A major new international investment has been secured for the Anglo American Woodsmith Project, marking a significant step forward for one of the most important industrial projects in the region – and a key employer for communities across East Cleveland.
Global mining firm Anglo American (soon to be Anglo Teck) has confirmed a new partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation to support the continued development of the Woodsmith mine. The agreement brings fresh confidence and investment into the project, which had slowed in recent years due to global market pressures, and sets out a clear pathway toward full construction and future production.
The project has a major footprint in North Yorkshire and East Cleveland, with the underground transport tunnel running through East Cleveland to Teesport and local workers already employed across the supply chain. Once complete, the tunnel will be the longest in Britain and the North York Moors mine is expected to support hundreds of local jobs as it exports a British fertiliser product around the world from Teesside.
Luke Myer MP has been a consistent advocate for the project and the wider potential of polyhalite – a natural, low-carbon fertiliser. Since his election, he has visited both the Woodsmith and Lockwood Beck sites, raised the issue repeatedly in Parliament, and pressed ministers to recognise polyhalite’s role in strengthening British food security and reducing reliance on imports.
The new agreement includes an initial investment from Mitsubishi and opens the door to further partnership ahead of a final investment decision. It will also support efforts to grow global demand for POLY4, the fertiliser product derived from polyhalite, which has been shown to improve crop yields while reducing environmental impact. The deal is further good news for the region’s industrial future – combining skilled jobs, export growth, and long-term investment in British industry.
Luke Myer, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said:
“This is a really significant vote of confidence in a project that matters deeply to our area. Woodsmith has always had huge potential, not just as a major employer locally, but as a key player in Britain’s future in sustainable fertiliser and food security.
“I’ve seen firsthand the scale and ingenuity of the work going on underground, and I’ve consistently made the case in Parliament for backing polyhalite as a British resource. This investment is a big step forward, and I’ll keep pushing to make sure we secure the jobs, the supply chains and the long-term benefits here in our region.”
Tom McCulley, CEO of Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients business, said:
“This is fantastic news for the Woodsmith project. We are delighted that Mitsubishi has shown such confidence in the enormous potential of Woodsmith and the global market for our highly effective POLY4 fertiliser product.”
Peter Kyle, the UK Government’s Business and Trade Secretary, said:
“This partnership between Anglo American and Mitsubishi is a major milestone for this significant project, building on the almost £2 billion boost to North Yorkshire’s economy and over 1,000 jobs created since construction began in 2017.
“It’s a game changing investment that will help the UK to become a major global fertiliser producer, boosting sustainable and secure food production, whilst delivering £1.5 billion per year to the UK economy.”