Australia Imports 1 Million Tonnes of Fertilizer Amid Middle East War Disruptions

One million tonnes of fertiliser has been imported into Australia since the ongoing war in the Middle East disrupted international trade.

In April, the federal government streamlined biosecurity processes to make sure cropping farmers in particular had enough supplies for the nation's all important winter crop.

In a normal year, a third of the world's fertiliser moves through the Strait of Hormuz and its closure during the Iran conflict has sent nations around the world scrambling to secure supply.

Australia is wholly reliant on urea imports to support the growth of agricultural crops.

According to analysis firm Episode 3, Australia imported around 3.6 million tonnes in 2025 and there were fears food prices would sky-rocket if ongoing shortages continued this year.

Biosecurity checks fast-tracked

Urea is the world's most commonly used nitrogen fertiliser, and is essential for getting high yields out of many crops, including cereals like wheat, barley, oats and vegetables.

Australia has abundant amounts of the raw ingredients to produce nitrogen-based fertiliser, but domestic manufacturing ground to a halt in recent decades.

In order for fertiliser and other essential imports to enter Australia during the conflict, the government sped up the biosecurity process, in particular the assessments that could be done offshore.

"This is about trying to provide Australian farmers with some certainty in what is an uncertain time with this war in the Middle East impacting globally and including here at home in Australia," said the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins.

"We've streamlined the process so that, for instance, one of the things we can do is do a sample on the boat before it lands in Australia and make sure that it's tested by the time it lands."

The government said the possibility of contaminated fertiliser could significantly impact local industries, but Ms Collins said the changes did not remove rigorous inspections.

"I don't want to send a message out there that we've done anything that we shouldn't be doing here. We still have an extremely strong biosecurity system," she said.

The fast tracking of the biosecurity process was done in consultation with Fertilizer Australia.

"Fertilizer Australia is committed to working alongside the government, ensuring that our collaborative efforts lead to sound biosecurity systems and timely access to fertiliser for Australian farmer," said chief executive officer Stephen Annells.

"This partnership not only emphasises the importance of practical solutions but also reinforces our shared dedication to maintaining rigorous biosecurity standards, protecting Australia's farming ecosystems and export markets."

Underwriting fertiliser shipments

In last month's federal budget, $7.5 million was allocated for a fuel and fertiliser security facility as the government attempts to shield the nation from the long-term consequences of the war in Iran.

An additional six shipments of more than 209,000 tonnes of urea have been secured with the first of those boats expected to arrive in Australia in the coming weeks.

"We have also got an investment in terms of the Perdaman plant that will be able to produce urea in Western Australia from the middle of next year," Ms Collins said.

Last month, shadow agriculture minister and Nationals MP Darren Chester expressed concern about the government plan to underwrite fertiliser imports.

He said the policy appeared to be "well-intentioned" but "poorly implemented".

"Two of the biggest players in the industry have been underwritten. They can order urea at inflated prices and if the prices happen to go down they are underwritten by the government," he said.

Mr Chester said smaller importers who have expressed interest in the scheme are not getting the same response from government.

"At the moment they are looking at the situation and saying 'we're going to own all the risk on the price of our shipments', whereas two of the bigger players have a government underwritten scheme."