UK sectoral sanctions will affect only part of Belarusian potash exports

<p> MINSK, Aug 11 - PrimePress. The United Kingdom’s sectoral sanctions of 9 August 2021 against Belarus will affect only part of Belarusian potash exports. This follows from the official explanations of the Department for International Trade of the United Kingdom published on the website of the British government on 10 August. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, Britain introduced a new package of economic, trade and aviation sanctions against the government of Belarus in connection with "the continued undermining of democracy and human rights violations”. The new sanctions comprise "trade measures on potash, petroleum products, interception and monitoring goods and technology, goods used in cigarette manufacturing, and dual-use goods and technology". Purchases of transferable securities and money-market instruments issued by the Belarusian state and by state-owned banks, and the provision of loans are prohibited. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Under Regulation 27I of the Belarus Sanctions Regulations (as amended), the import of potash or petroleum products that are consigned from or originate in Belarus is prohibited. This means that even if the immediate place the goods were shipped from was not Belarus, the prohibition may still apply. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The document refers to potash products which fall within the following commodity codes: 31042010; 31042090; 31052010; 31052090; 31056000; and ex. 31059020 or ex. 31059080, provided in each case that this is a fertiliser containing potassium chloride. </p> <p>   </p> <p> This means that fertilizers with potassium content in terms of potassium oxide of 40% or less in anhydrous product and over 62% in anhydrous product, as well as compound fertilizers, which contain potassium chloride (produced by Belaruskali OJSC and the Gomel Chemical Plant), are prohibited. </p> <p>   </p> <p> At the same time there is no potassium chloride with the content of potassium in terms of potassium oxide of more than 40%, but not more than 62% in anhydrous product (commodity code 31042050), namely, potassium chloride with the content of nutrient 60% is the most used potassium fertilizer in the world. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, on 24 June 2021, the EU Council imposed sanctions on seven sectors of the Belarusian economy, including restrictions on the import and transit of potash from Belarus under contracts signed after 25 June 2021. The restrictions apply only to potash with a nutrient content (potash K2O) of less than 40% and over 62% (technical potash - used in metallurgical, chemical and petrochemical industries). Potassium fertilizers with a nutrient content of 40% to 62%, the most popular potassium fertilizers in the world, are not yet subject to import ban. The list of products banned for import from Belarus also includes compound fertilizers containing potassium chloride (produced by Belaruskali and the Gomel Chemical Plant). </p> <p>   </p> <p> Belaruskali is one of the world’s largest producers of potassium mineral fertilizers, 100% of the company's shares are owned by the state. The company operates on the basis of Starobinskiy potassium salt deposits. The company accounts for 16% of global exports of potash fertilizers. Belarusian potash is exported to over 100 countries, with Belarusian Potash Company acting as dedicated export trader. Belaruskali’ mineral fertilizer output exceeded 12 million tonnes in 2020. End </p>

2021-08-12

Primepress