Poland Suggests Imposing 30% Duty On Belarusian Potash

At the pan-European level.

The head of the Polish company Grupa Azoty “Puławy” Hubert Kamola proposed that the country's authorities impose a 30% duty on mineral fertilizers of Belarusian and Russian production. He complained that the company's losses have already exceeded 1.2 billion zlotys (about $300 million) due to a multiple increase in fertilizer imports from these countries in 2020-2023.

During a press conference on Tuesday in Puławy on June 18, Kamola said that due to the increase in fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus to Poland itself and the EU countries, “in the interests of all producers”, the Polish authorities should consider the possibility of introducing a 30% customs duty, and at the pan-European level.

“We are currently lobbying in this regard with representatives of our government to explain the importance of the problem of destabilization of the agricultural sector, fertilizers, industry and gas,” Kamola was quoted as saying by the Polish newspaper Bankier.

The head of Grupa Azoty “Puławy” stressed the importance of achieving “full support from EU member states” in this matter and warned of the consequences that threaten not only the company itself, but also other enterprises. Kamola drew attention to the fact that Grupa Azoty provides 15% of domestic natural gas consumption in Poland. Therefore, according to him, a significant reduction in its production by the company will affect the fulfillment of contracts by the Orlen group and other enterprises in the EU.

Kamola admitted that Grupa Azoty “Puławy” recorded a “huge loss” over the past six quarters and that this “creates serious problems in the company's economic activity”.

Grupa Azoty Puławy is a Polish chemical company based in Puławy in southeastern Poland, specializing in the production of nitrogen fertilizers. It is considered one of the world's largest producers of melamine and the largest Polish enterprise engaged in large-scale chemical synthesis. Since January 2013, it has been part of Grupa Azoty.