Bundeslandwirtschaftsminister Alois Rainer (CSU) has warned that rising food prices may follow a looming shortage of fertilizers caused by the war in Iran. He told the media group Bayern that farmers have been closely watching the sharp increase in fertilizer costs driven by the conflict, and that the resulting price pressure could soon spill over into consumer goods.
“The federal government takes this situation very seriously and wants to act early” Rainer said, stressing the need for proactive measures. He therefore called for a suspension of import duties on fertilizers: “I support the EU Commission’s proposal to temporarily lift tariffs on fertilizer imports. Fertilizer prices are largely set on the global market, so it is essential to make full use of the political tools available”. The suspension would come into effect on 1 May and would initially last one year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Iran war has pushed up prices for nitrogen‑based fertilizers sharply. The main price drivers are energy price surges and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Gulf crisis’s impact reaches the fertilizer markets worldwide.
Based on information from traders, the ministry estimates that roughly 60 % to 80 % of farmers have already secured their seasonal need for nitrogen fertilizer. Of the amounts already traded, about 70 % to 80 % are physically stored on farms, while the remaining 20 % to 30 % sits in trade and depot warehouses and will be drawn down gradually. The degree of coverage varies by region.
