US steps up purchases of key Russian commodity – trade official 

Fertilizer shipments rose by nearly a quarter in the first half of 2026, according to Moscow’s Export Center The US has stepped up purchases of Russian fertilizers despite broader Western restrictions on Moscow, with shipments rising by nearly a quarter in the first half of 2026, according to the Russia’s Export Center.Veronika Nikishina, the center’s head, told RIA Novosti on Monday that the overall distribution of fertilizer exports had changed little since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The US now ranks third among destinations for Russian supplies, she said, while Western Europe remains a larger market despite a decline in shipments this year. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of fertilizers and one of the biggest producers, making its supplies difficult to replace on international markets. Fertilizer exports from the country were not directly targeted by Western sanctions, although broader restrictions on banking, shipping, and insurance have complicated trade. Moscow has meanwhile redirected a larger share of deliveries toward BRICS nations and the Global South. “Sanctions against Russian fertilizers could have devastating consequences because of their i...