United States hits record Russian fertilizer imports as EU imports drop

Diverging trade patterns have emerged between the United States and the European Union regarding fertilizer imports from Russia. While both regions sourced approximately one-fifth of their fertilizer from Russia in 2025, the trends for 2026 show a sharp contrast.

From January to May 2026, the United States imported $1.04 billion worth of Russian fertilizer, marking a 28 percent increase from the $806.4 million imported during the same period the previous year. This represents the highest value for the first five months of a year since U.S. statistics began in 2003, making Russia the second-largest fertilizer supplier to the U.S. after Canada.

In contrast, European Union imports of Russian fertilizer have declined significantly. According to Eurostat data, the value of imports in the first half of 2026 fell to €297.9 million, down from €1.16 billion in the first half of 2025. Between January and May 2026, EU imports totaled approximately €203.9 million. Consequently, U.S. purchases have exceeded the total value of EU imports by more than fourfold when adjusted for exchange rates.