SUSTAINING GROWTH

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of fertilizer exporter Fertiglobe and producer OCI N.V., has a couple of issues on his mind: maximizing supply to a world on the brink of a global food security crisis and minimizing its impact on the environment. As Fertiglobe's market cap more than doubles, it seems to be in hand.

- NERMEEN ABBAS

As global food security becomes a key issue in the wake of the war in Ukraine, associated industries are suddenly finding themselves at the forefront of one of the world’s most imminent and potentially-catastrophic crises. For example, fertilizer producers—who play a vital role in the production and maintenance of crops worldwide—have witnessed a major increase in demand for their products as supply chains dry up. One of the most notable regional players in this field is Fertiglobe, a joint venture between Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris’s OCI N.V. and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Having listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX) in October 2021, the U.A.E.based company is currently the world’s largest seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia combined. “It is very critical during this time to bring as much fertilizer to market as possible,” says Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of Fertiglobe and OCI N.V.