The ever-increasing price of fertilisers

21.12.2021

Question for written answer  E-005679/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Daniel Buda (PPE)

Farmers are increasingly worried about the current fertiliser supply deficit and alarming price hikes. The fertiliser supply deficit will limit the quantity and quality of agricultural production in the European Union, the world’s largest wheat exporter and an important supplier of barley. Lower production will generate concerns about food price increases.

In particular, the price of ammonia, which is used in nitrogen production, increased to USD 910 per tonne, the highest price recorded in the last 13 years. Europe has also been hit by the natural gas crisis, which has led many nitrogen-based fertiliser producers to limit or stop production, including companies such as Norway’s Yara International ASA, Europe’s largest chemicals supplier, and the German BASF SE Group. Natural gases account for 80% of fertiliser production costs and prices are currently four to five times higher than normal, according to the association Fertilizers Europe.

What is the Commission’s strategy for managing the fertilisers deficit so that the EU is not faced with agricultural production shortages?