EuroChem announces new Head of South America

EuroChem Group has announced Gustavo Horbach as its Head of South America with responsibility for EuroChem’s operations and strategic business development in the region. The executive has been with the company since 2021 and was Vice President of EuroChem’s Upstream Production and Investment Projects in South America.

EuroChem is a global leader in the production of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers, and is the fastest growing fertilizer company in South America, having invested over US$1.5 billion in the region since 2016.

In his new role, Horbach will lead the integration and consolidation of EuroChem’s assets and operations across the continent, as well as ensuring delivery of the company’s strategic growth plan.

One of his first major priorities is the completion and commissioning of the Salitre project in the first quarter of 2024, a mining-industrial complex in Minas Gerais.  When launched, the project will supply 15 percent of all phosphate fertilizers to the Brazilian market and further demonstrates EuroChem’s commitment to helping Brazil achieve fertilizer self-sufficiency to support its growing agricultural sector.

Gustavo Horbach, Head of EuroChem South America, said: ″Brazil is the food basket of the world, and key to global food production and security. I’m pleased to be taking the lead in EuroChem’s South America operations and am committed to the Group’s vision of growth in the region. We will seek to efficiently consolidate the assets we already own, not losing sight of potential market opportunities and ensuring that our capital investments – notably Serra do Salitre – come into operation in a solid and reliable manner. Meeting our customers’ needs and contributing more and more to the Brazilian agri-business is our mission and commitment.″

A civil engineer with postgraduate degrees in Business Administration and Project Management, Horbach brings more than 20 years of experience leading industrial operations and complex capital projects for global organizations across multiple industries including petrochemicals, oil and gas, fertilizers, mining and energy. At EuroChem, he led capital investment projects and is a member of the Board of Directors of Fertilizantes Heringer S.A.

Don Lambert, CEO Americas, EuroChem said: ″The scale of EuroChem’s investment in South America, clearly demonstrates our commitment to supporting Brazil and the agricultural sector in the region. Gustavo has delivered some significant achievements in his time in EuroChem, leading the mining and production project in Serra do Salitre, which at 75 percent completion – is ahead of schedule, and achieved with outstanding safety records. Gustavo shares our vision and is the right choice to lead our South America business which will enable us to expand our strategic focus on the region and accelerate our growth plans.″