US fertiliser giant sets sights on UK supplier

American fertiliser giant Koch Fertilizer has announced plans to buy independent fertiliser supplier J&H Bunn.

Negotiations are ongoing and subject to Office of Fair Trading approval, but if given the go-ahead, the deal is expected to be closed during the first quarter of this year.

Bunn’s blends and sells fertilisers to farmers and agricultural merchants and has 12 sites throughout the UK, employing about 150 people.

Its main fertiliser terminals are in Great Yarmouth, Middlesbrough and Sharpness, and it has six other coastal and inland terminals at Falmouth, Howden, Montrose, Fakenham, Norwich and Wakefield.

“By adding this business, Koch Fertilizer can integrate J&H Bunn’s terminals, distribution and blending capabilities into our growing market coverage,” said Steve Packebush, president of Koch Fertilizer.

Bunn’s joint managing director David Harrod added: “The combination of Bunn’s blending and agronomic expertise and Koch’s global sourcing and production capability could be a unique combination.

“This gives the opportunity for agriculture to benefit from additional fertiliser choice and security of supply arising from Koch’s unrivalled global sourcing capability.”

Koch Fertilizer trades more than 10m tonnes of fertiliser annually. It plans to retain the Bunn facilities, brand names and management and operational teams to ensure customer continuity.