The Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan proposes to impose a ban on the export of mineral fertilizers from the country outside the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Economist.kg reported on November 30.  The purpose of the ban is reportedly to provide the country's farmers with an adequate supply of fertilizers for the 2023 sowing season.   

However, to a greater extent, the decision is called upon to block the channels of speculative re-export of fertilizers to Tajikistan, says the bill executive summary.  

By the beginning of agricultural work in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan a shortage of fertilizers arises caused by re-export of them to Tajikistan.  Taking advantage of the fact that spring field work in Tajikistan starts earlier then in Kyrgyzstan and demand and prices for mineral fertilizers in the neighboring republic are high, resellers buy fertilizers locally in the regions and resell outside, Economist.kg says, citing the bill executive summary.  

In 2023, the sown area in Kyrgyzstan will be 1.232 million hectares, which is 5,800 hectares more than this year.  Kyrgyzstan’s requirements in mineral fertilizers will increase by almost 2,000 tons to 286,000 tons, according to the bill executive summary.  

There is no domestic production of mineral fertilizers in the country; Uzbekistan reportedly provides the bulk of Kyrgyzstan’s mineral fertilizers imports (up to 100,000 tons).  Besides, Russia and Kazakhstan account for 30%-35% of Kyrgyzstan’s mineral fertilizers imports.  

Due to rising prices for gas and petroleum products, Kyrgyz Ministry of Agriculture expects an increase in production costs of mineral fertilizers in Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in 2023.   This will further aggravate the situation with providing farmers with mineral fertilizers.  

According to Economist.kg, the ministry of agriculture proposes to impose the ban on the export of mineral fertilizers for six months.  Exceptions will be made for non-mineral fertilizers and deliveries in transit through Kyrgyzstan.  

Recall, the Cabinet of Ministers imposed a temporary ban on the export of mineral fertilizers from the country outside the customs territory of the EAEU in February this year.  

According to the press center of the Cabinet of Ministers, the decision was aimed at timely and complete provision of domestic agriculture with mineral fertilizers for the period of spring field work.  The temporary ban was imposed for six months.