Egypt has imposed a temporary export duty on nitrogen fertilisers, according to a decision published on Monday in the official gazette, amid shifting global markets.

The Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade set the export duty at $90 per metric ton, or its equivalent in Egyptian pounds. The measure takes effect on Tuesday and remains in place for three months.

The decision follows a separate move earlier this week in which Egypt raised natural gas prices for energy-intensive industries, including fertilisers, petrochemicals, steel and cement, as part of broader efforts to restructure industrial energy pricing.

Egypt raised natural gas prices for several energy-intensive industries ​starting in May, according to a ‌prime ministerial decree published on Sunday.

Domestic fuel prices

The government has already raised domestic fuel prices by ​up to 17% in March in response ​to soaring global energy costs, and ⁠is seeking to reduce fuel and ​electricity subsidies under an $8 billion programme ​agreed with the International Monetary Fund.

The fertiliser sector is one of Egypt's key industries.

Egypt's energy import bill ​has ⁠more than doubled, while monthly natural gas import costs have nearly tripled since the ⁠outbreak ​of the U.S.-Israeli war with ​Iran, with increased reliance on LNG imports or regional producers.