Grassland Agro has withdrawn all fertiliser quotes provided on its latest price list issued on Monday.

The move follows a similar voiding of fertiliser quotes by Goulding on Tuesday, adding greater uncertainty to farmers’ input costs in the wake of a renewed wave of disruption to international fertiliser and energy markets.

“Price increases have been forced upon us as fertiliser globally has risen sharply and continues to rise daily as the conflict currently in the Middle East region continues,” a statement from Grassland Agro stated.

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“The Straight of Hormuz, where a large percentage of the global fertiliser traded passes through, is at high risk because of this conflict, causing massive uncertainty.”

Grassland Agro warned that urea exports from the Middle East are under particular pressure and said that this will have a knock-on impact on global nitrogen fertiliser prices.

The supplier said that the price shock has “in some cases” seen manufacturers “suspending production”.

“Demand has increased and supply has tightened as a result,” the company said, adding that a new pricelist is to be issued as soon as possible.

Goulding

Grassland Agro’s statement echoed a letter dated as Tuesday sent by Goulding to customers withdrawing the pricing it offered for fertiliser on Sunday.

“We have been forced to withdraw our prices due to the sharp increase in global fertiliser prices over the last couple of days, mainly because of the current conflict in the Middle East Gulf region,” this earlier letter said.

The company quoted the share of international fertiliser exports that move through the Straight of Hormuz – roughly one-third of all shipments – and skyrocketing European gas prices as among the main factors driving fertiliser markets.

“We will issue a new price list as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” Goulding said.

Import levels

The introduction of an EU carbon levy on fertiliser imports in January 2026 – the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) - was preceded by a spell of exceptionally high fertiliser imports into Ireland.

Shipments of nitrogen fertilisers into the country were a significant 67% higher in the closing three months of 2025, before the tax kicked in, than the equivalent five-year average imported volume.

Slower than usual levels of post-CBAM imports have reduced this lead over the five-year average out to February, but the latest October to February nitrogen fertiliser import tonnage was still 38% ahead of regular levels.

Profiteering warning

This week also saw Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) farm business chair Bill O'Keeffe warn fertiliser suppliers not to profiteer off the increased uncertainty in global markets.

"There is a sufficient supply of fertiliser in the country, in merchants’ yards today, to cover all requirements for first applications to tillage crops and grassland, both grazing and first-cut silage requirements," O'Keeffe commented.

"These stocks have been purchased before the current conflict started and the recent spike in energy prices."