The US government has officially removed import tariffs on key nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, reversing a policy that had disrupted supply and pushed prices to multi-year highs since April. According to a modification to Executive Order 14257, products now exempt from tariffs include urea, ammonium nitrate, UAN, ammonium sulfate, TSP, DAP, and MAP.
The decision was announced today by US President Donald Trump, who confirmed that essential farm inputs would no longer face duties at US ports. The tariff removal took effect for all shipments arriving from 13 November onward.
While ammonia may also qualify for tariff relief, its eligibility will be decided case-by-case by the Secretary of Commerce and the US Trade Representative, depending on ongoing trade agreements. Potassium-based fertilizers, including MOP, were already exempt from duties.
The announcement immediately impacted the market. January Nola urea futures dropped about $30/st to $360/st FOB, although overall trading remained quiet ahead of the weekend. Analysts expect fertilizer prices to fully reflect the new policy starting Monday.
Before the change, most exporting countries—excluding Russia—faced tariff rates of 10–15%, with some suppliers paying up to 30%. As a result, exporters avoided the US, redirecting cargoes to alternative markets. With the tariffs removed, trade flows are expected to normalize, improving supply availability.
Tariffs had previously hurt fertilizer affordability relative to crop prices, reducing nutrient demand across the US. Lower-cost imports may now encourage farmers to resume purchases ahead of the Spring 2026 planting season, while importers and distributors finally gain clarity after months of policy uncertainty.
Sources: Argus