Urea anti-dumping move wont hit UK
Urea anti-dumping move wont hit UK
NEWS that the EU has made its anti-dumping tariffs on east European urea permanent is unlikely to affect the UK fertiliser market, says Roger Chesher of the Bridgewater Partnership.
"It will make no difference whatsoever. Urea accounts for less than 7% of the nitrogen market and the decision had been expected anyway." But he says the effect of the likely rubber-stamping of the existing tariff on Russian ammonium nitrate later this month could be more noticeable.
"The volumes of AN used are much greater. I do not think it will push prices up next season, but the chance of them dropping will be less. We will probably just see a maintenance of the status quo."
But Jonathan Pettit, inputs adviser at the NFU, expressed concern. "It curtails the choice of alternatives for farmers." He also said it was disappointing that a report commissioned into the effect of import duties on the end user had not been published before announcing the decision. *