asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the percentage increases in the prices of various fertilisers which have taken place over the past five years; if he has received proposals for further increases; and what action he has taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Fertilisers.
37.
During the past five years I have on four occasions indicated to the fertiliser manufacturers that I would not object to certain increases in their prices which would compensate them in part for unavoidable increases in costs. Particulars of the increases in price are as follows:
1966—increases ranging from 1.4 per cent to 3.2 per cent.
1968—a flat increase of 7½ per cent.
1970—increases ranging from 6 per cent to 7 per cent.
July, 1971—a flat increase of 7 per cent.
The fertilisers involved were: Superphosphates and compounds, ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium nitrate and concentrated complete fertilisers.
I do not exercise control over the prices of imported fertilisers except to the extent that importers and wholesalers may not increase their margins on these fertilisers without giving me notice in advance. Since 1966, I have not received any such notice of a proposed increase in margins.
Is the Minister aware of a report that there is about to be or has been an increase in fertiliser prices? I saw such a report in The Farmers' Journal.
Thirty shillings a ton announced three days ago.
I am sorry about the acoustics but the message does not seem to be getting across. I said in my reply that in July, 1971, there was a flat increase of 7 per cent.
Is the Minister satisfied that the price of fertilisers is rising no faster than the agricultural price index and that farmers' profit margins are not being squeezed by a faster increase in the cost of inputs than in the price obtaining for their output?
That is a separate question.
I have indicated in my reply the percentage increases in fertiliser prices over the past five years.