Launched during the Argus Fertilizer Asia Conference on April 1, the collaboration is expected to support the availability of fertilizers for the national agricultural sector while improving the competitiveness of Indonesia’s fertilizer industry at both regional and global levels.

“What we are witnessing today is not merely a ceremonial signing, but a step toward long-term growth and progress for the region. The formation of SEAFA is driven by a simple understanding that challenges in the agricultural and regional food security landscape are becoming increasingly complex. Addressing these challenges requires better information, greater awareness and a shared sense of responsibility,” said Pupuk Indonesia president director Rahmad Pribadi.

Rahmad added that SEAFA marks an important step for the regional fertilizer industry in responding to global challenges, particularly the United States-Israeli war against Iran. According to him, this collaboration can strengthen regional industry synergies in ensuring supply availability to support food security.

“As global dynamics continue to evolve, marked by volatile supply chains and shifting energy demands impacting agriculture, it is crucial for us to remain adaptive. This is important to maintain agility while ensuring that every step remains grounded in our core principles,” he said.

At its initial stage, SEAFA is founded by three Southeast Asian fertilizer producers: Pupuk Indonesia from Indonesia, Petronas Chemicals Group from Malaysia and Brunei Fertilizer Industries from Brunei Darussalam.

Under the agreement, Brunei Darussalam will host SEAFA’s main secretariat, with Pupuk Indonesia appointed as the first chairman and Petronas Chemicals Group serving as cochairman. The chairmanship will rotate annually among members.

Looking ahead, SEAFA is expected to evolve into a strategic collaboration platform for the regional fertilizer industry, including as a forum for knowledge-sharing and innovation in sustainable production practices, low-carbon technology development and fertilizer supply chain digitalization.

The organization is also expected to serve as a collective representative of Southeast Asia’s fertilizer industry in regional and international forums related to food security, sustainable industry and climate change agendas.

In the long run, SEAFA remains open to expanding collaboration with more fertilizer producers from other ASEAN countries. This expansion is expected to further strengthen regional industry synergies and enhance ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining global fertilizer supply stability and food security.

On the same occasion, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono emphasized that cross-country collaboration is key to ensuring food security, especially amid ongoing global geopolitical dynamics. He stressed that such cooperation must be built sustainably, including through international forums that bring together various stakeholders.

“We want to build these relationships well, not just for short-term needs. Fertilizer is not only about the fertilizer industry, but also closely linked to food security. Therefore, we cannot move forward alone, we must collaborate across countries,” he concluded.

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