en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 24th, Romanian nitrogen fertilizer producer Azomureș recently announced plans to cut approximately 95% of its workforce due to prolonged production stoppage and unfavorable market conditions. It is estimated that over 1,100 employees will be affected, with only a small core team of about 50 to 60 workers retained to maintain on-site equipment.

The factory, located in Târgu Mureș, was once a crucial pillar of Romania's agricultural supply chain, capable of meeting up to half of the country's nitrogen fertilizer demand at its peak. However, operations have been largely at a standstill since 2021, severely undermined by a sharp increase in natural gas prices and the ongoing European energy crisis, which has critically weakened its economic viability.

This layoff plan was announced as concerns over fertilizer security are rising in Romania. On March 18, Romanian Senate members declared fertilizer production a strategic priority, reflecting the country's urgent need to restore fertilizer output.

Currently, authorities and industry stakeholders are still seeking solutions to save the factory, but the scale of the planned layoffs highlights the severe challenges faced by energy-intensive fertilizer producers in Europe under the current circumstances.