Source: European Parliament
The Commission has been closely monitoring the situation regarding EU’s import of nitrogen fertilisers from Russia and Belarus. For nitrogen fertilisers of heading 3102[1], imports in the first half of 2024 reached 1.3 million tonnes, i.e., 27% more than in the first 6 months of 2023.
An increase has also been observed in fertilisers mixtures containing nitrogen of heading 3105[2], with Russia exporting in the first half of 2024close to 700 000 tonnes, almost double than one year before.
It is worth mentioning that some fertiliser types, albeit not urea or nitrogen fertilisers, are also subject to restrictions under EU sanctions, i.e. a quota on imports of potash fertilisers from Russia[3] and a ban on Belarus[4].
The surge in imports clearly indicates a growing risk of further dependency on Russian supplies. The EU cannot afford to deepen its reliance on Russia in such strategic sectors linked to food security.
Therefore, the Commission has proposed on 28 January 2025 a regulation[5] to the Council and the European Parliament with the aim to increase gradually duties on nitrogen-based fertilisers imported from Russia and Belarus.
The measure should contribute to preserving a competitive EU fertiliser industry, reduce dependencies while also ensuring that EU farmers have access to ample and diverse sources of fertilisers.
Where there is unfair competition stemming from imports, the EU uses trade defence instruments to restore fair competition. There are anti-dumping measures in place on imports of mixture of urea and ammonium nitrate from, inter alia, Russia[6] which are currently subject to an expiry review.
There are also measures in place on ammonium nitrate[7] from Russia. Where measures are no longer effective, they may be reviewed.
- [1] Heading 3102 as defined in the EU Combined nomenclature: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2522 of 23 September 2024 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202402522
- [2] Heading 3105 as defined in the EU Combined nomenclature, see footnote 1.
- [3] Article 3(i) of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02014R0833-20250225
- [4] Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02006R0765-20180224
- [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025PC0034&qid=1742811387528
- [6] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1688, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R1688
- [7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R2100