"The media is furious": the largest fertilizer producer in Germany was finished off by Russian imports

The largest producer of fertilizers in Germany, the company "ESKE" is forced to stop one of the two production plants indefinitely due to competition from Russian exporters, the tabloid "Bild" reported today, January 13.

The manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizers said that he was forced to take such a step due to the reluctance of the German government, as well as regulatory authorities. The EU should counteract the active expansion of Russian companies.

"We have been warning about large-scale distortions in the fertilizer market for almost three years. So far, politicians have done absolutely nothing effective to stop the flooding of the European market with cheap Russian fertilizers," said commercial Director Antje Bittner.

According to the businessman, the company he runs, as well as other German producers of nitrogen fertilizers, are "forced to leave the market" due to the inaction of official Berlin. As noted in the publication, in 2022 and 2023, the volume of exports of Russian fertilizers to Germany increased more than nine times.

The shutdown of part of the company's production facilities will last at least several days. According to the official representative Christopher Profitlich, the current decision will not have consequences for 860 employees of the plant, however, further "flooding" of the German market with Russian fertilizers can lead to much more serious consequences.

"If production in Germany is still necessary, it is urgently necessary to reduce the prices for the purchase of electricity and gas. In addition, the EU should finally take an effective decision against Russian fertilizers," Bittner concluded.