Farmers called for opening the import of saltpeter through Ukrainian ports

Agrarian associations of Ukraine have called on the government to open the import of ammonium nitrate through sea ports, as its shortage may lead to a reduction in the harvest.

This was reported by the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council (AAC).

Representatives of the AAC and the Ukrainian Agrarian Business Club (UABC) in an appeal to the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine stated about the sharp aggravation of the situation with providing farmers with nitrogen fertilizers on the eve of the spring sowing and called for urgent permission to import ammonium nitrate through sea ports.

The farmers noted that due to the current ban and the simultaneous decline in domestic production, the market has already faced a shortage. As of February 2026, the shortage of nitrate is estimated at 100–170 thousand tons. Ammonium nitrate production in Ukraine has almost halved — from 1.99 million tons in 2024–2025 to 1.016 million tons in the 2025–2026 season due to attacks on infrastructure and power outages.

According to experts, the consequences may be systemic for the entire economy, and the reduction in the overall harvest due to nitrogen deficiency may reach 20%. At the same time, on about half of the soils, ammonium nitrate can be replaced with lime-ammonia, but currently farmers are effectively deprived of access to it.

At the same time, associations emphasize that the classification of lime-ammonium nitrate as explosive cargo is not properly justified. Farmers supported the need for security measures in wartime, but propose introducing controlled imports with clear parameters. In particular, allow import through Danube ports with a safety data sheet for products with an ammonium nitrate content of up to 80% (mass fraction of nitrogen – up to 27.52%), and through Black Sea ports – up to 70% (mass fraction of nitrogen – up to 24.08%).

“A prompt decision is critically important before the spring sowing, because not only the harvest, but also the stability of agricultural exports and food security of Ukraine depend on the availability of nitrogen fertilizers,” the Agrarian Council summarized.

Earlier, the USPA told what measures are being taken against the background of restrictions on transshipment of nitrate in ports.