China's export restrictions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have hindered the procurement of raw materials for chemical fertilizers.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has a policy of strengthening support to facilitate the diversification of suppliers.
Japan relied on China for 90% of "ammonium phosphate," one of the raw materials for chemical fertilizers, but since China tightened export inspections in October last year, procurement has been hindered.
In addition, 26% of "potassium chloride", another raw material, was imported from Russia and Belarus in total, but trading companies and others have stopped importing due to the military invasion of Russia.
In response to this situation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to strengthen support to facilitate the diversification of suppliers.
On the diplomatic side, next month, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Takebe will visit Morocco, Africa, which produces ammonium phosphate, to encourage a stable supply to Japan.
In addition, as an emergency measure based on the price increase announced on the 26th, fertilizer manufacturers will subsidize the increase in transportation costs caused by switching import sources.
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Kaneko said, "From a medium- to long-term perspective, we will reduce dependence on specific importing countries as much as possible and diversify procurement countries in order to stabilize fertilizer supply. I will go. "