Riga, Latvia / Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Uralchem Group has announced that the maritime vessel MV Asian Majesty, anchored in the Bay of Riga with 55,000 tonnes of potash since early 2022, has finally departed Latvian waters. The ship, now en route to Sri Lanka, is carrying a vital shipment of fertiliser aimed at supporting the country’s agricultural sector amidst ongoing food security challenges.
Sri Lanka Guardian, which has closely followed and worked on this story from the outset, played a crucial role in expediting the release of the vessel and its cargo. The fertiliser, although held in storage for an extended period, has been certified by independent inspections as being in optimal condition to aid Sri Lanka’s farming sector. This is expected to significantly boost crop yields and alleviate the strain on the country’s agriculture, which has been hit hard by one of the worst economic crises in decades.
This shipment marks the sixth humanitarian fertiliser consignment by Uralchem Group, part of the company’s larger initiative to address global food insecurity. Since late 2022, Uralchem has delivered around 190,000 tonnes of fertiliser to developing nations, including Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, with the support of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). These efforts align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal #2 — “End hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture.”
Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of Uralchem JSC, emphasised the importance of the delivery, stating, “Potash is an essential nutrient for plant growth, and its use in farming is crucial for consistent yield gains. Given Sri Lanka’s current economic struggles, we are proud to contribute to the stability of its agricultural sector and the wellbeing of its people.”
The departure of MV Asian Majesty offers hope to Sri Lanka as the fertiliser onboard will play a critical role in reviving crop farming and securing harvests, directly benefiting the island nation’s food production and the livelihoods of its farmers.
About Uralchem Group: Uralchem is a leading global producer of mineral fertilisers and chemical products, with a combined production capacity of 25 million tonnes. The group employs approximately 38,000 people across its operations, which include major Russian companies such as Uralchem JSC, Uralkali PJSC, and TOAZ JSC.
