UCAB Calls on the Government to Settle the Issue of the Ban on Sea Import of Ammonia-containing Fertilizers

The Association “Ukrainian Agribusiness Club” appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the relevant ministries with a request to urgently reconsider the decision to ban the import of ammonia-based fertilizers into the territorial waters and ports of Ukraine. The relevant decision, adopted by the Naval Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, concerns, in particular, ammonium nitrate, anhydrous ammonia, ammonia solutions and other ammonia-based mixtures.

UCAB experts note that the volume of the nitrogen fertilizer market in Ukraine annually exceeds 3 million tons, and maritime logistics is key to ensuring the stability of supplies. In the first half of 2025 alone, 92 thousand tons of ammonium nitrate were imported through seaports, which is almost half of the total imports of this fertilizer (189.5 thousand tons). Therefore, even a partial restriction of imports of such fertilizers leads to shortages, higher prices for agricultural producers and reduced availability of products during peak periods.

“Of particular concern is the fact that the decision was made without the participation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, without proper risk analysis and prior consultations with relevant industry associations. At the same time, there are no clear and open justifications for why such a ban applies only to seaports, while rail transportation and storage of these substances in open warehouses are not restricted,” the statement says.

It should be emphasized that nitrogen fertilizers, in particular ammonium nitrate, are critical for maintaining crop yields. Given the problems with gas supplies for domestic nitrate producers that began in February 2025 due to shelling of infrastructure, Ukrainian farmers are largely dependent on imports. Any artificial barriers in this process pose significant risks for the entire agricultural sector and may lead to a 20% increase in fertilizer prices, which will significantly affect the cost of agricultural production.

UCAB emphasizes that the agricultural sector is a strategic industry, which in 2024 provided more than $24.5 billion in foreign exchange earnings, and its stability is a matter not only of the economy but also of national food security. In this context, the EBA members strongly disagree with the decision, as it has extremely negative consequences for the functioning of the agricultural sector of Ukraine.

In view of the above, UCAB calls on the Government of Ukraine to take measures to resolve the situation and is ready to contribute to the development of a balanced solution that will take into account the needs of both security and agricultural production.