QUEZON CITY -- FPA Regional Field Unit II heightens their conduct of fertilizer and pesticide product monitoring and inspection to assure the farmers of quality agricultural inputs this planting season. They have also monitored the demand and supply of such inputs to determine price movements.

Most fertilizer prices soared in 2021, particularly phosphates and urea, driven by strong demand and higher input costs. For one, there's an increase in the importation demand of fertilizers in countries like the US, Brazil, India, and Australia.

Fertilizer prices have also been bolstered by higher input costs. The cost for phosphates raw material costs, particularly sulfur and ammonia, have increased sharply due to COVID-19 restrictions on transport that caused limited input supplies but higher demand. Urea feedstock costs have also risen, including natural gas prices which jumped in early 2021 due to unusually cold weather.

An increase in the freight cost for the transport of fertilizers has also been recorded. Chinese suppliers are also expecting a 30% tax on fertilizers once the Chinese government will impose relative export taxes. (DA-FPA)