News Fertilizers
Export value of fertilizer through the roof in 2022
The Dutch export value of fertilizer has risen to an absolute record high in 2022 due to the higher export prices. The exported volume has actually decreased. It is striking that in 2022 the Netherlands will still have imported fertilizer from Russia.
The Dutch export value of fertilizer will increase by 2022% in 57 from €2,4 to €3,7 billion. This is evident from figures from Statistics Netherlands. The increase is explained by the sharply higher prices paid for fertilizer. This is a result of the gas price that went upside down several times in the past year. Natural gas serves as a raw material for nitrogen fertilizer and is also needed in production. The total export volume amounted to 7 million tons last year and has decreased by 14% compared to 2021.
In total, 79% of the fertilizer export volume was produced by the four Dutch factories, including Sluiskuil (Yara) in Zeeland and Geleen (OCI) in Limburg. The other 21% comes from abroad and is traded or transported via the Netherlands. Moreover, the Netherlands is one of the top exporters in Europe. Together with Germany and Belgium, these three countries have alternated as the largest exporters in recent years. The differences in export volume have been minimal in recent years. In 2022, the Netherlands will be in third place when it comes to total export volumes.
The Netherlands still imports from Russia
More than half of the export volume remains within the European borders and is exported to Belgium, France and Germany. Conversely, the Netherlands also imports fertilizer from Belgium and Germany. What also stands out in the list of countries from which the Netherlands imports is Russia, which is in third place. According to figures from the CBS, about 250.000 tons were imported from Russia. This means that it is only a fraction lower than it did in 2021. This volume is remarkable, because of the European sanctions imposed on Russia after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. These sanctions also include the import and export of artificial fertilizers by Russia. Statistics Netherlands says that this sanction has been discussed several times by the EU, but that it has never officially entered into force in the entire sanctions package.
Fertilizers The Netherlands says in a response that imports from Russia are still possible. Products such as K-60 and urea arrive in European ports from companies that are not on the sanctions list. In addition, only a limited number of products have been sanctioned. Other products have a maximum EU quota because products are less or difficult to obtain elsewhere.
The price of fertilizer worldwide has now been falling for months and the old price level of two seasons ago is even within sight. The fall in price follows the fall in the price of natural gas. Fertilizer prices continue to fall due to a very large supply, expensive stocks at the factory and lagging demand. There still seems to be room for that to fall further in price in the coming weeks.
Jesse Torringa
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