Nitrogen fertilizers, phosphorus, potash… European agriculture depends on Russian fertilizers

The slurry tankers are out in the western countryside. As with each winter outing, the breeders empty the pits and use their “homemade” fertilizer to feed the wheat or barley crops. Cereals in March, corn in April. Good news. The winter was dry, the soils were not leached. “There is still nitrogen in the soil”, explains Bastien Ribot, agronomist at the Normandy Chamber of Agriculture. The nutrients, provided by the manure or slurry of cattle, calves or pigs, will nourish the plants and allow their development. But organic fertilizers are not enough. Farmers also use mineral fertilizers made from nitrogen in the air or minerals extracted from the subsoil such as phosphorus and potash.

The price of these mineral fertilizersfound in liquid form (nitrogen solution) or granules (ammonium nitrate and urea), has been blazing since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. “A tonne of urea went from €300 last year at the start of the campaign to €1,100 and potash from €250 to €800. In one week, the price of nitrogen has increased by 50%! » underlines Florent Cappe, Managing Director of Timac Agro France (Roullier group), one of the main French manufacturers of soil improvers and agricultural fertilizers. Why this outbreak? Because these nitrogen fertilizers are made from ammonia, obtained by combining nitrogen from the air and hydrogen from natural gas. However, almost 80% of the cost of producing ammonia is linked to the use of gas. Especially Russian.

Food security under threat

“Russia accounts for 40% of global nitrogen fertilizer exports, 20% of phosphorus and 40% of potash with Belarus,” recalls Florent Cappe. Europe depends on it for 25%. Exports of these raw materials pass through the ports of the Black Sea. “It will take time to restore the port infrastructure that has been damaged,” says Maxime Godart, director of raw materials at Timac Agro International.

Europe will have to turn to new sources of supply. “There is gas in Algeria, in the United States, but at what price? » asks Isaure Perrot, from Agritel. “Also in Iran, in Kazakhstan, but will we want to buy from these countries? » The price of nitrogen is not about to fall. “We are going to increase the share of phosphate from North Africa words, explains Maxime Godart. Canada, Jordan, for potash. » A fertilized wheat would bring 50% more productivity. “Our fertilizer sector is the basis of the food security of Europeans and Africans. We seem to find out…” recalls Florent Cappe.

–