Outside markets

Several factors impact on international commodity markets, including energy prices, the cost of fertilizer, and the dollar exchange rate. High energy prices, in particular, have been identified as one of the main causes of the agricultural price spike of 2008/09. The cost of fertilizer affects the agricultural production process and thus the price of commodities. And the dollar exchange rate defines a country's terms of trade.

About AMIS indicators

AMIS promotes a better understanding of developments in global food markets. A central task in this regard is to monitor market and policy drivers that impact on global food prices and their volatility.

Outside markets

Fertilizer prices

Fertilizers are an important input of agricultural production that can contribute to increasing yields and reducing production costs. They are combinations of the nutrients that plants must have to grow, in a form they can use. The primary nutrients in fertilizers are three essential elements:

  • Nitrogen (N), a source of protein and amino acids;
  • Phosphorus (P), a source of nucleic acids; and
  • Potassium (K), a catalyst and ion transport.

Frequently used international reference markets are the Black Sea for Urea (N fertilizer), US Gulf for Diammonium Phosphate, DAP (P fertilizer), Casablanca/Morocco for Phosphate Rock (P fertilizer) and Vancouver/Canada for Potash (K fertilizer).

To compare individual fertilizer prices year by year click here for Potash, DAP, Urea, and Phosphate Rock
 

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