Export of Russian fertilizers fell by 15%

The export of mineral fertilizers from Russia decreased by 15% in 2022, the press service of the Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers (RAPU) reported.

The export of fertilizers from Russia in 2021, according to the association, amounted to 37.6 million tons. In January-November, more than 25 million tons of mineral fertilizers were exported from the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 15.

Total exports fell primarily due to a decrease in the export of potash fertilizers, a representative of the RAPU explained to Vedomosti. This is a consequence of the continuing shortage of port facilities for their export, and in Russia the use of potassium chloride is insignificant, he noted.

In addition, Western sanctions have affected fertilizer exports this year. Shortly after the start of the special military operation, the EU imposed sanctions on the shareholders of Russia’s largest fertilizer producers, causing the companies to face problems in transportation, insurance and receiving payments from international customers.

As a result, deliveries of Russian potash to Europe decreased in 2022 by 1.2 million tons to 0.7 million tons, exports of phosphate fertilizers fell by 1.5 times to 2 million tons, according to a press release from RAPU.

Starting from June-July, Russian manufacturers began to increase supplies to the markets of friendly countries, the association notes. According to preliminary data, exports of Russian fertilizers to India almost tripled this year to 3.6 million tons, mainly due to increased supplies of phosphate fertilizers. Also, Russian producers almost 1.5 times increased their exports to the Middle East (primarily to Turkey) to 700,000 tons. In addition, according to RAPU, “the share of Russian fertilizers in the African market has significantly increased.”