The Hungarian Minister of Agriculture, István Nagy, has reached out to European commissioners, urging them to suspend tariffs and additional duties on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus.
In his letter, Nagy highlighted the rising global fertilizer prices and supply uncertainties exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Iran, which pose significant risks for EU farmers. He warned that without a temporary reduction of tariffs to zero, Hungary could face declining crop yields and increasing food prices.
Hungary is heavily reliant on imports for phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, producing only nitrogen fertilizers domestically. Restrictions on supplies from Russia and Belarus complicate agricultural planning and inflate production costs for farmers.
The European Union imposed increased tariffs on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus in 2025, following a surge in imports after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This tariff hike raised concerns that Russia was redirecting limited gas supplies to fertilizer production to bolster export revenues.
In 2025, Russian fertilizer exports to the EU were valued at approximately 2 billion euros, but volumes sharply declined at the beginning of 2026 due to the new tariffs. Hungary is now calling for a temporary lifting of these restrictions to prevent fertilizer shortages and maintain stability in its agricultural sector.
Hungary's Agriculture Minister has formally requested the EU to halt tariffs on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus due to rising prices and supply issues. The move aims to safeguard crop yields and stabilize food prices amidst ongoing market challenges.