Ireland is a relatively small market in respect of fertiliser sales and their usage compared to many of our EU neighbours. No chemical fertilisers are manufactured in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price-takers, dependent on global supply and demand and subject to euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies.
My Department collects data on fertiliser sales along the supply chain over the fertiliser year (October to September). The following table details sales of chemical fertilisers for the period 2017 to 2021:
|
Year
|
Tonnes of Fertiliser
|
Nitrogen (N) tonnes
|
Potassium (K) tonnes
|
Phosphorous (P) tonnes
|
|
2017
|
1,552,809
|
369,089
|
108,694
|
41,893
|
|
2018
|
1,714,729
|
408,495
|
120,267
|
46,387
|
|
2019
|
1,547,082
|
367,364
|
114,288
|
42,672
|
|
2020
|
1,592,218
|
379,519
|
118,016
|
44,259
|
|
2021
|
1,685,412
|
399,164
|
122,922
|
46,068
|
While sales figures for 2022 are not complete we are observing a reduction in total fertiliser sales over the first half of the 2022 fertiliser year (787,275 tonnes). Fertiliser sales figures for Q3 2022 will be available in August. My Department currently has no visibility on sales for 2023 or beyond but external factors on supply availability and price will likely have an impact.
The expected contribution of chemical fertiliser imports to the agriculture GHG inventory is difficult to accurately quantify, and there are a number of factors which influence this. The final position in published in the EPA inventory report annually on a retrospective basis.
Fertiliser imports are primarily a commercial matter. However, my Department through the Climate Action Plan, the Nitrates Action Plan, the CAP Strategic Plan and other policy interventions is seeking to support farmers to reduce their dependence on chemical fertiliser and reduce emissions from fertiliser use.
