Lithuania rejects proposal to resume transit of Belaruskali fertilizers

Lithuania has rejected a proposal to resume the transit of potash fertilizers produced by Belarusian state-owned Belaruskali, according to a statement from the Lithuanian government. The proposal had been made by Biriu kroviniu terminalas, the Klaipeda-based terminal operator previously responsible for handling the cargo.

The company is currently challenging the European Union regulation that led to the suspension of Belaruskali’s fertilizer transit through Lithuania. The case is being reviewed by the European General Court. In an effort to settle the matter, Ruslan Malinin, CEO of Biriu kroviniu terminalas, reportedly sent a letter to Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas offering to withdraw the lawsuit if the government granted permission to resume transit operations.

The letter, cited by local media, proposed a “limited, politically motivated interpretation” of the EU’s sanctions framework—similar to the exemption mechanism applied to freight transit between mainland Russia and the Kaliningrad exclave.

However, the Lithuanian government denies having received any such communication. “Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has not received, read or seen any letters on this topic; such an issue is not on the agenda of either the prime minister or the government,” said Justinas Argustas, an adviser to the prime minister.

The Lithuanian Minister of Transport also stated he had no knowledge of the terminal operator’s request, reaffirming that the 2022 decision to halt Belaruskali’s transit was based on EU sanctions imposed following Belarus’s human rights violations.

Despite official denials, the issue of resuming fertilizer transit continues to surface in Lithuanian political discourse. Member of Parliament Valius Ažuolas has previously called for a pragmatic review of the transit ban to safeguard national economic interests, suggesting Lithuania should adopt a policy stance modeled on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to state interests.

Lithuania suspended the transit of Belaruskali’s fertilizers in early 2022 and unilaterally terminated its cargo transportation agreement with Belarus. Minsk argues this action infringed on its rights as an investor in the Klaipeda port infrastructure.

In response, Belaruskali initiated arbitration proceedings against Lithuania on December 2, 2024, seeking compensation for the alleged breach of investment protections.