SEPTEMBER 2021

Market Comments

Global fertilizer prices.

Potash prices rose significantly compared to August, while the average retail price of DAP reached a 10-year high, according to prices tracked by DTN for the second week of September 2021.

Potash was 6% higher compared to August. The fertilizer had an average price of $598/ton. DTN designates a significant price increase as 5% or more. Four fertilizers had price increases of 3% compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $776/ton, urea $572/ton, anhydrous $762/ton, and UAN28 $381/ton.

The price of UAN32 increased 2% to $428/ton. DAP prices increased 1% to $702/ton. The average price of 10-34-0 was fractionally higher at $632/ton. DAP rose above $700/ton for the first time in nearly 10 years. The last time the phosphorus fertilizer’s price was this high was the second week of Dec. 2011 when the average price was at $702/ton.

Source: DTN (Data transmission network)

Fertilizer Prices

Planting of the “2022A” season crops began in September. It represents about 35% of the yearly crop production. High global fertilizer prices have affected prices in country. Fertilizer demand is set to go high during this season.

Fertilizer Availability

There has been no reported shortage of fertilizer.

AUGUST 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizer demand in Burundi is low currently because this is not a fertilizer use season in the country. The harvest of the minor “2021C” Season crops, accounting for about 15 percent of the yearly crop production, will start in September in marshlands and irrigated areas. However, the global high fertilizer prices caused by high input costs could result in high prices.

Fertilizer Availability

There has been no reported shortage of fertilizer in Burundi.

JULY 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizer demand is currently low, while prices of imported fertilizer products remain high.
Harvesting of the “2020B” main season crops, accounting for about 50 percent of the yearly crop output, was completed in July, while harvesting of the “2020A” season crops, representing about 35 percent of the yearly crop production, was concluded in February. Farmers are awaiting the next planting season which begins in September.

Fertilizer availability

There has been no reported shortage of fertilizer in Burundi.

JUNE 2021

Market Comments

Generally, prices of nitrogen and phosphates fertilizers have been stable albeit at higher levels Year-over-Year (YoY). This has been majorly driven by strong freight assessments caused by rebounding global trade recovery as well as strong demand from traditional global markets namely India and Latin America.

Freight assessments, from East Africa’s main source market, Middle East, have been indicated at upwards of $50 since end of Q1 up from the usual average figure of $30/mt +/-. This holds true for most of the major supply routes globally.

Fertilizer Prices

Prices of most planting fertilizer have eased slightly in Burundi due to subdued demand. The planting of Season B crops such as beans, maize, and sorghum was completed in March. The crops are currently being harvested. Season A crops such as maize, beans, and sorghum are awaiting their planting season.

Fertilizer availability

There has been no reported shortage of fertilizers in Burundi, because of sustained cross border imports from the Tanzania side.

MAY 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Prices of most planting fertilizers have decreased in Burundi because of low demand. The planting of Season B crops such as beans, maize, and sorghum was completed in March hence the low demand. The price of top-dressing fertilizer has increased because of high demand. Season B crops such as maize and sorghum are in their growth stages hence the high demand.

Fertilizer Availability

There has been no reported shortage of fertilizer in Burundi. Currently, it is not a major fertilizer use season in the country.

APRIL 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Prices of most planting fertilizers have decreased due to low demand. The early planting of Season B crops such as beans, maize, and sorghum, which ended in March, turned the demand from planting fertilizers to top-dressing fertilizers. The latter is currently in high demand because Season B crops are in their growth stages which explains the increase in prices of top-dressing fertilizers.

Fertilizer Availability

Fertilizer is available in the country. Despite the closure of Burundi’s land and sea borders following COVID-19, fertilizer importation was not affected because cargo transportation was still allowed.

MARCH 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizer prices in Burundi have gone up because of high demand, due to planting of Season B crops such as beans, maize, and sorghum which began in February and will continued in March.

Fertilizer Availability

Fertilizer for the planting of Season B crops is available in the country. Importers had already imported enough and agro dealers stocked the products in readiness for planting of Season B crops which was underway until March. Additionally, despite the COVID 19 pandemic, which led to the closure of land and water borders in Burundi, cargo transportation is allowed, so fertilizer importation has not been affected.

