The total volume of new-season fertiliser imports from October to December 2022 was up 8% on the previous year, according to Central Statistics Office data.

This period represents the start of new season fertiliser imports.

Typically, around one-quarter of annual fertiliser stocks are imported in this period.

The volume of urea imported between October and December was up 26% on the previous year to 90,387 tonnes.

The average price of urea imported in this period was €797/t, having fallen by over €100/t on average between October and December.

This compared to an average price of €665/t for imports in the same period last year. CSO data shows that the average price paid by farmers was €1,028/t between January and July last year.

Despite some concern raised this week about a shortage of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), the volume of CAN imports for the October to December period was similar to last year at 65,281t.

Almost half of this was imported in December.

CAN was imported at an average price of €777/t, having fallen by almost €200/t between October and December shipments.

Imports in the same period last year averaged €388/t.

Farmers paid €827/t on average in the January to June period last year, according to CSO data.

Over 70,000t of 27-2.5-5 were imported between October and December at an average price of €689/t.

This represented a reduction in volume of 17% on last year.

The average price in the same period last year was €452/t.

Farmers paid €911/t on average in the January to July period last year.

This analysis is based on CSO data on the volume and price of fertiliser imports at Irish ports. This data relates to the overall market. Buying patterns differ between individual fertiliser importers.

Russian imports

Over 56,000t of fertiliser were imported from Russia between October and December 2022.

This represented a 60% drop on the volume in the same period in the previous year.

A total of 42,000t of 27-2.5-5 were imported in the October to December period. Some 14,000t of urea was landed in Ireland in November, the first Russian urea imports since July.

In total, 107,000t of fertiliser have been imported from Russia between March and December 2022, 60% of which was imported between July and December.

Price of fertiliser imported into Ireland higher than current global prices

Last week, we analysed last years fertiliser imports and margins. This week, we look at imports in Autumn 2022.

While global fertiliser prices have fallen significantly since September 2022, CSO data shows that the average price of fertiliser imported into Ireland in the October to December period was substantially higher than current global fertiliser prices.

The fertiliser supply chain will logically want this stock to wash through the system reflecting the cost price on a first in, first out basis.

However, Irish Farmers Journal analysis published last week indicates that the opposite practice applied last year.

The earliest stock was imported at on average lower prices. However, it sold through the system at higher replacement prices.