A lot of farmers in NI have invested their farm support payments into fertiliser, with merchants reporting a big surge in sales since the Farm Sustainability Payment was made at the start of September.

Merchants contacted by the Irish Farmers Journal used words such as “phenomenal” and “serious” to describe recent interest in sales, with one saying he had sold more this month than when peak sales normally occur in March.

Driving those sales is nervousness among farmers following a big increase in European gas prices in response to the US war with Iran. By mid-September wholesale gas had almost doubled in price when compared to June 2026.

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There is also uncertainty relating to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which will apply in the UK from 1 January 2027.

CBAM has been in place in the EU since January 2026 and effectively puts a carbon tax onto certain goods such as fertiliser, imported into the EU. Best estimates are that it could add £40 to £70/t to future UK fertiliser prices.

At present, CAN in NI is currently priced around £400 to £405/t, although there is the potential that price will go up £25 to £30/t next month, depending on supplier. Compound products, such as 27-4-4, are priced around £460 to 465/t at present.

Urea is slightly more difficult to source, with prices generally around the £555 to £560/t mark.