EU plan to end Russian fertiliser imports unsettles farmers

THE EU's plans to impose tariffs on fertiliser imports from Russia in a bid to increase pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine war have alarmed European farmers worried about possible price hikes.

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More than a quarter of the 27-nation's imports of nitrogen-based fertilisers come from Russia, with more flowing in from Moscow's ally Belarus.

The European Commission wants the flow around 3.6 million tons to end. This would dent Russia's war coffers, support local producers and reduce Europe's dependency on a foe that could use it as leverage, according to Brussels.

It will also prevent the indirect export of Russian gas, which is used to produce fertilisers, said a European diplomat. But not everyone is happy.

"Russian fertilisers are the most competitive in terms of price, due to well-established logistics for supplying the EU," said Dominique Dejonckheere of pan-European farmers' group Copa-Cogeca.