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.
Brazil's MAP imports were above average in October
Brazil's MAP imports were above average in October
London, 12 November (Argus) — Brazil imported 441,000t of MAP in October, slightly above the five-year average for the month, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data. Morocco's share of MAP exports fell on the year and was exceeded by the market shares of Saudi Arabia and Russia. MAP imports last month were below the 470,000t recorded in October last year but slightly above the 2019-23 October average of 424,000t. Receipts in the first 10 months of this year totalled about 3.76mn t, a sharp decline from 4.32mn t a year earlier, but only slightly below the 3.9mn t average over 2019-23. Since July, receipts have been above the norm, helping offset below-average imports in the first half of this year. A total of 457,000t of MAP are lined up to arrive in November so far, according to Unimar line-up data. This is below the 496,000t in November last year but above 411,000t in November over 2019-23. A further 28,000t have already been earmarked for December arrival. Brazilian MAP imports typically peak in July and remain at above 400,000t from July-November, according to the five-year average. Morocco's share falls Morocco's market share of the Brazilian MAP market fell by 20.2 percentage points on the year to 26pc last month, or 115,000t. Russia was the largest-single exporter to Brazil last month at 179,000t, representing a 40.5pc market share compared with 25pc in October last year. Saudi Arabia's share rose by 8.8 percentage points to 28.8pc, or 127,000t, also surpassing Morocco's share. Russia has remained the top MAP exporter to Brazil every month this year apart from in August, when it was surpassed by Morocco. And for the first month since July last year, Saudi Arabia's share of Brazilian MAP imports outweighed that of Morocco. About 44.9pc of November MAP deliveries to Brazil were of Russian origin, against only 8.8pc for Morocco and 16.8pc for Saudi Arabia, Unimar line-up data suggest. The US is set to deliver 25.8pc of November volumes. Moroccan phosphates exports to Brazil have focused more heavily on TSP this year. GTT data suggest that from January-August, Morocco sent 772,000t of MAP and 973,000t of TSP to Brazil, compared with more than 1mn t of MAP and 589,000t of TSP in the same period in 2023. And 542,000t of MAP is lined up to leave Jorf Lasfar in September-November, along with 438,000t of TSP, according to line-up data. Line-up data show that last year, 778,000t of MAP and 265,000t of TSP left the port over the same period. With lower volumes of Moroccan MAP on offer to Brazil this year, importers had to turn to Russia to secure the volumes they needed. Russia last week sold 30,000t MAP in the high $670s/t cfr to India, netting back to $623-627/t fob. This sale is above the netback of $603-605/t fob that Russia could have achieved with Brazil. By Adrien Seewald Brazil monthly MAP imports t Month 2024 2023 2019-23 October 441,000.0 470,000.0 424,000.0 September 430,000.0 474,000.0 475,000.0 August 564,000.0 532,000.0 475,000.0 July 525,000.0 519,000.0 501,000.0 — GTT Brazil monthly MAP imports by origin '000t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Nutrien begins work on new fertilizer facility in WA
Nutrien begins work on new fertilizer facility in WA
Sydney, 12 November (Argus) — North American fertilizer producer Nutrien has started work on a new A$70mn ($46mn) fertiliser distribution centre and storage facility at Kwinana port in Western Australia (WA) after a fire damaged some port infrastructure at the Kwinana bulk jetty on 9 February. The fire damaged Nutrien's bulk fertilizer site holding granular products, an import system conveyor, associated transfer towers and a shed leased for the storage of fertilizer while the company's liquid bulk fertilizer storage and chemical manufacturing facilities were unscathed. Nutrien expects the new distribution centre to be operational in 2026. The new site will be located at East Rockingham, 2km away from the previous facility at the Kwinana bulk jetty, and will increase the company's bulk granular fertilizer storage capacity by 20pc to 130,000t. The new facility will feature three undercover outloads, more slots for storage, twin blending lines, pits and wheel washers on site for trucks. It will also have dedicated loading equipment with improved loading systems that will allow for improved loading speeds and operating conditions. The new distribution centre will complement Nutrien's other WA facilities ,which include a liquid fertilizer manufacturing plant, research facilities and more than 70 stores throughout metropolitan and regional WA. Since the fire, the Fremantle Ports Authority has supported Nutrien to continue operating at the Kwinana bulk jetty to meet the needs of its customers. The bulk jetty is owned and operated by Fremantle Ports, handling bulk commodities such as fertilizers, sulphur, cement clinker and petroleum products. "Nutrien will continue to supply farmers with fertilizer from its existing Kwinana site throughout the 2025 season prior to the new East Rockingham facility becoming operational," managing director Kelly Freeman said in a press statement. By Tom Woodlock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Indian importers buy 110,000t of Saudi DAP
Indian importers buy 110,000t of Saudi DAP
London, 7 November (Argus) — Saudi Arabian fertilizer producer Ma'aden has sold a combined 110,000t of DAP to three Indian importers — including IPL — at around $635/t cfr. The product will be shipped this month. The price nets back to the low-to-mid-$620s/t fob Ras Al-Khair. Ma'aden's previous DAP sale to India was in mid-October, in which IPL bought 40,000t of the product at around $643/t cfr for October loading. By Adrien Seewald Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Rise in phosphoric acid price to hit Indian producers
Rise in phosphoric acid price to hit Indian producers
London, 31 October (Argus) — Higher phosphoric acid prices for the fourth quarter will push India to rely more heavily on DAP imports and domestic production using imported phosphate rock and sulphur to build its DAP stocks. The Indian government said in a document issued in September that it will cover the losses incurred on imports over September 2024-March 2025, but it has not committed to covering the losses incurred on domestic production. Domestic DAP producers using imported phosphate rock and sulphur are achieving profits, but those using imported phosphoric acid are facing negative margins. Phosphoric acid price hike lifts cost of production Indian fertilizer importer and producer Coromandel this week agreed to a price of $1,060/t P2O5 cfr India for phosphoric acid in the fourth quarter with Jordanian supplier JPMC, which is up by $110/t P2O5 from the third-quarter phosphoric acid contract price. No other producer or importer has yet confirmed settling their respective phosphoric acid contract requirements for the fourth quarter. Argus calculates that importing phosphoric acid at $1,060/t P2O5 cfr and ammonia at $460/t cfr will bring the total cost of DAP production up to $647/t. Adding variable costs brings the total to about $684/t. This means that domestic DAP producers using imported phosphoric acid and ammonia will face negative margins of $64-65/t given the current maximum retail price (MRP) of 27,000 rupees/t ($321.12/t), nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) of Rs25,411/t — including the Rs3,500/t special additional package — and US dollar to rupee exchange. Without the Rs3,500/t special additional subsidy — due to expire at the end of December — the loss would rise to about $106/t. Meanwhile, with the delivered price at $635/t cfr, importers of DAP would currently face a loss of about $92/t, given the current MRP, NBS and exchange rate, and without the additional government support. Domestic DAP producers importing 67 BPL (30.66pc P2O5) phosphate rock at $145/t cfr and sulphur also at $145/t cfr will make a profit of about $47/t in current conditions. Firm interest in phosphate rock and disruptions to Syrian exports have supported prices for Jordanian product. Indications for 66-68 BPL (30.2-31.1pc P2O5) phosphate rock are now in the $130s/t fob Aqaba. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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