On Monday 16 February, Fertilizers Europe published information aimed at clarifying the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on the European fertilizer market, contradicting recent data deemed “incomplete and misleading” (see EUROPE 13808/9).
The association points out that the drop in imports observed in January 2026 is the result of an exceptional influx of fertilisers in the fourth quarter of 2025, before the CBAM came into force. According to data from the European Commission, imports in December 2025 reached a record level of 2.37 million tonnes of nitrogen fertilisers, representing around 28% of annual European consumption.
According to Fertilizers Europe, the inclusion of fertilisers in the CBAM should only lead to a “relatively modest increase” in prices, of around €45 per tonne of urea, or 8% of the farm delivered price. The association is calling for direct support for farmers rather than suspending the CBAM applied to fertilisers.
The market was disrupted not by the mechanism itself, but by the uncertainties associated with its application, including the threat of retroactive suspension, which created unpredictability and destabilised the market.
The organisation stresses the central role of European fertiliser production in ensuring security of supply and limiting dependence on imports.
According to Fertilizers Europe, European producers offer high-quality fertilisers with an average carbon footprint 50% lower than that of imports. CBAM aims to harmonise the rules for EU-produced and imported fertilizers and move the market to lower emissions fertilizers across the EU, according to the organisation.
Further details: https://aeur.eu/f/krk (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)