TASS quoted a Russian government announcement as saying that the country's Ministry of Agriculture will temporarily suspend the export of ammonium nitrate from March 21st to April 21st. Goods under the intergovernmental agreement are still exempt.
The temporary suspension of exports will help prioritize supply to the domestic market during the spring planting season and ensure that progress is not interrupted in the context of increasing demand for nitrogen fertilizer exports" - the statement stated.
The announcement was made in the context of global fertilizer flow disruption due to the Iran conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz - a key sea transport route connecting the Persian Gulf to the ocean - has been almost closed since the conflict broke out at the end of February. This strait is where about 1/3 of global fertilizer trade passes through.
Supply risks are increasing as China - the world's leading fertilizer producer - also restricts exports.
The impact of supply bottlenecks becomes more serious as farmers in the Northern Hemisphere often increase their use of fertilizers during the spring planting season. Shortages can increase competition with remaining fertilizers, pushing farmers' costs up and ultimately causing food prices to escalate.
Russia, the world's second largest fertilizer producer, accounts for about 20% of global fertilizer trade. In 2025, this country produced 28.9 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer, but has restricted exports to prioritize domestic supply.
Russia applied an export quota of about 10.6 million tons of nitrogen fertilizers, including ammonium nitrate, from December 1, 2025 to May this year.
Usually, urea accounts for the largest proportion of Russia's fertilizer exports. The country's nitrogen fertilizer production capacity is also affected by the Ukraine conflict as factories frequently become targets of drone attacks.
Dorogobuzh PJSC, with a production of about 2 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer per year, was damaged by a fire at the end of February after an attack by Ukraine and the plant is expected to cease operations until May.
