France imported more than 1.15mn t of urea in July-December, up from 842,000t a year earlier as buyers accelerated purchasing ahead of the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) taking effect on 1 January.
France received 279,000t of urea in December, compared with an average of around 137,000t during the month over past three years.
The increase in imports in late 2025 has eased the pressure on buyers for the spring, although importers will still need to buy around 560,000t of urea in January-June to align with average intake over the past two seasons (July-June). France imported around 1.57mn t in the 2024-25 season, 1.68mn t in 2023-24 and 1.86mn t in 2022-23.
Only three vessels — the Sandera, Grona Vulture and Kwai Kwai — with a combined 64,400t of Egyptian and Algerian urea were confirmed for arrival over 1 January-23 February, according to data from trade analytics platform Kpler. The slowdown in arrivals was widely anticipated after strong deliveries in the fourth quarter, and imports have been further compounded by farmer protests, uncertainty surrounding CBAM costs, and adverse weather that delayed fieldwork.
France imported roughly 1.9mn t of urea in the 2025 calendar year, up by 12pc on the year and about 7pc above the 2022-24 average.
CBAM set to reshape trade flows
Urea imports are subject to a carbon-intensity-based levy since the imposition of the CBAM. The regulation is expected to influence trade flows into France and enhance the attractiveness of buying urea from European producers. But the extent to which this trend will develop is unclear at this stage.
Egypt and Algeria were France's largest suppliers of urea last year, accounting for 33pc and 25pc of arrivals, respectively, at 622,000t and 474,000t. France imported 146,000t from Belgium, but part of this was likely product re-exported through Ghent. Nigerian shipments to France were minimal at 48,000t.
Default CBAM charges were assessed at around €36/t ($43/t) for Egyptian urea and €37/t for Algerian product on 16 February, based on Argus EU emissions trading system (ETS) prompt indications. Final CBAM liabilities will be calculated from quarterly average EU ETS auction prices in 2026. Importers also have the option to use emissions data specific to verified plants, in a bid to incur a lesser charge than the country default.
Russian supplies dropped sharply to 43,000t in 2025 from 162,000t a year earlier, and this trend is expected to persist. EU tariffs on Russian fertilizers will step up again in July, raising duties on nitrogen products under tariff code 3102 to €60/t — in addition to the 6.5pc standard tariff and any applicable anti-dumping duties. Many 3105-coded products will attract a €70/t charge from July. Current July 2025–June 2026 tariff rates are at €40/t and €45/t, respectively.
Inflows of urea from European origins remained significant last year, with 272,000t arriving from the Netherlands and 164,000t from Germany. Combined deliveries from Spain and Italy were limited to 62,000t.
Western Europe's urea capacity stands at roughly 5.5mn t/yr, but production has been constrained in recent years by elevated feedstock and gas costs.
