The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is urging farmers to engage with their fertiliser suppliers to ensure access to product for spring 2026.
According to the organisation, market indicators suggest that ongoing geopolitical and logistical pressures could lead to availability struggles if demand is pushed into a short ordering window.
“Suppliers need clear demand signals to plan effectively,” said Jo Gilbertson, head of fertiliser. “Without early engagement, distribution networks may struggle to meet demand within narrow timeframes. This is not about assigning blame, it’s about recognising the realities of longer distribution lines and processing capacity, and working together to ensure farm productivity is protected.”
Issues include new EU tariffs on Russian fertiliser, as well as the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). If EU producers were to prioritise domestic markets due to these changes, then the UK supply chain could be affected.
Planning ahead
The AIC has put together a checklist to help ensure a smooth supply of fertiliser for the spring:
- Order early to enable suppliers to plan, source and deliver
- Stay in contact with the supplier for the latest market and logistical updates
- Plan ahead by assessing crop needs now and make purchasing decisions based on anticipated requirements
- Take delivery when it is offered to you to ensure fertiliser is on-farm ahead of spring