with urea fertilizer and urea for ruminant feed, and may also serve the textile, paint, and paper and pulp industries. By producing ARLA 32, Petrobras contributes with a product essential for reducing vehicle emissions and preserving the environment.
“Currently, all the urea consumed in Brazil is imported. With the resumption of national production, Petrobras expands the supply of this input in the domestic market, reduces external dependence, and strengthens the agribusiness production chain,” emphasised Director William. According to him, this is a strategic action, since the process uses natural gas as its main raw material, expanding the allocation alternatives for the gas produced by the company and generating value for industry, the agricultural sector, and the country.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/nitrogen/20012026/brazilian-nitrogen-fertilizer-plants-begin-urea-production/