NPKs
Overview
The global market for compound NPKs is one of the most important and dynamic markets in the fertilizer sector. Greater agricultural sophistication is bringing an increasing variety of grades to the market. Producers are also striving to move from commodity grades, such as 15-15-15, to more specific formulations (often tailored to specific customer needs) to increase nutrient-use efficiency and capture market share.
The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has also seen major shifts in trade flows, given Russia’s significant compound-NPK capacity, and Russian-origin product has long been seen as a benchmark for high-quality NPKs.
Argus has decades of experience covering the NPKs market. We incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including nitrogen, phosphates, potash and sulphur to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Argus NPKs: Weekly NPKs price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Argus NPK Analytics: Medium to long-term analysis and outlook, including proprietary data
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Latest NPKs news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global NPKs industry.
Most US ferts imports to be tariffed, potash exempt
Most US ferts imports to be tariffed, potash exempt
London, 3 April (Argus) — Nearly every country that sends fertilizer products to the US will be hit with fresh import duties after President Donald Trump yesterday announced reciprocal tariff policies that are likely to increase nutrient prices in the US. According to the White House administration, a baseline 10pc tariff will be imposed on all goods from all countries imported into the US excluding those compliant with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Non-compliant Canadian and Mexican goods will continue to be charged at a 25pc rate, although potash that is deemed to be non-compliant will pay a reduced rate of 10pc. Imports of goods from other nations will begin paying the baseline 10pc rate on 5 April, while roughly 60 countries were given more specific reciprocal tariff rates based on the rates those countries have placed on US goods. The US imports a significant amount of fertilizer products from other countries to supplement limited domestic production capabilities. Non-North American countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Tunisia, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago are well known names in the fertilizer market as major producers that ship a large amount of product to the US. Under the new sweeping tariff policy Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago and Australia can expect a 10pc duty on all imports sent to the US, while Israel can expect a 17pc duty and Jordan will face a 20pc duty. A 28pc tariff will be applied to imports from Tunisia. Russia is also a major supplier of fertilizers to the US and a reciprocal tariff does not apply to the country. But there is uncertainty as to whether Russia is exempt from the universal 10pc rate applied to other countries. Phosphates Countervailing duties largely blocking Russian and Moroccan phosphates have enabled Saudi Arabia to grow its share of US DAP/MAP imports to 45pc in 2024, according to GTT data. They also opened the door to non-traditional suppliers including Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia, which together accounted for 21pc of US DAP/MAP imports last year. Australia has been a regular supplier to the US, averaging 9pc of imports over the past five years — although this fell to 4pc in 2024. The base 10pc tariff applied to Morocco will add to the countervailing duties in place and act as more of a deterrent. Still, customs data show that 10pc of DAP/MAP imports came from Morocco last year. Mexico supplied 318,000t of DAP/MAP to the US last year, accounting for 14pc of total imports. But the 25pc tariff imposed a month ago will probably stifle this trade flow. MAP barge prices in the US are currently equivalent to the mid-$660s/t cfr Nola. Latest MAP sales to Brazil were at $660/t cfr but indications are now reaching $680/t cfr. After these latest tariffs come into effect on 5 April, US buyers will have to pay more to secure phosphate supply, otherwise cargoes will be drawn to more attractive markets, such as Latin America. Potassium-based products, phos rock escape tariffs The White House also confirmed in an annex that some goods will be exempt from these latest tariffs including certain critical minerals. Goods that will be spared include a number of potassium-based fertilizer products — MOP, SOP, NOP, NPK and magnesium sulphate. Trump last month included potash in the administration's list of American critical minerals, and ordered the US government to fast-track permit reviews for critical minerals projects . The majority of the US' MOP supply is imported, with 98pc/yr coming from other countries, and 85pc of that from Canada, according to TFI data. The US typically imports 11mn-13mn t/yr of MOP, although GTT data show that the US imported close to 14mn t of MOP in 2024. USMCA still effective Tariffs on North American countries Mexico and Canada will continue within the status quo of an executive order issued in early March. All products covered under the USMCA free trade agreement will continue to be imported into the US without tariffs. USMCA compliant products include wholly created goods in Mexico or Canada, such as sulphur, MOP, ammonia and other nitrogen fertilizers, but goods produced with