Tomorrow, on May 22 at 10.00, farmers are going to gather at the main country autobahns because they want to voice about their disagreement with the Ministry’s for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine wish to introduce quotas for fertilizers import to Ukraine.

They got to know about this taw introduction in August 2019, when Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade Translation (ICITT) made an investigation about nitrogen fertilizers import into Ukraine. The case was about import from partner countries – EU countries, Arabian Gulf countries, North Africa countries, also from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Byelorussia, Georgia, China, USA.

The main initiators of this investigation were companies that were included into the company group “OstChem” of Dmytro Firtash and “DniproAzot” of Ihor Kolomoiskii.

In June 2019 Antimonopoly committee adjudged that the company group “OstChem” was a monopolist at the nitrogen fertilizers market and it misused their monopoly position. In other words, limitations of fertilizers import from other countries will make the company’s monopoly stronger and let it set prices for fertilizers for our farmers.

Fertilizers import, because of making business competition, gave an opportunity to stop oligarch’s ambitions. But local market prices were higher in comparison with abroad one. Nowadays, nitrogen fertilizers prices (carbamide, ammonia nitrate) at local market are higher than abroad an average of 30%. Although, talking about different points, for example ammonia nitrate (where “OstChem” is a total monopolist) – its price is higher by 43%. Also, carbamide price for our farmers (from “OstChem”) is 217$ (1 ton), for Spain – it’s 200$ (1 ton), but it should be vice versa. Formerly, for domestic fertilizers, Ukrainian farmers had to pay 50% more (sometimes even 100%).

Besides, introduction of quotas on fertilizers import make a risk that other countries can introduce the same things in relation to our actions. For example, quotas and import reduction from Ukraine to other countries (abroad farmers preserve it).  

That is why farmers are totally against such a decision and going to protest at the main country autobahns (the list is added).

Odesa region:

• the major highway М05, Е95, Demydove village

Cherkasy region:

• the major highway M05, Zhashkiv city (turning into Tykhyi Hutir village)
• the major highway E-95, near Ladyzhynka village

Zaporizhia region:

• the major highway M-18 (Kharkiv-Simferopol), Vasylkiv district, Kamianske village as a description point

Kharkiv region:

• the major highway M-18, Novodolazk district, “Marshal” fueling as a description point

Kirovograd region:

• the major highway M12, 10 km from Novoarkhangelsk (“Zastava” cafe)