Australian Government Fast-Tracks Fertiliser Imports to Save the 2026 Harvest

With urea prices skyrocketing past $1,000 and Middle Eastern supply lines choked by the Hormuz closure, Australian farmers are facing a race against the clock.

Tugboats assist the 'Oriental Treasure' bulk carrier ship through Newcastle Port in Newcastle, Australia, on July 30, 2015. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The federal government has announced emergency measures to fast-track fertiliser imports, aiming to bypass port bottlenecks and secure supply as Australian farmers head into a critical winter sowing period.

Under the changes, border processes for imported fertiliser will be streamlined to reduce delays without—officials insist—weakening Australia’s strict biosecurity standards.