Ballance strengthens supply resilience as global disruption continues to shape fertiliser markets
Ballance Agri-Nutrients (Ballance) latest Fertiliser Outlook highlights that ongoing conflict in and around the Persian Gulf, combined with food security-related export controls from key producing nations, continues to place pressure on product availability and freight routes across global nutrient supply chains.
Ballance Head of Procurement Shane Crean says that while geopolitical tensions still dominate global fertiliser markets, the co-operative has long been proactively strengthening its supply chains and is confident it can meet farmer and grower nutrient needs for the season ahead.
“Planning for a range of scenarios is something we’ve had underway for some time now and this will continue for the foreseeable future,” he says.
“This means allowing longer lead times, sourcing products from multiple regions, leveraging domestic production, maintaining strong supplier relationships, and continuing to monitor market developments closely.
“As a result, we’re in a good position and can assure farmers and growers that we are prepared for the season ahead.”
Shane adds that while it's encouraging to see potash supply and pricing remain comparatively stable, products such as urea, sulphur, and DAP continue to be highly sensitive to developments in the Middle East.
“A high proportion of fertiliser supply is linked to the Persian Gulf region, making many fertiliser products used by New Zealand farmers and growers particularly sensitive to developments in the area.”
Shane says the key lesson from global markets is that volatility is unlikely to disappear anytime soon, with events occurring thousands of kilometres away continuing to influence agricultural markets here in New Zealand.
“Disruption really is the new normal. In a business largely reliant on sourcing raw materials or finished products internationally to support our local manufacturing capability, we’re certainly exposed to a wide range of more frequently occurring disruptions.”
View the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Fertiliser Outlook here: https://ballance.co.nz/medias/Fert-Outlook
Key market trends – August 2026
- Phosphate markets remain under upward pressure due to tight global supply and export restrictions.
- Sulphur prices remain historically high amid constrained supply and logistical uncertainty.
- Urea markets have stabilised but remain highly sensitive to Middle East developments.
- Potash markets remain comparatively stable.
Ballance Head of Procurement Shane Crean