The international fertilizer industry faces multiple challenges

Recently, due to the geopolitical situation in Europe and its derived economic impact, the international fertilizer industry is facing multiple tests

The problem of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer raw materials leads the price increase

Affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the price of natural gas has been rising in recent days, and the prices of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers have also risen

After the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the price of natural gas futures in the Netherlands briefly exceeded 300 euros/MWh during the session

The rise in natural gas prices in March led to a significant increase in the cost of nitrogen fertilizer production, even though gas prices have eased, while the question of whether Russian gas can stabilize supplies is also a headache for producers

In fact, after February 24, the global urea price has experienced a short-term surge

Phosphate fertilizer prices have been on the rise

Potash importing countries are looking for alternatives

The situation for potash fertilizers is even more severe than for nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers

　　Take Brazil, an important food country in the world, as an example

　　As an agricultural powerhouse, potash is vital to the cultivation of agricultural products such as soybeans, corn, coffee, wheat, rice, sugarcane and fruit exported by Brazil, accounting for 38% of Brazil's crop nutrients in 2021

　　In India, on March 21, India Potash Co.

　　In addition, in North America, North American potash producers are preparing to expand production capacity in order to alleviate the shortage of potash fertilizers

　　Fertilizer shortage may cause derivative disasters

　　The geopolitical conflict in Europe has caused a heavy blow to the global fertilizer industry chain

　　In March, a representative of the Plant Protection Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam said that the current fertilizer price in Vietnam is at the highest level in the past 50 years

　　In Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya have both reported fertilizer shortfalls forcing growers to re-use farm manure

　　In Peru, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency for its agricultural sector