The EU tariff increases on Russian and Belarussian fertilizer imports include CN codes that cover NPKs and water-soluble fertilizers, such as a technical MAP, and urea phosphate.

The EU parliament passed the resolution on 22 May 2025 to modify the customs duties applicable to the imports of certain goods ‘originating in or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.’

“The text also provides for a 6.5% tariff on fertilisers imported from Russia and Belarus, plus duties of between €40 and €45 per tonne for the 2025-2026 period. These tariffs will rise to €430 per tonne by 2028,” the EU statement reads. These changes are set to come into effect from 1 July.

The standing rapporteur for Russia Inese Vaidere (EPP, LV) said: “The regulation gradually increasing customs duties for products from Russia and Belarus will help to prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war machine. It is not acceptable that three years after Russia launched its full-scale war, the EU is still buying critical products in large volumes, in fact, these imports have risen significantly.

The proposal will boost EU fertiliser production, which has taken a hit from cheap Russian imports, while giving farmers time to adjust.

Importantly, the proposal also includes monitoring provisions enabling the Commission to follow the fertiliser market closely and take action if prices shoot up.”

Commenting on the resolution, COPA COGECA, an organisation representing agri-cooperatives and farmers in EU, said “Copa and Cogeca acknowledge the geopolitical context behind the Commission’s initiative and the co-legislators’ decision to support it. While recognising broader foreign policy goals, we must emphasize the serious economic and operational consequences this proposal represents for the EU agricultural sector. Despite the Commission’s promises before the vote regarding market monitoring, fertilisers—being a major cost for the entire profession—remain a significant concern and raise serious doubts about the competitiveness and future of European farming.”

In its text regarding the tariff changes, the EU lists the CN codes (Combined Nomenclature), which are 8-digit commodity codes used within the EU and an extension of the Harmonized System (HS) codes used in global trade. The CN codes were as follows:

“With regard to the goods falling under CN code 3102:
(i) 6,5 % ad valorem + 40 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
(ii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 60 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
(iii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 80 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028;
(iv) 6,5 % ad valorem + 315 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2028″

The 3102 code includes: “Mineral or chemical fertilizers, nitrogenous fertilizers, such as solid urea, ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate.” Within this category are 3102 60, which are “double salts and mixtures of calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate”, and 3102 80 “mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate in aqueous or ammoniacal solution”. It should be noted that fertilizer-grade calcium nitrate (CN) is often listed under another HS code: 2834 29. See New AG article for discussion on CN and the 2834 HS code. Russia is not a large exporter of CN, compared with Norway and China, with volumes in the tens of thousands of tons.

The other category listed in the EU text was 3105. The text specified the 6 digit codes as follows:
“With regard to the goods falling under CN codes 3105 20, 3105 30, 3105 40,
3105 51, 3105 59 and 3105 90:
(i) 6,5 % ad valorem + 45 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
(ii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 70 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
(iii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 95 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028;
(iv) 6,5 % ad valorem + 430 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2028.

The text does not mention potash separately, which comes under 3104 codes, but only in the context of the 3105 NPK codes. The category 3105 covers: “mineral or chemical fertilizers containing two or three of the fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. This includes diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate.”

The six-digit codes cover the following: 3105 20 – NPKs, mineral or chemical fertilizers containing three fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, 3105 30 – Diammonium phosphate (DAP), 3105 40 – Monoammonium phosphate (MAP) 3105 51 – containing nitrates and phosphates, 3105 59 – “other” category, 3105 90 – other, potassium nitrate-sodium nitrate mixture.

Potassium nitrate (PN) is listed under HS code 31059010, and similar to CN is also reported under another code 2834. Howver, Russia is not a large exporter of PN. The water-soluble fertilizer urea phosphate, which is produced in Russia, comes under HS code 31055900.

In 2021, the EU imposed restrictions on Belarus that included potash and from March 2022, a new package of sanctions led to a total ban on potash imports. Between 2018 and 2020, 27% of the potash imported into the EU originated in Belarus, said the EU in its communication.