"Europe's cold snap puts fertilizer revival on ice"

First Law of Ecology: Everything is connected.
From Agrimoney:

The freeze in Europe and the former Soviet Union has cooled hopes for a revival in nitrogen fertilizer demand by scuppering ideas of an early start to spring cultivations which would force farm purchases.

Yara International, the world's biggest nitrogen group, which a month ago noted that "activity levels have increased in global nitrogen markets", struck a less upbeat note, saying it was "cautious" over demand in the first three months of 2012.

The mood reflected "further weather-related demand delays", Thor Giaver, Yara's head of investor relations, told a conference in London.

Before last month's cold snap, what had been a mild European winter had looked set to prompt early applications by many growers, such as those attempting to encourage grass growth for hay and silage.

European price cuts

The delay meant that the Norwegian-based group was being "less aggressive" in pricing, in an effort to preserve market share in a competitive market....MORE