Poland has significantly increased its imports of Russian fertilizers in 2024, raising alarms about the country’s growing reliance on Moscow, despite ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on Russian resources.
Data from the first nine months of 2024 show that Poland imported 140% more Russian fertilizer compared to the same period in 2023, totaling €318 million.
This accounts for roughly one-third of the country’s total fertilizer imports.
Russian fertilizers, which benefit from the country’s cheap natural gas feedstock and cost six times less than in Europe, are largely responsible for the surge in imports.
“The cheaper price in Russia means fertilizers are really, really cheaper than fertilizers from Polish producers or other European producers,” Tomasz Zieliński, Director of the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry, told TVP World.
The influx of Russian fertilizers is occurring not only through direct imports but also via third-party nations, compounding the issue.
To address the growing market distortion, Poland and the Baltic states are calling on the European Union to impose a 30% tariff on Russian and Belarusian fertilizers.
“Taxes can help a lot,” Zieliński said, adding that additional measures—such as revising sanctions on companies and individuals—are necessary to prevent Russia from dominating the market and driving local producers out of business.
