# WTO Members Should Avoid Export Restrictions on Fertilizers to Deliver on Food Security | International Institute for Sustainable Development

> IISD policy analyst Facundo Calvo argues WTO members should avoid export restrictions on fertilizers to protect food security. He notes fertilizers feed 30-50% of the global population and that farmers faced record input prices due to high energy and transport costs. Supply is concentrated, making it vulnerable to shocks.

- Date: 2023-04-14 · published 2023-04-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region Global · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/36328-wto-members-should-avoid-export-restrictions-on-fertilizers-to-deliver-on-food
- Commodities: [Urea](https://feedsoft.ai/c/UREA.md), [Potash (KCl)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/POTASH.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Export restrictions on fertilizer would tighten global nutrient supply and lift urea, ammonia and potash prices, raising feed grain production costs for buyers. Calls for open trade point to supply easing, but restriction risk remains a bullish cost factor.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: neutral
- UREA: bullish ▲
- POTASH: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| UREA | 2026-08-25 | [How fertilizer policies could exacerbate Hormuz price shocks - OPEC Fund for International Development](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17860-how-fertilizer-policies-could-exacerbate-hormuz-price-shocks-opec-fund-for.md) | +11.1% | +16.2% |
| UREA | 2024-04-27 | [Order of the Government of the Russian Federation "About Introduction of Temporary Quantitative Restriction on Export of Separate Types of Fertilizers"](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30658-order-of-the-government-of-the-russian-federation-about-introduction-of.md) | -7.7% | -6.1% |
| UREA | 2023-09-26 | [Fertilizer prices surge after China imposes export ban - VnExpress International](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34021-fertilizer-prices-surge-after-china-imposes-export-ban-vnexpress-international.md) | -3.2% | -6.5% |
| UREA | 2025-10-22 | [Possible Chinese export restrictions could impact global fertilizer market - DatamarNews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22329-possible-chinese-export-restrictions-could-impact-global-fertilizer-market.md) | +0.5% | +1.7% |
| UREA | 2021-11-15 | [Soaring fertilizer prices add to inflationary pressures and food security concerns](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12681-soaring-fertilizer-prices-add-to-inflationary-pressures-and-food-security.md) | -0.6% | -1.8% |
| CORN | 2021-09-02 | [Kazakhstan to introduce restrictions on the export of sunflower seed and its products 02.09.2021 - UkrAgroConsult](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45178-kazakhstan-to-introduce-restrictions-on-the-export-of-sunflower-seed-and-its.md) | -3.0% | -5.5% |
| CORN | 2018-01-03 | [Are we ready to prevent the next food price crisis? - Development Matters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/66883-are-we-ready-to-prevent-the-next-food-price-crisis-development-matters.md) | -0.9% | +1.8% |
| CORN | 2026-03-02 | [Mexico’s Food Sovereignty Remains Under Threat From Genetically Modified Corn and Pressure From Multinational Corporations - Regeneration International](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20131-mexico-s-food-sovereignty-remains-under-threat-from-genetically-modified-corn.md) | +2.0% | +5.1% |

## Sources

- iisd.org: https://www.iisd.org/wto-export-restrictions-fertilizers-food-security

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.