A potential US-Iran peace agreement could significantly benefit African economies by stabilizing global financial and commodity markets. Lower oil prices, reduced freight costs, and smoother trade flows would ease imported inflation, particularly for energy, fertilizers, and food, acting as a stimulus and food security package for many nations.
Russian newspapers highlight a US-Iran deal to end Middle East conflict, Europe's alleged attempts to derail Ukraine peace talks, declining oil prices, rising global fertilizer demand, and the impact of US national debt on global monetary policy.
Russia expressed interest in boosting exports of food, mineral fertilizers, and engineering products to Laos. Following bilateral talks, Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov also noted readiness to import more rubber, coffee, and textiles from Laos, and highlighted Laos' bauxite reserves for the Russian aluminum industry. Discussions also covered launching direct flights.
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined economic challenges including volatile forex and oil prices, rising fertilizer costs, and a potential weak monsoon. The government is preparing for a less favorable monsoon by maintaining adequate buffer stocks to ensure supply stability.
France's National Assembly has adopted a bill to drastically reduce cadmium levels in phosphate fertilizers. The measure aims to limit population exposure to this toxic heavy metal, primarily through food consumption, and requires adaptation from the agricultural sector.
A Swiss startup, VunaNexus, has developed a technology to transform human urine into a certified liquid fertilizer called Aurin. Initially seen as unconventional, the process gained traction due to soaring fertilizer prices and supply chain issues following the Russia-Ukraine war. The technology is being implemented in buildings across Europe and has roots in a pioneering project in South Africa.
Russia is prepared to boost its mineral fertilizer exports to Brazil this year, according to Andrey Guryev, President of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association. Brazil is currently Russia's largest fertilizer customer, with Russian products making up one-third of the Brazilian market.
EuroChem CEO Igor Akhmerov stated that the Middle East situation has caused a shock for global agricultural producers due to rising fertilizer prices, negatively impacting farmers in the long term.
Australia has imported 1 million tonnes of fertilizer since the Middle East war disrupted trade. The government streamlined biosecurity processes to ensure supply for the winter crop, with plans for further shipments and domestic production.
Australia has imported 1 million tonnes of fertilizer since the Middle East war disrupted trade, prompting the government to streamline biosecurity processes. Fears of food price hikes were addressed by securing additional shipments and an investment in domestic production.
French lawmakers are proposing a law to limit cadmium exposure, as nearly half the adult population exceeds reference toxicological values. The high exposure is linked to food, particularly through phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco, which have naturally high cadmium levels. France also benefits from a derogation allowing higher cadmium limits in fertilizers than the EU standard.
India anticipates reduced fertilizer use this Kharif season due to a below-normal monsoon forecast. Urea demand is down to 190 lakh tonnes and DAP to 60 lakh tonnes. Despite rising global prices, India is importing urea and has surplus stocks of rice, wheat, and pulses.
India's fertilizer subsidy bill could surge past a record ₹3 lakh crore this fiscal, significantly exceeding the budget estimate of ₹1.71 lakh crore, due to the West Asia crisis and a falling rupee. The country relies heavily on imports for key fertilizers like DAP and urea.
India plans to integrate fertilizer sales with the national AgriStack database to prevent misuse of subsidies, track farm-level consumption, and identify excessive buying. The initiative will match purchases with farmer IDs and land details, using AI and satellite imagery to create consumption profiles.
Russia's Prodintorg and Bangladesh's BADC have signed a contract for over 500,000 tons of potash fertilizers for 2026-2027, marking the largest fertilizer deal in the history of their bilateral cooperation.
Russia's Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov stated that Russia is a key supplier of fertilizers to Brazil, meeting nearly a third of the country's market needs. Russian companies are also investing in modernization and infrastructure development in Brazil.
Russian Ambassador to Brazil Alexey Labetsky announced that trade turnover between Russia and Brazil has reached $10.5 billion, making Brazil Russia's main trading partner in Latin America. The trade is primarily based on Russian fertilizers and diesel fuel, and Brazilian agricultural products like meat.
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that reducing excise duties on petrol and diesel would result in a revenue loss of approximately Rs 1 lakh crore. She urged against 'fearmongering' amid rising fuel prices and global uncertainties, emphasizing the nation's economic resilience.
Maximo Torero, Chief Economist at the FAO, warns that the war in Iran is severely disrupting the global fertilizer supply, potentially leading to a food crisis within a year.
The EU will temporarily suspend tariffs on fertilizers to combat global price hikes, driven partly by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The move excludes imports from Russia and Belarus, which are significant suppliers.
Russia's domestic fertilizer market is protected from price fluctuations due to a quota mechanism and fixed prices, according to Alexander Malov of the Agriculture Ministry. This shields Russian producers while competitors face higher costs and potential yield reductions.
الاتحاد الأوروبي زاد استيراده للأسمدة من روسيا في مارس إلى 50.7 مليون يورو، بزيادة 1.7 مرة شهرياً، مدفوعاً بالأسمدة البوتاسية والآزوتية، بينما تراجعت الأسمدة المختلطة.
The EU plans a long-term strategy using cow dung for fertilizer shortages, rejecting immediate tariff suspensions on Russian imports. Disrupted shipping routes due to the US-Israeli war on Iran threaten global supplies.
Amid rising global fertilizer prices, Japan is promoting domestic production using sewage sludge, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. Kobe City is recovering "magnesium ammonium phosphate" crystals, selling them to fertilizer makers for use in products like "Kobe Harvest."
