A £7.5m combined investment from Origin Fertilisers and the Port of Tyne in a new fertiliser facility will offer improved fertiliser access and supply across the Borders, Northern England and Southern Scotland for the 2024/25 crop year and beyond.
The project on the Port of Tyne site for a dedicated 6,000m2 fertiliser warehouse will allow Origin to produce and store in excess of 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser products.
Origin’s managing director, Michael Pater, says the investment is significant for the region. “This major investment provides us with a new site in north-east England complementing existing facilities in Silloth, Immingham, Ayr and Montrose.
“The facility is located port-side and gives direct access to deep sea vessels, which will be a major improvement in accessing raw materials from further afield, providing a wider range of product sourcing and competitive pricing. It will allow us to meet the growing need for prescription fertilisers in the area, while simplifying supply and logistics of fertiliser for many customers.”
Port of Tyne’s Head of Estates, Victoria Beattie, added: “This investment also brings economic and environmental benefits. Approximately 15 new jobs will be created, as well as the regional position of the site set to reduce road miles of around 5,000 lorry loads of fertiliser. This partnership aligns with our commitment to positively impact the local economy, and we look forward to Origin’s new site being fully operational.”
The project is now at the final stage of installing a new modern blending plant. This will enable a full range of secondary and micro-nutrients, along with fertiliser additives, to be added to the fertiliser to match specific crop and animal requirements on an individual farm and field basis. Completion of the site is planned for early October.