Other Key Information

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bujumbura and the Dutch Organization for Internationalization in Education provided a combined €1.89 million funding for the introduction of Plantwise (including Plantwise capacity building and plant clinic networks) to support smallholder farmers in Burundi. The Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi, the Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, and CABI will therefore join forces to establish a network of local plant clinics to be run by local agricultural extensions staff, who were newly trained as plant doctors.

FEBRUARY 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Prices have gone up because of high demand due to planting of season B crops such as beans, maize, and sorghum which began in February and will continue through March.

Fertilizer Availability

Fertilizer for the planting of season B crops is available in the country. Importers had already imported fertilizer and agro dealers had stocked the product in readiness for planting of season B crops.

JANUARY 2021

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

In most parts of the country, fertilizer prices have decreased because demand is low since there is no planting taking place in January. Harvesting of long rain crops and Burundi’s major food crops, such as maize and sorghum, was completed in the previous months, so farmers are preparing their lands for planting which begins in February.

Fertilizer Availability

Fertilizer is available in the county since importers have started importing and agrodealers have started stocking the product in readiness for the planting season which begins in February.

Other Key Information

The Burundian government and the African Development Bank have agreed to release 21 million US Dollars to support the sustainable development of agricultural and livestock value chains, as well as institutional support through capacity building of local actors in the agricultural sector. The aim of the initiative is to “contribute in a sustainable way” to improving food and nutritional security, and increasing incomes of Burundian populations, particularly those in the provinces of Kirundo, Muyinga, and Ngozi.

DECEMBER 2020

Market Comments

Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizers prices were low in December because of the low fertilizer demand due to no planting taking place. Most of season A crops such as maize, beans and sorghum that were planted in September, October and November were in their final stages of maturity and harvesting of beans had begun.

Fertilizer Availability

Fertilizer was available in the country in December. However, agrodealers reported decreased sales because of low demand.

Highlights of 2020 Comments

Fertilizer Prices

At the beginning of the first quarter of 2020, low fertilizer prices were reported because of low demand. Most of the 2020A crops were being harvested. Despite the end of the first quarter being the cropping season, fertilizer prices did not increase because of the Food Security and Nutrition Policy Subsidy program that was going on at the time.

During the second quarter of 2020, fertilizer prices remained stable because the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the transportation and delivery of fertilizer. During the third quarter of the year, fertilizer prices went down because of low demand which was a result of the rainy season and the fact that there was no planting taking place.

Fertilizer Availability

Throughout the year, there was enough fertilizers in the country to meet demand. Agrodealers stocked up enough fertilizer   for the various seasons. The COVID-19 restriction measures did not, in any way, affect the transportation and delivery of fertilizers to different towns in the country.

AUGUST 2020

Market Comments

Some of the adult swarms are starting to mature, suggesting the possibility of a generation of breeding once the short rains start in October. On 22 August, at least one swarm crossed into northeast Uganda and reportedly spread to Moroto, Amudati, Napak districts while another swarm arrived in Southeast South Sudan to the south of Kapoeta in Eastern Equatoria. The swarms are mobile and not expected to mature or breed in either country. In Northeastern Ethiopia, mature swarms from Afar concentrated along a 400 km stretch of the escarpment on the eastern edges of the Amhara and Tigray highlands where egg-laying will cause hopper bands to form. So far, at least one band has formed in Tigray, south of Mekele. Aerial and ground control operations are in progress. Immature swarms persist in the Harar Highlands, in nearby eastern areas, and on the plateau in Northwest Somalia where aerial control operations are in progress using biopesticides. These swarms could mature and eventually breed in areas of rainfall, including the northwest coast where adult groups are present.

Farmers are preparing their lands for planting of Season A crops which begins in September. There are enough fertilizers in the country to meet demand. Stockists are stocking up fertilizers for the season. The COVID 19 restriction measures have not, in any way, affected the transportation and delivery of fertilizers to different towns in the country. Fertilizer prices have remained stable. The sales volume is also low currently as the season has not begun. Harvesting of the “2020B” main season crops, accounting for about 50 percent of the yearly crop output, was completed in July

APRIL 2020

Market Comments

The cropping season in East and Southern Africa occurs from November to April, so most fertilizers were already in-country and applied or well down the distribution channel before the impact of Covid 19 began.

