General News
1 April, 2026
Local supply on track – for now
WHILE pressure on supply and delivery of petroleum and petrochemicals is being affected by the conflict in the Middle East, locally based agrichemical and fertiliser suppliers are coping well with inherent supply difficulties.
Nutrien Ag Solutions northern and western manager Tom Mugford said the company had “ample stock at present”, but supply and delivery in the future was a “day-by-day proposition” that could change quickly.
“Right now, we have adequate stock on hand to service our vast clientele, but in the longer term, we will take appropriate action and strategies as they become available,” he said.
Mr Mugford said farmers and producers who forecast and ordered their fertilisers three months ahead were better able to handle the current situation which hopefully would end soon.
TGT Rural business development manager Brian Rowling said while his company’s predominant market share revolved around soluble applications, there was heavy demand for granulated fertilisers.
“Currently, we have stock at hand to handle demand, but we also realise that future supply and freight could also affect things,” he said.
“This problem has caught some producers unaware, but the greater majority are aware that delivery to our outlets can take between 15 to 17 weeks, so ordering ahead is the key to obtaining stocks.
“Under a normal situation, producers used to have three to four days to confirm ordering for our quotations, however, some companies are now requiring confirmation in 12 hours of quotation for price and supply.”
