Koch Ag & Energy Solutions is expanding its phosphate fertilizer business through a new 50/50 joint venture with OCP Nutricrops in Morocco, a move the companies say will help strengthen supply options for global customers, including North America.
Under the agreement announced July 17, Koch will invest in Jorf Fertilizers Company I, which operates a phosphate fertilizer facility at Jorf Lasfar, Morocco, with production capacity of up to 1.2 million metric tons annually. Combined with the companies’ earlier Kofert venture, the two joint ventures would represent about 2.5 million metric tons of annual phosphate-based fertilizer production capacity.
“This investment builds on the successful collaboration we have had through the Kofert venture,” Scott McGinn, president of Koch Fertilizer, said in the announcement. “We are excited to expand Koch Fertilizer’s phosphate offering for our customers and to continue to grow Koch’s long-standing relationship with OCP.”
The companies said the deal could improve supply reliability and provide another source of phosphate-based fertilizers for customers in North America. They also pointed to the U.S. administration’s temporary suspension of countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports as an opening to serve U.S. farmers.
“We welcome the signing of this agreement, which marks an important milestone in our long-standing partnership with Koch,” Faris Derrij, chairman and chief executive officer of OCP Nutricrops, said in the announcement. “The joint venture strengthens our ability to deliver reliable, high-quality soil nutrition solutions to farmers and customers, including across North America, while contributing to more resilient agricultural value chains and long-term food security.”
