Russia fertilizer output declines in April 2026 amid weaker ammonia and sulfur production

Russia’s production of mineral fertilizers declined in April 2026 compared with both March and the same month a year earlier, according to data cited by Agroexport and based on figures from Rosstat. Output totaled 2.5 million tons in April (in terms of 100% nutrient content), down 4.9% month on month and 2.1% year on year.

The data show a broadly flat-to-lower trend for the first four months of the year. From January through April, total mineral fertilizer production reached 10.3 million tons, a 0.4% decline compared with the same period in 2025. No specific operational or policy explanation for the April downturn was provided in the reported figures.

Ammonia production followed a similar pattern. Output in April rose 3% from March to 1.4 million tons but remained 11.2% lower year on year. For January–April, ammonia production declined 7% to 6.1 million tons. Technical sulfur production showed an even sharper contraction, falling to 370,000 tons in April, down 9.4% from March and 9% from April 2025. Over the four-month period, sulfur output decreased 11.5% to 1.5 million tons.

Despite weaker production data in early 2026, industry expectations remain for growth over the full year. Russian Fertilizer Producers Association head Andrey Guryev said in February that Russia could increase mineral fertilizer production to 66 million tons in 2026, up from 65.5 million tons, while exports could rise to 46 million tons from 45 million tons.