Russian companies in January-May 2024 increased fertiliser shipments to the EU 1.7 times, reaching 1.9 million tonnes, according to a Eurostat report.
According to Eurostat, EU countries tried to reduce their dependence on Russian fertilisers in 2023, but this year they returned to increasing their purchases. In 2024, in financial terms, exports grew by 30% to 649.4 million euros.
Potash and complex (complex fertilisers containing several nutrients) make up the bulk of demand, but demand for nitrogen fertilisers is also growing. The main importers are Poland (24% of supplies), France (12%), Germany (11%) and Italy (10%), follows from the statistics.
Earlier, Svein Tore Holsether, executive director of Norwegian chemical company Yara International, said in an interview with the Financial Times that Europe is becoming dependent on Russian fertilisers in the same way as it happened with gas.