Ukraine invasion: China braces for effects of global fertiliser shortage on food security

The war in Ukraine has fuelled a spike in fertiliser prices, which are pushing up planting costs and eating into farmers’ incomes in China, state media says

China, which has elevated food security to an economic priority, is largely self-sufficient in staple crops like wheat and rice, but depends on fertiliser imports

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China is on high alert for threats to food security from the war in Ukraine. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:30am, 18 Mar 2022Updated: 4:46am, 18 Mar 2022

A protracted war between Russia and Ukraine could damage the global fertiliser supply chain, putting pressure on grain prices and production in China during a key planting season.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned of a possible worldwide food crisis, as the war in Ukraine threatens production of key staple crops. Russia and Ukraine represent more than half of the world’s supply of sunflower oil and about 30 per cent of the world’s wheat.

China is largely self-sufficient in staple crops like wheat and rice, but the war is also driving up fertiliser prices.

More than a half of the potash – a key nutrient for major commodity crops – that China consumes each year is imported, while customs data show that nearly 53 per cent of potassium purchases last year came from Russia and Belarus, the largest and third largest suppliers to China, respectively.

If the trade of fertilisers and grain is interrupted, how can we do spring fieldwork?

Xu Hongcai

Moscow earlier this month recommended suspending fertiliser exports, while Lithuania and Ukraine have already banned transit of Belarusian potash through their ports. Ukraine, a major producer of agricultural products, also banned exports of fertilisers on Saturday.