Since its formal establishment in September 2019, the Nitro-Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Branch of the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association (hereinafter referred to as the “Nitro-Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Branch”) has been closely focused on the work objectives set forth at its inception, despite intense market competition and increasingly stringent national environmental safety policies. As a result, the Branch has achieved certain accomplishments. In response to the global demand for high-quality agricultural development, the Branch continues to improve its operations and steadily enhance the quality of its services. On January 19, 2020, the Branch held a work report meeting for its member units in Jiaocheng, Shanxi Province. Huo Xuesong, Secretary-General of the Branch, stated that under the leadership of the county Party committee and county government and with the strong support of its member units, the Branch has made explorations and efforts in the following areas:

I. Establish and improve the organizational structure and management system of the Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Branch.

After years of careful organization and preparation, the association was finally established in early September last year. At the outset, the association faced a challenging situation: a shortage of personnel, unfamiliarity with the work, and lack of experience. In the new year, the sub-association will earnestly listen to the opinions and suggestions of enterprises, establish an expert committee, regularly provide exchange and guidance to its members, organize special seminars on calcium-magnesium fertilizers, and continuously promote technological advancement in the agrochemical industry. Based on the specific circumstances of the sub-association, we will formulate work plans on a regular basis, refine the mechanism for reporting industry data, set up a communication and exchange platform among member enterprises, and improve the sub-association’s basic management system.

II. Establish new network infrastructure, closely monitor market trends, and release the latest information.

The sub-association will carry out extensive publicity and promotion in media operations. It will not only promote the website on major search engines both domestically and internationally but also collaborate with leading media platforms in the future to synchronize the latest news from its WeChat subscription account—the Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Information Platform—with the official website of the “Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Sub-association,” thereby establishing a “China’s Calcium Capital” model. This initiative will significantly enhance the sub-association’s online communication capabilities, providing comprehensive and detailed introductions to the sub-association itself as well as its member enterprises, including their basic information and contact details. By leveraging the website, the sub-association will promptly gather feedback from upstream and downstream enterprises and calcium-magnesium fertilizer customers, then integrate this information resource effectively. Such efforts will help improve work efficiency, optimize the allocation of information resources, and strengthen interaction with the general public in the internet era.

3. Actively communicate with relevant authorities and foster strong, collaborative partnerships among enterprises.

Since its establishment, the Nitrogen-Containing Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Association has done extensive work in promoting national policies to chemical enterprises, understanding the spirit of the industry, conducting market research, identifying development directions, attracting talent, strengthening product and technology exchanges, safeguarding members’ rights and interests, staying closely aligned with industry trends and enterprise needs, focusing on products, paying attention to the market, and providing excellent services to its member units.

The branch has been in discussions with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Phosphate Fertilizer Association, planning for member companies to join forces and jointly participate in trade shows organized by various entities. In the future, the branch will also leverage institutions and organizations such as the CCPIT, the Chemical Industry News Agency, and the Agricultural Inputs Guide to host its own trade shows. The branch will negotiate with the CCPIT regarding cooperation on the 2022 CAC Conference (as the booth arrangements for 2021 have already been finalized) and will continue collaborating with the Phosphate Fertilizer Association on their joint participation in exhibitions held in 2020. The list of participating companies for the coordinated Phosphate Fertilizer Exhibition will be finalized this February. We wish all the best for a successful joint exhibition!

4. Coordinate and communicate with upstream and downstream enterprises to establish reasonable prices for raw materials and finished products.

As we entered 2019, the prices of raw materials for calcium-magnesium fertilizers remained volatile. In November, the price of ammonium nitrate-calcium plummeted. In response to the expectations of local governments and the aspirations of member enterprises, the branch office promptly organized a seminar on ammonium nitrate-calcium in Qingdao. At the seminar, participants analyzed and discussed the current price trends of ammonium nitrate-calcium as well as the production status of individual enterprises. The secretary-general of the branch emphasized that we must cooperate sincerely and make joint efforts to contribute appropriately to the calcium-magnesium fertilizer industry. Enterprises should strengthen cooperation and communication, help each other, and adopt a forward-looking perspective when addressing challenges. We also hope that raw material suppliers will set reasonable prices, enabling us to jointly maintain healthy competition in the market.

Whether they are manufacturers of calcium-magnesium fertilizers, suppliers of raw materials, or distributors of related products, all play crucial roles in the calcium-magnesium fertilizer industry. It is recommended that calcium-magnesium fertilizer manufacturers focus more on product innovation and develop differentiated products. Given the severe homogenization of ammonium nitrate-calcium products, companies can enhance their profitability and ensure healthy development by innovating and creating differentiated products. With joint efforts from producers, suppliers, and distributors, all parties can achieve mutual benefits and jointly forge a new pattern for the development of the calcium-magnesium fertilizer industry.

