Analysis of price volatility of mineral fertilisers: possible issues for European farmers
Résumé
European farmers are currently affected by an increase in the price
of fertilisers (from an index of 100 in 2005 to 150 in 2012 after it peaked at
almost 200 at the end of 2008) that calls into question the future availability of
these kinds of inputs. Since 2007, the strong demand from emerging countries,
geopolitical tensions over natural resources, and the rise in the price of energy
have been exerting upward pressure on the prices of mineral fertilisers that
affect farmers’ production costs especially in the European Union, which is not
self-sufficient in sources of NPK. Analysis of data from the Farm Accountancy
Data Network shows that the cost of fertilisers increased from €80/ha in 2004
to €114/ha in 2011. This rise had the highest impact in 2009 because it was
not offset by higher agricultural prices (the cost of fertilisers accounted
for 5.4% of agricultural production in 2009 and only 4.4% in 2011). The cost
of fertilisers and its increase is particularly high for farms specialised in cereal,
oilseed and protein crops, and accounted for 13.9% of agricultural production
in 2009.
Mots clés
la volatilité des prix des engrais
union européenne
agriculture
coût de fertilisation
agriculture durable
réseau d'information comptable agricole
la dépendance sur les engrais minéraux
engrais azoté
engrais de phosphore
engrais de potasse
price volatility of fertiliser
cost of fertilisation
sustainable agriculture
farm accountancy data network
reliance on mineral fertiliser
nitrogen fertiliser
phosphorous fertiliser
potash fertliser