Petrobras is evaluating a plan to double its production of nitrogenous fertilizers to meet roughly 35% [1] of Brazil's national demand by 2028.
This expansion represents a strategic shift to secure the domestic agricultural supply chain. By reducing dependence on foreign imports, Brazil aims to protect its agribusiness sector from global price volatility and supply chain disruptions.
Magda Chambriard, president of Petrobras, said the company intends to supply 35% [1] of the nitrogenous fertilizer demand in Brazil by 2028. This goal is part of a broader push toward national self-sufficiency in the sector [2].
The strategy involves the reactivation and expansion of several industrial sites. On May 13, 2026, a spokesperson for Petrobras said the company detailed the resumption of production at the Bahia Fertilizer Plant, known as Fafen BA, in Camaçari [3]. Other key locations involved in the production network include plants in Sergipe, Paraná, and Mato Grosso do Sul [2].
To reach these targets, the company is studying a two-fold increase [4] in its current output. While some reports focus on the specific percentage of market share, other evaluations indicate the company is weighing a full doubling of its production capacity [4].
Chambriard said the company plans to meet the 35% [1] target within the next few years. The move is intended to stabilize the availability of nitrogen-based nutrients, which are critical for the high-yield crops that drive the Brazilian economy [2].
“Petrobras is evaluating a plan to double its production of nitrogenous fertilizers”
The push for fertilizer self-sufficiency is a geopolitical and economic hedge for Brazil. As one of the world's largest agricultural exporters, Brazil's vulnerability to import shocks in nitrogen fertilizers — often sourced from regions prone to conflict or trade disputes — poses a risk to food security and GDP. By leveraging Petrobras's industrial capacity, the government is attempting to integrate its energy sector with its agricultural output to ensure stable crop yields.