inputs that come from other countries, such as phosphate fertilizers manufactured in Mexico, are at greater risk of being tariffed, depending on how rules of origin outlined in the USMCA are enforced. Phosphate fertilizers produced in Mexico use imported phosphate rock as well as some imported ammonia, while the same products manufactured in Canada, for example, use domestically produced rock. The US fertilizer market is currently barrelling towards the final weeks of the spring application season, where nutrients are put into the ground as crop planting continues. Therefore most fertilizer purchasing for the spring has now taken place. But with the new tariffs applying to the majority of nutrient imports into the US, domestic prices and barge trade activity could accelerate above the norm as the market scurries to secure product before prices move to even more unfavourable levels. By Taylor Zavala, Julia Campbell and Tom Hampson New US import tariffs Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Henan XLX, Liven tie up to supply fertilizer to SE Asia
Henan XLX, Liven tie up to supply fertilizer to SE Asia
Singapore, 25 March (Argus) — Chinese fertilizer producer Henan Xinlianxin International Trading and Singapore-based trading firm Liven Nutrients have partnered to distribute urea and NPK fertilizers to southeast Asia from Henan Xinlianxin's new fertilizer production plant in Guangxi province. Xinlianxin's fertilizer unit in Guangxi is expected to be fully completed by 2027. The unit will produce both NPK and urea fertilizers. Phase 1 of NPK production at the site has started, with the plant producing around 300,000 t/yr of NPK fertilizers currently. Urea production capacity is expected to come on line in 2027. Fertilizers produced at Xinlianxin's Guangxi unit are targeted for export to southeast Asia. The firms will use multiple transportation channels including waterways, railroads and roads. The expected opening of Vietnam's new Binh Lu Canal in late 2026 will further enhance connectivity between Guangxi and northern Vietnam, especially for container shipments. Transportation between Guangxi to other southeast Asian countries currently takes a few days. Henan Xinlianxin is a Chinese fertilizer manufacturer with major production bases in Henan, Xinjiang, and Jiangxi provinces. The company's total NPK production capacity averages around 4.4mn-4.5mn t/yr, with around 4mn t/yr of urea production. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India’s RCF gets offers for phosrock, NPS in tender
India’s RCF gets offers for phosrock, NPS in tender
London, 22 January (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer and producer RCF received offers from seven trading firms in its tender to buy phosphate rock and/or NPS 20-20-0+13S, which closed today. TLI Tradelink, Sun International, Agrifields, Aditya Birla, Indagro, Midgulf International and Hexagon Fertilizers Asia submitted offers in the tender. RCF will open the prices after evaluating the technical offers. The importer sought offers for two 35,000t cargoes of 29pc P2O5-minimum phosphate rock. The first cargo is to be shipped within 30 days from issuing the purchase order, with the second cargo in March, both to Hay Bunder, Mumbai on India's west coast. TLI Tradelink, Sun International and Midgulf International offered Egyptian rock for both cargoes. Agrifields and Aditya Birla offered Jordanian rock for both cargoes. Indagro offered Jordanian rock only for the second cargo. RCF also sought offers for two 35,000t cargoes of 20-20-0+13S in the tender. The first cargo is to be shipped on or before 20 March and the second is to be shipped on or before 20 April, both to any port on India's east coast. Midgulf International submitted offers for both NPS cargoes. Hexagon Fertilizers Asia offered only for the second NPS cargo. Fellow importer NFL bought 25,000-30,000t of 20-20-0+13S from Saudi Arabian producer Sabic at $396-397/t cfr earlier this week. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pupuk Indonesia issues farmers subsidised fertilizers
Pupuk Indonesia issues farmers subsidised fertilizers
Singapore, 31 December (Argus) — State-owned fertilizer producer Pupuk Indonesia has distributed about 7.25mn t of subsidised fertilizers to registered domestic farmers as of 23 December, the company said. The distributed volumes have exceeded the government-mandated target by 0.5pc and include about 3.36mn t of urea, 3.49mn t of NPK fertilizers, 42,700t of specialised NPK formulas, and 46,500t of Pupuk's Petroganik organic fertilizers. Pupuk Indonesia's current fertilizer stock availability for the domestic market is around 1.47mn t as of 23 December, comprising of subsidised and non-subsidised products. Subsidised fertilizer stocks amount to 1.04mn t, consisting of 546,700t of urea, 445,500t of NPK, 16,300t of specialised NPK formulas, and 35,600t of organic fertilizers. Non-subsidised fertilizer stocks are at 428,600t, consisting of 357,400t of urea and 71,200t of NPK fertilizers. Around 400,000t of the current fertilizer stock has also been given to distributors and kiosks to ensure smooth delivery to farmers on 1 January 2025, the company said. The current allocation of subsidised fertilizers at the sub-district level has been finalised at 100pc across all regions, Jekvy Hendra, director of fertilizers and pesticides at Indonesia's ministry of agriculture, said. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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