Hungarian farmers bought 13% more nitrogen-, phosphorous- and potassium-based artificial fertiliser in the first three quarters of 2011 than in the same period a year earlier, fresh data from the Farm Observer show.

Famers bought 839,000 tonnes of artificial fertiliser in Q1-Q3, paying 52% more than in the base period because of the bigger volume and higher costs.

Simple nitrogen artificial fertiliser accounted for 74% of sales.