In statements to EFEagro, Paloma Pérez, Secretary General of the National Association of Fertiliser Manufacturers (ANFFE), said that fertiliser producers based in Spain “currently have enough stock to supply farmers, at least for the next two to three months”.
She explained that the series of storms that have hit Spain in recent weeks has forced many farmers to postpone fertiliser applications in their crops, meaning that demand could increase once weather conditions improve.
However, the sector faces significant uncertainty regarding how long the conflict in the Middle East will last, as it directly affects the supply of essential raw materials such as urea, sulphur and natural gas.
“If the conflict drags on, Spanish fertiliser manufacturers could face serious difficulties,” Pérez warned.
Regarding the increase in fertiliser prices, the ANFFE representative explained that their cost, like oil, is largely determined by global market dynamics, where prices have shown strong volatility. “For example, urea prices have risen sharply,” she said.
Pérez noted that the Russian invasion of Ukraine had already disrupted supply and demand in the fertiliser market, but the war involving Iran has further intensified supply shortages.
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She highlighted that around 30% of global urea and sulphur shipments and close to 20% of the world’s natural gas trade normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the region strategically critical for the fertiliser industry.
ANFFE has scheduled several meetings this week with senior officials from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to analyse the potential consequences of the conflict and possible measures to support the sector.
According to preliminary estimates from the association, Spanish agriculture consumed around 4.3 million tonnes of fertilisers in 2025.
Pérez stressed the importance of maintaining a strong domestic fertiliser industry to ensure reliable supply for farmers, particularly during periods of international instability when imports of finished products may be disrupted.
Global instability affects fertiliser markets
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) reports that from the start of the conflict on 28 February until 3 March, Dutch TTF gas futures — the European benchmark for natural gas — exceeded €65 per megawatt hour, following a drone attack on a liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar.
The institute also notes that the sharp decline in maritime activity through the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to the increase in global fertiliser prices. According to IFPRI, up to one third of global fertiliser trade could be affected by the conflict.
Much of this impact is linked to reduced shipments of natural gas, a key raw material for nitrogen fertilisers, as well as the sharp decline in exports of urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and anhydrous ammonia from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.
Despite recent increases, IFPRI notes that international fertiliser prices remain well below the historical peaks recorded in late 2021 and early 2022. However, prices for urea in the Middle East have risen by nearly 20% in a single week, while DAP prices have increased by around 5%.
