In Russia, in 2018, farmers contributed 56 kilograms per hectare.
According to the forecasts of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), the global consumption of mineral fertilizers in 2019 will increase by 0,8%, while in 2018 the increase was 1,8%. By 2022, consumption will add 1,3% annually, and in three years it will reach 200 million tons, IFA predicts. Almost 80% of this increase will be in Latin America, South Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.
According to the estimates of the Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers (RAPU), Russian agrarians last year applied a record amount of fertilizers to the soil - 3,19 million tons in the active substance. But even this volume, according to the experts of the organization, is three times less than necessary. Now the consumption of mineral fertilizers in Russia is much lower than the scientifically substantiated need, the representative of RAPU admits. But still, every year the demand for them from farmers is gradually increasing. So, over the past 10 years, the consumption of mineral fertilizers in the country has grown by 40%. In the four months of 2019, Russian farmers purchased 1,6 million tons of active ingredient, which is 193 thousand tons more than in the same period of 2018.
According to RAAP, now Russia is among the ten largest global consumers of mineral fertilizers, ranking ninth after China, India, Brazil, the USA, Pakistan, France, Canada and Germany. Although until recently, our country was in the second ten on this indicator. According to the data Rosstat, if in 2008 Russian farmers applied about 36 kg / ha (in terms of 100% nutrients), then already in 2018 - more than 56 kg / ha.
It is generally believed that the main reasons for the low level of fertilizer use in Russia are high prices, but the situation is ambiguous, says Gor Manukyan, senior project manager of the special research department of the Kleffmann Group agency. “Indeed, given the fact that agricultural products are becoming more expensive than these useful substances, price factors will have a significant impact on their purchase,” he admits. - But, firstly, the state partially helps in this matter. And, secondly, perhaps one of the main factors inhibiting the growth of mineral fertilizers consumption is the low level of agricultural technologies. " So, they are often introduced only during sowing operations and sometimes in volumes much less than recommended. In addition, many farms do not fertilize crops during the growing season.
According to the Russian statistics department, last year 22,8 million tons of mineral fertilizers were produced in Russia in the active substance, which is 1,4% more than in 2017. The production of nitrogen fertilizers, in particular, increased by 3,7% to 10,4 million tons, phosphorus fertilizers - by 3,5% to 3,9 million tons, while potash production decreased by 2,1% to 8,4 million tons. Russia is one of the five largest world manufacturers, sharing the leadership with China, India, the United States and Brazil, recalls Manukyan. At the same time, according to the World Bank, only about 10% of the total Russian production of mineral fertilizers is consumed within the country. The industry is predominantly export-oriented, he draws attention. Since 2016, the export of these products in physical terms has grown by an average of 11% per year and in 2018, according to the International Trade Map (ITM), reached 11,3 million tons.
A source:https://www.agroinvestor.ru
