KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Malaysia’s Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad, Indonesia’s state-owned fertiliser holding Pupuk Indonesia, and Brunei Fertiliser Industries have established the Southeast Asia Fertiliser Association (Seafa).
Indonesian media outlet Jakarta Globe reported Pupuk Indonesia president Rahmad Pribadi as saying that the formation of Seafa was a strategic response to increasingly complex challenges facing the agricultural sector.
“Food security challenges are becoming more complex and require stronger collaboration,” Rahmad was quoted as saying in a statement yesterday.
He reportedly noted that the West Asia conflict has disrupted global energy supply chains and the agricultural sector by extension.
At its initial stage, Seafa comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Pupuk Indonesia has been appointed as the association’s inaugural chairman, with Petronas Chemicals Group serving as co-chairman. The secretariat will be based in Brunei.
“Fertiliser is not merely an industrial matter — it is directly linked to food security. Therefore, international collaboration is essential; no country can address these challenges alone,” Indonesia’s deputy agriculture minister Sudaryono was quoted as saying.
CodeBlue previously reported that disruptions to global fertiliser supplies from the Iran war are expected to lead to shortages and price hikes in Malaysia, as the country is a net fertiliser importer.
A third of the world’s fertilisers normally go through the Strait of Hormuz that has been blocked by Iran for more than a month.
