OREANDA-NEWS.  The government has decided to impose temporary restrictions on the export of nitrogen fertilizers, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a cabinet meeting broadcast on the Russia 24 TV channel.

"To prevent a shortage in our domestic market and, as a result, the increase in food prices, the government, on behalf of the president, temporarily, for six months, imposes restrictions on the export of nitrogen and complex nitrogen-containing fertilizers," he said. For nitrogen fertilizers, restrictions will be set at no more than 5.9 million tons, and for complex fertilizers - no more than 5.35 million tons. Quotas between the companies will be distributed until November 25, 2021, according to the draft resolution.

Mishustin explained that gas occupies a significant part in the structure of the production of mineral nitrogen fertilizers (ammonia is obtained from gas — raw materials for the production of fertilizers, in particular, ammonium nitrate). According to it, due to the increase in gas prices abroad, there was a shortage of fertilizers. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent their shortage also in the domestic market and, as a result, an increase in food prices, the Prime Minister noted.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade will be given the authority to distribute volumes among exporters. This work should be carried out jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture," the Prime Minister said.

Such restrictions will fully meet the needs of the domestic market in fertilizers during the preparation for the spring sowing campaign, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture explained. He also added that every year Russian farmers introduce more and more mineral fertilizers into the soil, which makes it possible to achieve a consistently high crop yield.

Limiting the volume of fertilizer exports is positive news for Russian farmers, said Eduard Zernin, Chairman of the Board of the Union of Grain Exporters. "The world market is in a fever, many European manufacturers have stopped production, and some countries have closed exports altogether," he notes. Now, according to Zernin, it is important to ensure the availability of fertilizers for spring field work so that the country is not left without a harvest.