11th August 2025
Continued global volatility in nutrient prices sees uptake in fixed price fertiliser contracts
Continued global volatility in nutrient commodity prices has seen a rising number of Ballance Agri-Nutrients (Ballance) shareholders opt for fixed price fertiliser contracts to help provide certainty around input costs.
The co-operative has now opened applications for fixed price fertiliser contracts for the upcoming season, following a successful launch last spring and similar offer in autumn this year.
Ballance General Manager Customer Jason Minkhorst says while the co-operative is focused on keeping prices as low as it can, as a globally traded commodity, the fluctuating price of fertiliser has varied by hundreds of dollars per tonne in recent years.
Prices are impacted by global events such as the recent US tariffs, as well as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which continues to create volatility and uncertainty for farmers.
“Leveraging a fixed price on some or all of your fertiliser demand helps smooth out that volatility and provide better assurances around margins.
“For us, the offer supports our supply chain planning and ensures our shareholders continue to have access to a reliable supply of nutrients which has wider benefits for the co-operative as a whole,” he says.
Jason adds a common customer concern is that price fluctuations across every part of their operation make it difficult to plan ahead and fertiliser is just one of these input costs.
“With fixed price contracts already in place for milk supply, imported feed and bank loans, it makes sense to have something similar in place for fertiliser, which can otherwise be a significant variable cost for farmers and growers.
“It’s great to see that our shareholders really value having options like these available to them, so they can budget and forecast more accurately and get a clearer picture on their expected profit margin,” he says.
Offer details
Eligible Ballance shareholders can apply to lock in their forward price on selected products for a period of six months, starting from 1 September 2025.
- Nrich urea
- SustaiN
- YaraBela CAN
Conditions apply, including minimum and maximum contract volumes. Full details including how to apply being found at www.ballance.co.nz/fixed-price