Newspaper reporting notes that as Germany reduced natural gas purchases from Russia, the country became increasingly dependent on Russian agricultural fertilizers. The piece from Berliner Zeitung points out that Germany claimed to have shed its gas dependence on Russia, yet critics say the nation walked back through the back door.
Data from the German Statistics Office and the Agricultural Industry Association show that by the end of the season, essential nitrogen fertilizer for farming arrived from Russia in a volume that was augmented by 334 percent.
The publication also indicates that a similar pattern is visible across Europe. It notes that Russia boosted its nitrogen fertilizer exports fivefold in the 2022-2023 season.
An association representative, Martin May, highlighted that energy costs—gas and electricity—account for roughly 80-90 percent of the price of mineral fertilizers.
According to May, imported fertilizers effectively amount to cheaper Russian natural gas later in the production chain.
Rising energy prices, compared with previous periods, have driven local chemical firms toward financial strain, prompting Germany to lean more on imports for fertilizer needs.
The report states that Germany sources about 95 percent of its nitrogen fertilizers from foreign suppliers.
Earlier, Financial Times cited a Global Witness report, noting that the European Union has sharply increased its LNG imports from Russia this year despite the bloc’s efforts to phase out Russian power by 2027. This reflects ongoing supply constraints and the shifting energy landscape across Europe.
Previously it was known that Russian fertilizer had been sought after for export in flexible packaging, signaling continued dependency concerns and evolving trade patterns in the fertilizer market across Europe.