---
title: "Global fertilizer price spikes set to impose €51 million burden on Moldovan farmers"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/73307/global-fertilizer-price-spikes-set-to-impose-51-million-burden-on-moldovan-farmers
published: 2026-04-01T17:36:21Z
language: en
author: "Olga Mînzat"
section: "Economic"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Global fertilizer price spikes set to impose €51 million burden on Moldovan farmers

> Rising energy prices and logistical bottlenecks in the Middle East have triggered a 50% surge in fertilizer costs since February 2026. Economic experts warn that while the immediate impact is buffered by early-year imports, Moldovan agriculture faces a severe financial strain in the second half of the year.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/26eb22f4-1d78-47da-a8e9-8d8cdae60ca1.jpg)

Rising energy prices and logistical bottlenecks in the Middle East have triggered a 50% surge in fertilizer costs since February 2026. Economic experts warn that while the immediate impact is buffered by early-year imports, Moldovan agriculture faces a severe financial strain in the second half of the year.

**Financial impact and raw material crisis**

The surge is a direct consequence of the energy crisis, where rising oil prices have inflated the cost of natural gas—the primary raw material for fertilizer production. Economic analyst Veaceslav Ioniță estimates that in a worst-case scenario, farmers could face additional costs of up to €51 million (approx. 1 billion MDL).

While this represents 3% of Moldova’s total annual crop production value (€1.5–€1.8 billion), the burden falls entirely on individual producers. "We can only hope for high yields and favorable market prices, similar to 2021, to offset these unprecedented costs," Ioniță noted.

**Logistical delays adding to the burden**

Beyond raw material costs, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have disrupted maritime routes, significantly increasing freight charges. Agriculture expert Iurie Rija highlights that fertilizers now account for roughly 30% of total production costs.

"A ton of urea leaving Egypt or Nigeria at $700–$750 can incur an additional $30–$80 in freight costs just due to delays in the Black Sea region," Rija explained. For large-scale farms, these delays translate into a cost increase of approximately $10 per hectare, potentially leading to losses in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**