War in the Middle East: It is becoming too expensive to produce due to the rise in fertilizer prices, laments

While the Middle East supplies up to 30% of the world’s fertilizers, only six ships have been able to leave since the conflict began on February 28, according to the company Kpler.

“It’s becoming too expensive to produce” due to rising prices of agricultural fertilizers, said Cédric Benoist, chair of the Céréales working group at the Copa-Cogeca federation, on Monday, April 13, to Radio France’s correspondent in Brussels. He will participate in the meeting organized by the European Commission on Monday with representatives of the agricultural sector to discuss the 20% increase in fertilizer prices since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

Farmers are concerned as this price hike could affect next year’s crops, since fertilizers are purchased a year in advance. Immediately, professional organizations are calling on the European Union to ease its carbon, customs, or anti-dumping taxes to lighten farmers’ bills.