US Russia fertilizer imports have broken a historic record in March of this year. American buyers spent $243.9 million on Russian fertilizers — the highest figure ever recorded in the entire history of bilateral trade between the two countries. Furthermore, this milestone signals a significant shift in how the United States sources its agricultural inputs. The data, analyzed by RIA Novosti from U.S. statistical records, paints a striking picture of growing demand.
Record-Breaking US Russia Fertilizer Imports in March 2026
In March, the value of US Russia fertilizer imports nearly doubled over the course of the month alone. However, on an annual basis, the growth was more moderate, rising by 11%. Additionally, for the first quarter of this year as a whole, the total import value reached $564.4 million. That represents a 37% increase compared to the same period a year earlier. Consequently, the trend clearly points to accelerating demand for Russian agricultural inputs in the American market.
Nitrogen Fertilizers Lead the March Purchases
In March, U.S. buyers focused primarily on nitrogen fertilizers, totaling $206.6 million. Moreover, the breakdown of additional categories shows a diversified purchasing pattern. Specifically, imports also included:
- Potash fertilizers: $21.8 million
- Phosphate fertilizers: $9.2 million
- Mixed fertilizers: $6.3 million
Therefore, nitrogen fertilizers dominated by a wide margin. Nevertheless, potash and phosphate categories also contributed meaningfully to the overall record total.
Russia Climbs to Second Place Among US Fertilizer Suppliers
As a result of these purchases, Russia reclaimed the second spot among the leading fertilizer suppliers to the United States. Canada traditionally held the top position, with $354.2 million in March. Furthermore, the remaining top-five suppliers were as follows:
- Saudi Arabia: $143.2 million
- Oman: $83.3 million
- Qatar: $82.03 million
Additionally, by the end of March, the United States increased its overall fertilizer imports by one-third on a monthly basis and by 26% year-on-year. In total, that brought the monthly figure to $1.297 billion — the highest level recorded since April 2022. Consequently, this data underscores the scale of American agricultural demand and Russia’s growing role in supplying it.
Source: Zerno On-Line (Russia)