The Food Security and Nutrition Policy Subsidy program is ongoing, and there is adequate stock in the country.

FEBRUARY 2020

Market Comments

Harvesting of the “2020A” season crops, representing about 35 percent of the yearly crop production, is underway and will be concluded in February. Planting of beans and maize for season B will start in March/April.  Currently, fertilizer demand is low.

NOVEMBER 2019

Market Comments

Land preparation and planting of 2020A season crops, which represent about 35 percent of the yearly crop production and harvest from December 2019, has come to an end. Above average and well-distributed rainfall throughout the 2020A season to date has led to good crop development, with favorable harvests expected in December 2019/January 2020. However, localized flooding has caused damage to property, particularly in Muyinga Province and in the city of Rumonge. Flooding and damage to crops of above-average rainfall is ongoing. Though an outbreak of Fall Armyworm was recently signaled, significant impact on crop production is not expected due to the availability of pesticides and improved knowledge of control practices among farmers. Fertilizer usage and demand is currently low as most farmers are harvesting and doing less planting. Fertilizer prices have also dropped.

AUGUST 2019

Market Comments

Burundi has announced a halt to the importation of agricultural fertilizers this year. The ban followed the beginning of a local factory to manufacture industrial organo-mineral fertilizers (FOMI). Burundi has built its own organo-mineral fertilizer plant to overcome challenges in importing and distributing chemical fertilizers to farmers. FOMI’s raw material is 65% local and consists of organic manure and dolomitic limestone, while the remaining 35% is made up of chemical fertilizer which are imported.
The factory indicated that it works in cooperation with other research institutions that operate in Burundi or even internationally such as the Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Burundi (ISABU), FABI, etc. Annual production for organo-mineral fertilizers is currently estimated at 50 000 tonnes and 70 000 tonnes for agricultural lime. But in the interest of farmers for this new product from Fomi-Imbura, the extension of its factory is considered because the demand can increase overtime.

JUNE 2019

Market Comments

Driven by well-distributed rainfall since mid-April, average to above-average Season B harvests are expected in May/June, including in localized areas of Kirundo, where Season A crops failed in March, and in the southern and eastern lowlands, where April rainfall was below average. Minimal (IPC Phase 1) is expected in some communes, but many poor households are unable to afford essential non-food expenditures and will remain Stressed (IPC Phase 2), namely in the Humid Plateaus, Eastern Arid Plateaus, and Northern Lowlands. This is driven by ongoing recovery from recent climate hazards and by reduced labor productivity in areas that have had higher-than-normal malaria prevalence since January.

MAY 2019

Market Comments

Based on observed crop growth to date and given the forecast of average May-June rainfall, Season B harvests are expected to be average to a little above average. With staple food prices remaining below the 2018 average, most households are expected to meet their minimum food needs through September.
According to key informants, prices of maize, rice, bananas, roots, and tubers in Kirundo remain lower in May 2019 than one year ago, but the price of beans is about 25 percent higher. Due to above-average aggregate crop production in season 2019 A and likely average to above-average Season 2019 B production in May/June, food prices are likely to decline in June and remain relatively stable until early September.

APRIL 2019

Market Comments

In general, this month of April registered decrease in fertilizer prices. This is attributed to long dry period where farmers did not engage in any farming activities. Those who planted earlier are almost weeding.
The price of fertilizers continues to drop as farmers are almost through with planting. First weeding is almost starting and there is expected increase in prices of top-dressing fertilizers like Urea.
In northern and western regions, characterized by lack of rains, low harvest is expected. The beans are almost maturing.
In central region, characterized by cold climate, planting season is over meaning reduction in the use of fertilizers hence drop in their prices.
In southern region, characterized by cold rainy climate, farmers are doing first weeding on beans, potatoes and other crops.

