Full explanation
Urea is Ukraine's highest-tonnage nitrogen fertilizer, especially for pre-plant application on corn, sunflower, sugar beet, and topdressing of winter cereals. Amide nitrogen is not directly plant-available — soil urease must hydrolyze it to ammonium over 2–5 days. Without incorporation or ≥10 mm rainfall within 48 hours, NH₃ volatilization losses reach 15–40%. Solution: urease inhibitors (NBPT — Agrotain, Limus) cut losses to <5%. April 2026 price: UAH 19 500–22 000/t [VERIFY] bulk. Producers: OSTCHEM (post-reconstruction Rivneazot), imports from Europe, Middle East, North Africa. Trade-off: high N concentration cuts logistics cost but demands careful application — without incorporation, ammonium nitrate can outperform urea, especially in a dry spring.