The Former Soviet Union (FSU)
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
plus the Baltic States

The Russian Federation accounts for about 28% of the region's fertilizer nutrient consumption, Uzbekistan for 22%, Belarus for 24% and the Ukraine for 13%. These four states account for 86% of the FSU total.

In 1989 the FSU accounted for 17% of world fertilizer consumption. By 1998 its share had fallen to 3%. In Belarus and Uzbekistan, substantial state support and direction of agriculture has been reflected in the maintenance of the former levels of fertilizer use in these two countries. Elsewhere in the region fertilizer demand is at a very low level.In the Russian Federation domestic fertilizer consumption had fallen to 1.1 million tonnes nutrient by 1999, an eighth of its 1989 level.

In order to correct the situation, a number of subsidization measures were approved by the Federal Government to stimulate domestic fertilizer use in 2000. Fertilizer consumption reached to 1.3 million tonnes and this level was maintained in 2001. In 2001 the agricultural situation improved considerably but state land ownership remains a major constraint.

In the Ukraine, a number of measures aimed at liberalizing and revitalizing the agricultural sector are being implemented.

It is unlikely that the 1989 level of consumption will ever be reached again. In any case, under the centrally planned system there was a great deal of wastage and inefficient application of fertilizers.