MARCH 2019

Market Comments

This month, prices of fertilizers that are mainly used, did not change much because they were distributed on time by the government.
In Northern region, farmers are planting crops like beans, rice, water melon and tomatoes. The demand and supply of fertilizers is high but enough.
In West and Southwest regions, rice growers are doing top dressing with Urea. They are also planting pepper, cucumbers and tomatoes which gives a good harvest.
In Central and Southern regions farmers have finished planting beans, peas and potatoes. Maize is currently being harvested. The harvest is not that good, and this was attributed to decreased rainfall in the previous season.

FEBRUARY 2019

Market Comments

In general, the fertilizer prices are high in most regions of the country. This is mainly because subsidized fertilizer by the government is almost running out.
The northern region is characterized by good harvest for beans and maize and a short dry season which was expected to end in mid-February.
The western region is characterized by bad harvest of tomatoes caused by insects’ invasion which has not yet been contained. The demand of NPK is high because it is rice planting season.
The central region is still characterized by good maize harvest and the planting of beans which will begin very soon.
In the southern region, maize harvest was not that good. Also, the demand of fertilizers was quite low compared to other regions.

JANUARY 2019

Market Comments

In the Western and Northern regions, where there is rice cultivation, there is shortage of Urea because it is rice transplant season. These regions also grow crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants. All these require a lot of chemicals fertilizers.
In Central region, where there is maraicher culture, the Urea as well as NPK is used for potato. For the rest of the country, farmers are waiting to harvest beans and maize at the end of this month.
In general, there is a shortage of chemicals fertilizers due to high demand, resulting in increased prices especially in the Western and Northern regions. Farmers are waiting for the second distribution by the government.

DECEMBER 2018

Market Comments

There is a slight increase in fertilizer prices due to shortage of DAP across the country. DAP was majorly used for growing beans in season A.

NOVEMBER 2018

Market Comments

Burundi is currently experiencing low rainfall contrary to the high rainfall that is expected in the months starting October. Farmers in different regions, however, have started planting maize as they wait for the high rainfall to plant the other crops such as beans. The low rainfall has also reduced the number of farmers cultivating rice. Due to this, the prices of chemical fertilizers have decreased significantly with a percentage of about 3-29% in different regions across the country.

OCTOBER 2018

Market Comments

For the month of October, prices have continued to fall. The Government has been distributing fertilizers for season A. Planting season has not yet started in western region where a lot of rice is grown.

SEPTEMBER 2018

Market Comments

September is characterized by very significant drop in the prices of fertilizers in all regions in the country. The reason being, season A has still not started, and the government has recently distributed a few tons of fertilizer in its deposits which remained in season B. Another reason is that the dry season is still on when there is almost no activity until the rain falls.

AUGUST 2018

Market Comments

This month, the sale of chemical fertilizers decreased significantly. Apart from very few farmers in the western region who continue to transplant rice and tomatoes, many are waiting for the second use of the DAP fertilizer in early September. Some agro dealers have not sold fertilizers.
In irrigable areas and where there are marshes, agro dealers are doing good business at this time. Another reason for the fall in prices is that some fertilizers are being imported by Tanzanian merchants and Rwandese even though the conditions of getting them is not easy.

JULY 2018

Market Comments

For the past month, fertilizer prices have remained almost unchanged. Currently, most of the farming activities are on irrigated areas, using DAP and NPK fertilizers. Urea fertilizer use in West region has significantly dropped as they have finished transplanting the rice.

JUNE 2018

Market Comments 

In west region urea is currently being used in the rice plantation .DAP and basal fertilizers prices were stable and remained unchanged. Harvesting of the 2018B main season crops, accounting for about 50% of the yearly crop production, is underway. The February-to-May “long-rains” season was characterized by below-average precipitation in February and March, followed by exceptionally high rainfall amounts in April (more than twice the long-term average). The heavy rains had a positive impact on vegetation conditions and lifted overall crop prospects but also caused landslides and triggered widespread flooding. The floods, mostly occurred in lowland and marshland areas, resulted in damage to houses, infrastructures and farmland, and in the displacement of about 10 000 people. The abundant seasonal rains were beneficial to cereals, sweet potatoes, bananas and cassava crops, while they are expected to result in a reduced output of beans, which are the main crop grown during this season and particularly vulnerable to excessive moisture.