Phosphates
Overview
The global phosphates market has witnessed increasing volatility, in response to military conflicts, political tensions and changing market dynamics. Price fluctuations have continued to buffet the market, with increasing demand from south and Southeast Asia the main regions driving consumption growth. Rising raw material prices and improved affordability have lifted prices once again.
Phosphates' usage is also not solely limited to fertilizers. Battery-material suppliers are increasingly seeking to source phosphate rock and specialty phosphates-based products to meet the rapidly rising demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for electric vehicle production.
Our extensive phosphates coverage includes DAP, MAP, TSP and SSP, as well as raw materials phosphate rock and phosphoric acid, with assessments also spanning feed products MCP and DCP. Argus has many decades of experience covering the phosphates market and incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including sulphur and ammonia to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Daily and weekly phosphates price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of processed phosphate and phosphate rock prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest phosphate news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global phosphate industry.
Latin American DAP/MAP bullish on fresh spot rounds
Latin American DAP/MAP bullish on fresh spot rounds
London, 4 February (Argus) — A trading firm sold 25,000t of Russian MAP and 15,000t of DAP for shipment to Latin America, excluding Brazil, while a fresh Moroccan MAP sale to Brazil has also emerged. The Russian MAP sold at $700/t fob Baltics and the DAP at $690/t fob, both for shipment in March. The cargoes are sold on a fob basis for a long position and are not sold on a cfr basis to importers. The exact destination of products is not known but Argentina is a likely destination. The prices would net forward to around $750/t cfr and to around $740/t cfr Argentina for the MAP and DAP, respectively. DAP/MAP offers to Argentina have firmed to $750-765/t cfr. The Moroccan MAP sold to Brazil at $720/t cfr and will load in February-March. The total quantity is unknown. Suppliers also remain bullish on TSP and SSP. TSP offers to Brazil have increased to $575-600/t cfr, with Moroccan at the high end, while SSP suppliers are targeting higher sales. Phosphate prices in the Americas have firmed earlier than normal because of expectations of reduced Chinese phosphate exports this half of the year, while raw material costs continue to rise. These factors have pushed importers in the US, Brazil and Argentina back into the market at the same time, exacerbating the firmer trend and lifting DAP/MAP prices since the start of the year. But distributors in the domestic markets still point to poor farmer affordability as crop prices remain low. By Adrien Seewald Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Moroccan DAP sold at $750/t cfr Thailand
Moroccan DAP sold at $750/t cfr Thailand
London, 4 February (Argus) — A trading firm has reported selling 45,000t of Moroccan DAP to a single buyer at $750/t cfr Thailand. The cargo will load in February. The deal is yet to be confirmed by the buy side. The price is up by $20/t at the high end from DAP prices assessed at $700-730/t cfr southeast Asia last week. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Saudi Maaden sells 40,000t of DAP to Europe
Saudi Maaden sells 40,000t of DAP to Europe
London, 3 February (Argus) — Saudi Arabian phosphates producer Maaden has sold 40,000t of DAP to a trader at $665-670/t fob Ras Al-Khair for loading in February and for shipment to Europe. The price likely nets forward to the $700s/t up to the $720s/t cfr duty unpaid, depending on the location and number of unloading ports. Argus understands that the cargo will unload across multiple ports in western Europe, but the exact locations are unknown. Europe is not a typical destination for Saudi Arabian DAP, discouraged by import duties of 6.5pc and higher freight costs compared with many of its more usual destinations. Maaden and fellow Saudi Arabian producer Sabic last week reported selling a combined 75,000t of DAP at $695-700/t fob for shipment to Latin America in late February-early March in separate sales. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Moroccan phosphates activity curbed by bad weather
Moroccan phosphates activity curbed by bad weather
London, 3 February (Argus) — Moroccan fertilizer producer and exporter OCP's phosphates production has been disrupted by ongoing bad weather at key ports, while exports out of Jorf Lasfar port continue to be delayed. Disruptions to sulphur unloading at the port of Safi has hampered phosphate production there. High phosphate inventories at Jorf Lasfar are also clogging the supply chain, likely pressuring OCP to bring forward planned maintenances at some of its facilities. The extent of the losses in volume across products is unclear for now. But high stock levels at Jorf Lasfar mean exports can resume swiftly once the weather improves. Vessels scheduled to load at Jorf Lasfar, bound for destinations in Europe, Africa, Oceania, Latin America and North America, are waiting at the port, according to Argus line-up data, and are likely delayed. Port authorities have delayed the expected date for the resumption of shipments by four days to 7 February. Jorf Lasfar is the main port from which Morocco exports phosphates — bad weather has been keeping vessels idle since 20 January. DAP and MAP buyers have expressed concerns about delays. OCP last week reported disruptions for shipments of feed grade phosphoric acid out of Safi, adding that congestion at Casablanca ports are disrupting feed phosphate and soluble MAP container exports. By Adrien Seewald Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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