5 4 THE fundamentals of the fertiliser market globally and domestically are continuing to encourage local retail partners and growers to arrange their fertiliser requirements at the earliest opportunity. There appears to have been some hesitation at store and grower level on fertiliser purchasing in the hope that prices may soften, however, in various cases, they have been going the other way. We have seen prices rise due to increased shipping costs out of China and around the Asian region. There was recently a US$50/t (AUD$77/t) rise out of China. This was due to a lack of empty containers in China, and, as a result, exporters were bidding for empty containers. It also caused uncertainty on export dates and, thus, arrival dates, with vessels waiting to be filled before departing. People should think carefully about these circumstances and be mindful of offers that appear too good to be true. The big question is when will this extra freight cost be passed onto the Australian market? Additionally, Chinese export quotas also are expected to drop, placing more pressure on supply locally during our peak demand period. Traditionally, as the Northern Hemisphere moves into winter, energy costs rise as supply is moved to heating rather than industrial uses. Phosphate On the phosphate front, we continue to see a firming market, with the granular market also reflecting this. Phosphates are energy intensive and fertiliser production is competing with lithium phosphate battery production. We have received pricing queries at Haifa, but we ask that an “apples for apples” comparison be made. Our products are of the highest quality and are unlikely to go hard in storage or have levels of impurities. Quality, of course, comes at a cost, and product in a Haifa bag is easier to sell than a traded bag of fertiliser. Micronutrients Micronutrients are a relatively new product range for Haifa Australia and already we are experiencing strong sales. We also have received enquiry from our competitors to purchase large volumes, which indicates a market that is short. While we have some products available, we don’t have luxury supplies, particularly considering we are honouring orders from loyal clients before any new orders. For those who may be needing high quality chelated micronutrients, please call your local Haifa sales agent to enquire about supply. Our stock-on-hand levels in the ports or Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane are good, however, it is expected to sell down sharply during September, as the northern and southern seasons merge. Haifa is manufacturing at consistently high levels and demand for product is high globally. Australia competes with other countries for supply and we encourage our retail partners and growers to place orders to guarantee supply. We have been taking orders for October production and shipping for Multi-K GG. Retails stores and growers should be looking to secure product now for January 2025 delivery. If there is no planning, there may not be any supply to sell. Fertiliser market dynamics encourages early planning By Trevor Dennis Managing Director, Haifa Australia Finance Manager still working the numbers to become greener thumb LANDING a role in the horticulture industry as the Finance Manager for Haifa Australia was a new world for Navindra GamlakshageDon, but it’s allowed a greater appreciation for how we grow crops and what we eat and he has since tried his own hand at doing the same. Originally from Sri Lanka, Navindra moved to Melbourne in 2015 and was later joined by his university sweetheart and wife, Ruwani, and their two daughters, Divya (15) and Amaya (12). He spent seven years as a chief accountant with a construction company in Sri Lanka and had a stint with global biotechnology business, CSL, prior to joining Haifa Australia, where he has chalked-up another seven years. It was a big change transitioning from a monster company with many people in the form of CSL, but Navindra said he now appreciated the small office environment and ability to work from home. Navindra is the whole finance division at Haifa Australia and therefore has control, although he said unfortunately it means he cannot delegate to meet deadlines. He said working alongside the Haifa Australia team had provided an insight into the impact agronomists can have on growing operations and it had inspired him to test his own skills in the garden. Navindra has about 300 square metres in the back yard and has been targeting organic vegetable production, plus maximising yield from a couple of plum trees. “We are trying to grow vegetables like salad leaves, spring onions, chillies and sweet potatoes for their leaves, which are great in a stir fry,” Navindra said. Ruwani, who is also an assistant accountant, enjoys cooking some of the produce with their daughters and Navindra said he would keep trying to fine-tune his growing skills. He works four days a week for Haifa Australia and supplements it with something that is not always associated with finance managers – web programming. Meanwhile, the family is now well established in Melbourne and has since been joined by a host of university friends and their families. With a little more improvement in the garden, it means the next night out in Melbourne could be a Sri Lankan feast! Haifa Australia Finance Manager Navindra GamlakshageDon has looked to hone his vegetable growing skills since joining the company. He and his family are pictured with some of their home-grown produce in Melbourne. Never miss an edition of DownUnder SUBSCRIBE Email australia@haifa-group.com with the subject line Subscribe to DownUnder
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