The European agricultural umbrella organization Copa-Cogeca is calling on the European Union to immediately suspend the carbon tax on imported fertilizers (CBAM). According to the organization, a new agricultural crisis is looming now that nitrogen fertilizer imports have plummeted by more than 80% since the mechanism was introduced.
The latest figures from the European Commission show that the EU imported 179.877 tons of nitrogen fertilizer in January 2026, compared to 1.183.728 tons in January 2025. This means imports have fallen to less than 16% of their normal level. Copa-Cogeca considers this proof that the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) without sufficient technical safeguards is causing serious market distortions.
Pressure on agricultural production
Nitrogen fertilizers fall directly under CBAM and represent approximately 46% of total fertilizer use in the EU. More than 30% of this is traditionally imported. According to agricultural organizations, a reduction of this magnitude cannot be left unaffected.
According to Copa-Cogeca, the sharp decline threatens the stability of European agricultural production. As early as December 2025, just before CBAM came into effect, there were signs of market unrest due to anticipatory buying behavior.
At the same time, prices continue to rise. In January 2026, fertilizer prices were 25% higher than the 2024 average. According to the European federation, fertilizers account for an average of 15% to 30% of farmers' input costs. Especially in arable farming, where negative margins have been recorded for the third year in a row, the situation threatens to become a tipping point in several member states, according to Copa-Cogeca.
Low inventories
The inventory situation is also a concern. On average, current stocks cover only 45% to 50% of the fertilizer needs for the 2026 harvest. In countries like Italy and Ireland, the levels are even lower. Furthermore, preparations for the 2027 growing season have not yet been taken into account.
According to Copa-Cogeca, this demonstrates how vulnerable European food production has become. "When imports collapse by more than 80%, prices continue to rise, and availability becomes uncertain, this is no longer a theoretical risk but an immediate threat to food security," they say.
The agricultural umbrella organization reiterates its previous demands, which were also raised during the protests in December and January. For example, the organization is asking for the implementation of CBAM for fertilizers to be postponed until sufficient technical guarantees are in place for predictable import and invoicing prices, and to avoid disruptions in the supply chain. Furthermore, Copa-Cogeca advocates for structural measures to compensate farmers for the additional costs.