SPIEF-2026: Uralchem’s CEO Takes Part in the Russia — Africa Business Dialogue

Dmitry Konyaev, the CEO of Uralchem, spoke at the Russia — Africa session during the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026). The event brought together representatives of key Russian and African governmental agencies and businesses.

The session mainly focused on ensuring food security in Africa and improving the affordability of fertilisers for local farmers. Participants agreed that the main factors keeping fertiliser prices high in the region continued to be a shortage of logistics infrastructure, underdeveloped distribution networks, and a lack of large-scale projects that stimulate the development of farming enterprises.

In his speech, Dmitry Konyaev emphasised that among Uralchem Group’s strategic goals for expanding its presence in Africa was not only increasing annual supply to two million tonnes (from the current one million tonnes), but also contributing to the sustainable development of the whole continent’s mineral fertiliser market.

Dmitry Konyaev, Uralchem CEO:

Africa possesses an enormous potential for agricultural development. In the long run, it is capable of not only becoming fully self-sufficient in food but also of generating revenue from agricultural exports. However, to realise this scenario, farmers must have the opportunity to purchase mineral fertilisers at affordable prices.

As one of the largest suppliers of Russian fertilisers to Africa, Uralchem Group is expanding its presence on the continent, including through the acquisition and development of local distribution companies. At the same time, we are open to various forms of cooperation with national governments and partners. I am confident that through joint efforts we can make fertilisers truly accessible to consumers.

Uralchem JSC (a part of the Uralchem Group) is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of nitrogen and compound fertilisers. The Company’s production assets are located in Russia’s Kaliningrad Region, Kirov Region, Moscow Region and Perm Region.

Uralchem Group is a leading global producer of mineral fertilisers and chemical products. Its key assets include three major Russian companies — Uralchem JSC, Uralkali PJSC, and TOAZ JSC — with a cumulative production capacity of about 25 million tonnes. The number of people employed by the Uralchem Group is approximately 38,000.

Message source: Uralchem Group website