Russian fertilizer production is expected to reach 59 million mt in full-year 2023, a level on par with 2021’s output, according to Russian news outlet Fertilizerdaily, citing Andrey Guryev, head of the Russian Fertilizers Producers Association (RFPA). Export volumes in 2023 are also anticipated to have returned to 2021 levels.
Russia’s fertilizer production saw a 9% year-over-year increase in the first eleven months of 2023, to 53 million mt, according to RFPA. The recovery comes after a challenging period when Russian fertilizer production and exports experienced declines. In 2022, production fell more than 7% to 54.3 million mt, with exports dropping by 15%.
If the current capacity utilization at Russian fertilizer plants is maintained, RFPA expects a 10% increase in production in 2024, with output potentially exceeding 64 million mt alongside “a substantial recovery” in export volumes.
Russia’s State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said the country produced 23.6 million mt of fertilizers in terms of active ingredient in first eleven months of 2023, a 10% year-over-year increase, according to Interfax. Of that total, potash production grew 22%, reaching 8.2 million mt of active ingredient; nitrogen fertilizer production was up 6%, to 11.5 million mt of active ingredient; and phosphate fertilizer output increased by 1%, reaching 4 million mt of active ingredient. Ammonia production was also up by just under 1% for the period.
In the month of November, Russia produced 2.3 million mt of fertilizers in terms of active ingredient, a 24% year-over-year increase, Rosstat reported. Potash production was up 68% in November, reaching 860,000 mt of active ingredient, while nitrogen fertilizer production rose 10%, to 1.1 million mt of active ingredient in November. Phosphate fertilizer production fell 1% in November, to 345,000 mt of active ingredient. Ammonia production totaled 1.5 million mt in November, a 3% year-over-year increase.