Fertilizer prices and availability
Updated
What it is
This indicator tracks global fertilizer commodity prices, chiefly urea, DAP/MAP phosphate, and potash, along with physical supply availability, typically benchmarked at hubs such as the New Orleans barge market. It is closely watched by agricultural economists and commodity traders because nitrogen fertilizer is a major, globally traded input with concentrated production and shipping routes.
Why it matters lately
New Orleans urea barge prices jumped from about $475/ton to $520-550/ton within days of the Feb. 28, 2026 Iran war's start, with roughly 25% of globally traded nitrogen fertilizer normally moving through the Strait of Hormuz. By mid-April 2026, urea had climbed 26% month-over-month to average $847/ton, up 48% year-over-year.
Asymmetric Analytics view
Inference (AA): AA treats sustained urea price spikes well above pre-war levels as a leading input into its Food ELSI and Fertilizer application estimates indicators.