Fertiliser prices rise amid Middle East tensions

»>A survey in Khon Kaen on Friday has found the retail price of urea fertiliser to have increased by about 50 baht per sack as stocks at several distributors become depleted ahead of planting season.

- CHAKKRAPAN NATANRI PRASIT TANGPRASERT

At a major fertiliser and seed distribution centre in Muang district, managers reported that several factories had suspended trading due to shortages of raw materials and rising import costs, said Teerakorn Wainiyom, sales and marketing manager at a fertiliser retailer.

Urea fertiliser, widely used for rice and sugarcane cultivation, is in high demand as farmers prepare for the new planting season.

“Normally fertiliser prices rise only about 5-10 baht per sack, but this time the increase is several times higher,” he said.

He warned that shortages of key fertiliser inputs, including urea formula, could affect blended fertiliser products because they rely on the same raw materials.

“Urea fertiliser is widely used by farmers during the early stage of the planting season, especially for rice and sugarcane, so demand is high at this time,’ he said.