UK shoppers could see food bills soar higher amid a temporary ban imposed by Russia on the export of a key chemical used by farmers.
Russia's news agency, Tass, reported last week that the country's exports of ammonium nitrate would cease from February 2 and will not continue until April 2.
The Express reports how the agriculture industry relies heavily on the chemical compound, which is used as a fertiliser to improve yields for crops such as corn, cotton and wheat.
Around 20 million tonnes is estimated to be produced annually, with Russia reported to be responsible for 62 per cent of that.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov said: "The two-month ban on ammonium nitrate export comes into force from February 2. This is a temporary measure.
"The remaining volume can be exported from April 2, when Russian companies will receive the ammonium nitrate in required volume and the demand for it on the domestic market will pass peak values."
The price of ammonium nitrate has already been pushed up around five times higher than it was in October 2020 by the increasing cost of natural gas.
But the global price could continue to climb as a result of the reduction in supplies.
Farmers have been forced to consider alternatives such as planting legumes like soybeans, which are less dependent on nitrogen fertiliser than corn and wheat.
One source has, however, told the Express that ammonium nitrate stocks had already been built up in anticipation of the move.
Fears remain, though, that the price of imported food products will continue to rise in the UK.
The latest move comes amid increased tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine, with many already pointing fingers at the Kremlin for "weaponising" gas supplies into Europe.
Global price hikes have been passed on to households and businesses in the UK.
Concerns are growing over what could happen to Europe's energy supply if Russia invaded Ukraine and stopped exporting natural gas in retaliation for sanctions from Europe and the US.
Russia supplies around 40 per cent of Europe's natural gas.
The US has vowed to help by exporting more liquefied natural gas to the continent but stockpiles are already running low.
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