Fertiliser Supply Concerns Prompt Australian Growers to Consider On‑Farm Storage

Australian growers visited Koch Fertiliser Australia's Brisbane facility to explore on‑farm storage options for urea after recent price volatility and supply disruptions. Participants, including Brigalow Farming Group members, compared sheds and silos, noting a $60,000 quote for a 100‑tonne silo and the flexibility of sheds for multiple uses. “There’s a view out there that what happened this year (after the Strait of Hormuz closed) can’t happen again,” said Brigalow Farming Group committee member Rick Cronin.

A broader analysis warns that fertiliser has become a strategic commodity, with supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical shocks such as the Ukraine war, sanctions on Belarusian potash, and conflicts near the Strait of Hormuz. Production is concentrated in a few countries, and disruptions can raise input costs, reduce yields and push food prices higher, highlighting the link between fertiliser security and national economic and political stability.