V. Approval of the standard development project for “Magnesium Nitrate for Agricultural Use”

To provide an inspection basis for standardizing the production, processing, and delivery of magnesium nitrate, prevent substandard products from being sold as high-quality ones in the market—thereby safeguarding farmers’ interests—and promote the use of agricultural-grade magnesium nitrate to enhance the quality of agricultural products, on October 27, 2019, the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association and the National Fertilizer Quality Inspection and Testing Center convened a “Revision Workshop on NY1107-2010 Standard for Bulk Element Water-Soluble Fertilizers.” At the meeting, Mr. Niu Tianliang, a consultant of the subcommittee, put forward a proposal for initiating the development of agricultural-grade magnesium nitrate as well as recommendations regarding the content of bulk element water-soluble fertilizers. Director Wang Hong of the National Fertilizer Quality Inspection and Testing Center expressed his support for this proposal and affirmed its feasibility.

In November 2019, the sub-association, together with Shanxi Huaxin Fertilizer Co., Ltd., Shanxi Jinlan Chemical Co., Ltd., Jiaocheng Sanxi Chemical Co., Ltd., Shanxi Jiaocheng Hongxing Chemical Co., Ltd., and Shanxi Leixin Chemical Co., Ltd., submitted to the National Agricultural Technology Center and the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association such documents as the “Proposal for Initiating the Standard for Magnesium Nitrate for Agricultural Use,” the “Summary Table of Proposed Initiations of Industry Standards for the Crop Production Sector in 2020,” the “Proposal for Initiating Industry Standards for the Crop Production Sector in 2020,” and the “Plan for Formulating and Revising Industry Standards for 2021–2022.” On January 6, 2020, the sub-association attended the “Founding Meeting of the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Association’s Group Standard Committee and the 2020 Review Meeting for Group Standard Initiations.” At the meeting, Guo Changchun, Deputy General Manager of Shanxi Jinlan Chemical Co., Ltd., provided important explanations regarding the proposal for initiating the “Standard for Magnesium Nitrate for Agricultural Use.”

At the meeting, a total of 10 organizations reported on 15 applications for the establishment of group standards and related information. To meet the needs of industry development, promote the scientific, healthy, and orderly growth of the industry, and ensure that the standards are more scientifically rigorous, innovative, advanced, reasonable, and practical, the “Magnesium Nitrate for Agricultural Use” has been included in the first batch of drafting plans for 2020 by the Standards Committee of the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association.

On January 14, 2020, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shanxi Province issued the “Notice on Soliciting Proposals for the Formulation and Revision of Local Standards in Key Areas of Industry and Information Technology in Shanxi Province for 2020,” focusing on local standards for emerging industries, traditional industries, and industries with distinctive advantages. As calcium-magnesium fertilizer is a locally specific industry in Jiaocheng, it is imperative to refine the local standard for magnesium nitrate used in agriculture.

6. Conduct efficacy trials for calcium-magnesium fertilizers and expand their scope of application.

Our industry is no longer an emerging one; the market is transparent, products are standardized, and customer information is readily available. We deeply understand that expanding the application scope of calcium ammonium nitrate, addressing the diverse needs in the calcium-magnesium fertilizer market, and thereby standardizing industry capacity models are among the key priorities of our sub-association. The sub-association has been in communication with Henan Agricultural University to conduct comparative trials on the performance of calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate fertilizers, and other fertilizers in peanut cultivation. In the future, member companies will be able to leverage these experimental results for comparative demonstrations and jointly organize small-scale exhibitions dedicated to calcium-magnesium fertilizers.

7. Speak up for the calcium-magnesium fertilizer industry and for “China’s Calcium Capital.”

We have always adhered to a work ethic characterized by diligence and patience, demanding that our staff demonstrate sufficient sense of responsibility and social commitment in their work. Over the past few months, the branch has actively participated in industry conferences—both large and small—across the country, engaging in discussions on industry development, sector reforms, and government policy deliberations related to industry interests, as well as government-sponsored seminars focused on the calcium-magnesium fertilizer industry. At these events, we have spoken out in support of ammonium nitrate-calcium fertilizers and advocated for the broader interests of the calcium-magnesium fertilizer industry. After the conferences, rather than simply relaying meeting information, we organized enterprises to conduct market analyses and strengthened exchanges and communication among calcium-magnesium fertilizer companies. Using information as a key link, we launched distinctive services tailored to the branch’s needs, organizing seminars for calcium-magnesium fertilizer enterprises. In response to pricing irregularities, the branch proactively communicated with upstream suppliers, helping stabilize raw material prices and playing a positive role in stabilizing the prices of calcium-magnesium products.

Finally, the sub-association will earnestly implement national policies, strive to carry out its work effectively, actively fulfill its coordination and management responsibilities, promptly collect industry information and relevant data, strengthen technical guidance for member units, promote the steady development of calcium-magnesium fertilizer enterprises, and ensure the sub-association’s standardized operation.