Russian phosphate fertilizer duties: Guryev urges temporary U.S. suspension

The United States should temporarily suspend countervailing duties on Russian phosphate fertilizers to help stabilize the fertilizer market, Andrey Guryev, president of the Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers (RAPU), said in an interview reported by TASS on October 27.

“It would be logical for the United States itself to temporarily suspend this duty for Russian producers. Ultimately, this is a humanitarian product,” Guryev said in an interview with Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin.

Guryev pointed to the U.S. decision to temporarily suspend countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco following the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East. Morocco is also one of the world’s largest phosphate fertilizer producers. According to Guryev, the measure has not led to a substantial improvement in fertilizer or sulfur prices, despite sulfur being an important raw material for phosphate production.

Russia has traditionally been among the largest suppliers of mineral fertilizers to the U.S. market and continues to export urea to the country, Guryev said. He noted that Russian producers have maintained their presence in the U.S. nitrogen fertilizer market.

The proposal comes amid continued pressure on phosphate fertilizer supply and production costs. Fertilizer Daily previously reported on industry concerns surrounding the U.S. suspension of duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers and its potential implications for the domestic market. The debate over the Moroccan duty exemption has also highlighted questions about U.S. sourcing and dependence on overseas phosphate suppliers.

Guryev did not specify how long the proposed suspension of duties on Russian products should remain in place or whether the Russian industry had formally submitted a request to U.S. authorities.

Source: TASS