Yara reports 41% jump in Q1 2026 EBITDA as tight nitrogen markets boost margins

Yara International reported a 41% year-on-year jump in first-quarter 2026 EBITDA to $896 million on Friday, beating analyst expectations of $825 million as a tight global nitrogen market lifted margins across every region the fertilizer maker operates in.

Net income rose to $326 million from $294 million a year earlier, while revenue climbed to $4.2 billion from $3.6 billion. Total product deliveries reached 7.9 million tonnes, up 2% year-on-year, led by 2.1 million tonnes of NPK, 1.3 million tonnes of urea and 1.2 million tonnes of nitrates. Return on invested capital doubled to 12.2% from 6.0% in the prior-year quarter.

CEO Svein Tore Holsether attributed the results to “increased nitrogen margins, solid volumes and a sustained focus on operational performance,” while warning that Middle East tensions have put “significant pressure on the global food system” and exposed the fragility of fertilizer supply chains. Europe led regional performance with EBITDA of $246 million, up 54% year-on-year, on higher fertilizer prices and a lower fixed-cost base. The Americas posted $229 million, up 48%, while Africa and Asia EBITDA fell 33% to $44 million on margin pressure in key Asian markets.

Yara said it expects gas costs for the second and third quarters to run $150 million and $120 million higher than a year earlier, and flagged that Indian and Chinese nitrogen demand will remain the key swing factors for global supply-demand balance through the second half of the year.

Source: Agriland