Turkey and Russia prepare fertilizer supply agreement

Turkey and Russia are preparing a new agreement to secure the supply of fertilizers and raw materials ahead of the upcoming planting season. Under the expected memorandum of understanding, Russia is anticipated to grant Turkey exemptions from certain export restrictions on nitrogenous and phosphorous fertilizers, as well as ammonia.

The deal follows recent diplomatic discussions between President Erdoğan and President Putin. This move aims to stabilize Turkey's agricultural supply chain, which has faced pressure due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions in the Persian Gulf, limiting imports of urea and sulfur from Gulf nations. Additionally, Russia's own export quotas have impacted global availability.

While Turkey has an annual fertilizer production capacity exceeding 8 million tons, domestic production remains around 5 million tons due to a heavy reliance on imported raw materials like ammonia, phosphoric acid, and phosphate rock. The country's annual demand is approximately 7 million tons, making these bilateral supply agreements critical for maintaining domestic agricultural stability.