SAO PAULO, April 6 (Reuters) - Brazil accelerated fertilizer imports in the first three months of the year, shipping data showed on Wednesday, as Western sanctions on major suppliers Russia and Belarus pose a risk to shipments going forward.

Fertilizer is key to keeping corn, soy, rice and wheat yields high, with growers in Brazil and elsewhere scrambling to adjust as prices skyrocket amid trade disruptions in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to data from Cargonave, Brazilian fertilizer imports in the year through March rose by 27.4%, with imports reaching 10.43 million tonnes.

Russia, China and Canada were among Brazil's top three suppliers, Cargonave said.

Brazil is a heavy fertilizer importer, relying on foreign suppliers for 85% of its needs.

After the war started in Eastern Europe, the Brazilian government announced plans to reduce that dependence, but local industry needs time to ramp up domestic production.

Brazil's domestic fertilizer use will fall 8% to 42.18 million tonnes in 2022, MacroSector, a consultancy, estimated on Wednesday. This reflects trade disruptions, a potential fall in planting of major crops like soy and farmers reducing applications.

On a short-term horizon, an estimated 547,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer will be delivered to Brazilian ports in April, according to shipping data compiled by Agrinvest Commodities.

Of the total, a 181,600-tonne volume correspond to shipments made before the war, divided into five ships. And an estimated 365,400-tonne volume, divided into 11 vessels, left Russia after the conflict started, according to Agrinvest.

Though shipping data shows fertilizer vessels enroute to Brazil after the war started, fewer Russian fertilizer deals were confirmed in recent days, Agrinvest analyst Jeferson Sousa told Reuters. This suggests a potential reduction of crop nutrient shipments from Russia to destinations including Brazil, he said.

Sinprifert, an industry lobby representing Mosaic and Yara in Brazil, told Reuters in a recent interview local farmers will have enough nutrients to plant their summer crop later this year.

But Bernardo Silva, Sinprifert's executive director, warned of risks related to a moratorium on China fertilizer exports and escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, which will keep prices high.

Silva also said that local fertilizer production may rise by 35% through 2024. But that goal hinges on a combination of factors including regulatory changes and funding for a number of mining and industrial projects. (Reporting by Ana Mano Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler and David Gregorio)