By Faridat Salifu
Ukraine’s largest farming union has warned that a wartime ban on nitrogen fertiliser imports through seaports could trigger a sharp drop in crop yields threatening both domestic food supplies and global grain markets.
The Ukrainian Agrarian Council (UAC) said current fertiliser shortages come at a critical time, as farmers must apply mineral fertilisers to sustain production.
While imports are allowed via land and river ports, maritime routes remain closed under a ban imposed at the start of Russia’s invasion due to security concerns.
“The restrictions apply not only to grade A ammonium nitrate, which is indeed explosive, but also to other nitrogen fertilisers that are completely non-explosive,” the UAC said on Monday.
It warned that if the issue is not resolved quickly, Ukraine’s grain harvest could fall by as much as 30 percent next year.
Ukraine is one of the world’s top suppliers of corn, wheat, and barley, exporting about 40 million metric tons of grain per season.
Any major reduction in output would ripple across global food markets, driving up prices and worsening food insecurity in import-dependent nations.
Fertiliser is essential to maintain yields, and shortages at this stage of the farming cycle could undermine Ukraine’s ability to meet international demand.
The UAC is urging the government to lift the maritime import ban to prevent a wider crisis in global grain supply.
