Farming Youtuber shines light on port

A North East port has been thrust into the spotlight after being featured by one of the UK’s most popular farming YouTubers.

Michael Dungworth, part of the PXFarms channel, visited Brineflow’s Port of Sunderland terminal to explore the vital role the port plays in supplying fertiliser to British farmers. 

His video, filmed during the arrival of the M/V Schwyz carrying 25,000 tonnes from Trinidad, has already been viewed more than 25,000 times.

The behind-the-scenes footage offered rare access to the global fertiliser supply chain, following the journey from the Atlantic crossing to the detailed unloading process. 

Viewers were shown every stage, including tug manoeuvres, water-cleaning systems, pipeline transfers and strict quality controls, as the product made its way into storage at the terminal.

Michael said: “As farmers, we often see fertiliser arriving at the farm gate but give little thought to the immense process that sees it arrive on Britain’s shores.

“Visiting the Port of Sunderland with Brineflow was incredibly eye-opening as it gave us a unique insight into the journey fertilisers embark upon to get here.

“From the Caribbean refinery right through to the sprayers in Cambridgeshire, it’s a global operation that underpins and sustains Britain’s entire farming industry and I saw how Sunderland is a pivotal player in that entire supply chain from factory to fork.”

Lord John Fuller OBE, chairman of Brineflow (Nitrasol), added: “We were delighted to welcome the influential PX Farms team and to be able to tell the Nitrasol story to thousands of farming subscribers who grow the crops that sustain our nation.”

Brineflow’s Sunderland facility opened just four years ago and has quickly become a key player in agricultural logistics. 

With capacity for 35,000 tonnes of fertiliser at Youngs Quay, the site has already handled over 250,000 tonnes since launch, supplying farmers across the UK and re-exporting product to other ports.

Matthew Hunt, port director at Port of Sunderland, added: “It was a pleasure hosting the visit and having PX and the delegates join us for a look around the Brineflow terminal and the M/V Schwyz.

“Fertiliser is a critical part of the food supply chain and seeing first-hand how international shipments are handled here in Sunderland has helped to highlight the vital role we play each and every day in supporting UK agriculture.

“Our partnership with Brineflow has seen the port become home to one of Europe’s largest and most advanced liquid fertiliser terminals in recent years, supplying farmers the length and breadth of the UK, and the documentary is a fantastic way of showcasing that.

“It has really given people a unique insight into our operations here at Port of Sunderland and just how critical a role our teams play in helping to keep Britain’s farms going.”

To view the documentary, see here.

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