Financial Times published an article on how the price of nitrogen-based fertilizers, which use gas as feedstock and typically provide for up to two-thirds of the nutrients used to grow crops, has risen in line with natural gas prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They hit record highs after sanctions on Moscow, a key source of natural gas to Europe which accounts for about 15 percent of global crop nutrient supplies, reduced their availability. Higher prices, particularly for fertilizer” will reduce gross domestic product by 0.8 percent and increase poverty rates in Kenya, putting an estimated 1.4mn additional people below the poverty line, according to IFPRI’s June results ((see IFPRI tool, Food & Fertilizer Export Restrictions Tracker).
Soaring fertilizer prices deepen Africa’s food crisis (Financial Times)
August 22, 2022