Irish fertiliser prices remain higher than in the UK despite an easing in energy costs over the last year, sparking concern among farmers
Supersoil made the complaint earlier this month to the European Commission’s competition directorate, which acknowledged receiving the complaint on March 12th. The company’s complaint is against the industry and the Fertilizer Association of Ireland, a body whose council and board include representatives of leading suppliers in the Republic. The group did not respond to requests for a comment on Wednesday.
In January prices for urea, a key product, averaged €504 a tonne in the Republic against €417 in the UK. Supersoil maintains that farmers close to the Border get better deals as the same products are cheaper in the North. However, those further south face higher costs, the company says. The ICMSA’s submission confirms the gap in prices between the Border counties and those further south. For example, the document written last April shows farmers in southern counties quoted between €730 and €760 a tonne for urea.