Ahead of the spring sowing campaign, Ukrainian farmers are experiencing the greatest shortage in the nitrogen fertilizer segment, ProAgro Group reports.
According to Oleksandr Zakharchuk, Head of the Investment and Material-Technical Support Department at the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics,” Ukraine’s annual demand for urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) reaches about 0.8 million tonnes, nearly 0.4 million tonnes of which are required for spring application.
The deficit of ammonium nitrate is estimated at 150–170 thousand tonnes.
Part of this shortage is being covered by imports. Yevhen Barkov, coordinator of the Fertilizer Market Operators Committee at the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), said that between June 2025 and February 2026 Ukraine imported about 307 thousand tonnes of ammonium nitrate, while domestic production during the same period reached around 437 thousand tonnes.
Taking into account accumulated stocks, farmers may have built reserves of 450–700 thousand tonnes, but this volume is still insufficient to fully meet the needs of the sowing campaign.
“Imports are continuing, but the issues of affordable logistics and the capacity to transport the required volumes remain open. Part of the deficit could be covered by allowing sea imports of calcium ammonium nitrate, which does not pose fire or explosion risks. This type of fertilizer could also be used on acidic soils due to its lime content,” Barkov said.
Weather conditions are also complicating the situation. In some areas winter crops are experiencing oxygen deficiency due to ice crust formation.
“Ammonium nitrate essentially acts like salt. Its application helps melt the ice, allowing air and carbon dioxide to reach the crops while providing early fertilization,” Barkov added.
At the same time, the price situation on the fertilizer market remains relatively stable. According to the Institute of Agrarian Economics, at the beginning of 2026 nitrogen fertilizer prices remained close to last year’s level at UAH 22,000–22,500 per tonne (+5–7%).
Prices for NPK fertilizers range between UAH 24,500 and UAH 26,000 per tonne, phosphate fertilizers increased to UAH 30,000–31,000 per tonne, while potash fertilizers rose by about 10% to UAH 22,000–22,500 per tonne.
However, whether farmers will be able to apply fertilizers in full volumes remains uncertain, and each farm will have to determine its strategy individually.
Earlier it was reported that Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of nitrogen fertilizers, which could significantly affect the sowing campaign and the 2026 harvest. Without urgent solutions, the nitrogen deficit could lead to a 15–20% decline in yields, particularly amid difficult weather conditions and local ice formation in fields.
Source: Ukrinform
