Nitrogen
Overview
The ease of urea availability east and west of Suez has shaped the current trade flows of this key nitrogen fertilizer. Despite challenges posed by energy prices and military conflicts, key import markets such as India, Australia, and Latin America remain robust. But structural oversupply and the role of China as a swing exporter have led to price volatility as this fast-moving market seeks equilibrium, more so during seasonally high-demand periods.
Our extensive nitrogen coverage includes prilled and granular urea, UAN, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulphate. Argus has many decades of experience covering the nitrogen market and incorporates our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including ammonia and natural gas to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Daily and weekly nitrogen price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of urea prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest nitrogen news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global nitrogen industry.
Egypt’s NCIC awards fertilizer sales tender
Egypt’s NCIC awards fertilizer sales tender
London, 23 April (Argus) — Egyptian fertilizer producer NCIC has awarded its latest tender to sell various fertilizers for loading this month at higher prices. NCIC reports the following sales in the tender, which closed on 20 April: 20,000t of DAP at up to $880/t fob — up from $840/t fob awarded in its 4 April tender 10,000t of TSP at up to $695/t fob — up from $618/t fob awarded in its 4 March tender 3,000t of urea at up to $830/t fob — up from $654/t fob awarded in its 4 March tender 5,000t of CAN26 at up to $412/t fob — up from $352/t fob awarded in its 4 March tender 1,000t of water-soluble SOP at up to $705/t ex-works in 25kg bags — up from $620-630/t fob awarded in its 15 March tender NCIC sold the full quantities of DAP, TSP, CAN and SOP offered in the tender. It offered 10,000t of urea. NCIC offered 15,000t of SSP in the tender, but no awards for SSP have emerged. The number of buyers for each product and the destinations of the cargoes are not yet known. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia backs CSBP, Incitec for urea supply deals
Australia backs CSBP, Incitec for urea supply deals
Sydney, 22 April (Argus) — Australian fertilizer companies CSBP and Incitec Pivot will receive support from Australia's federal government to secure urea shipments for upcoming winter crop applications, while May imports are likely to fall below year-earlier levels. Federal agency Export Finance Australia (EFA) has not finalised the deals, and details are being decided. The government-backed arrangement will help the importers obtain more urea, Australian minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Julie Collins said on 22 April. This deal will help get fertilizer to farmers, but farmers and regional businesses are still under pressure, National Farmers Federation (NFF) president Hamish McIntyre said on the same day. Australia is in its peak seasonal demand period for urea, but supply is tight and prices are high because of the US-Iran war. Four vessels carrying a total of 161,300t of urea are in transit to Australia for arrival in May, Kpler data show. This is sharply down from May 2025 when imports reached 587,400t, ABS data show. Australian urea imports are set to reach 983,700t in January-April, down by 20pc on the year, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Kpler data show ( see graph ). Australia's national cabinet will meet later this week and NFF is calling for an agriculture specific plan to deal with fertilizer and fuel shortfalls. Australian fertilizer suppliers are confident about supply for pre-seeding applications from April, but supply for top-dressing in June and July is uncertain because restricted traffic through the strait of Hormuz has caused very tight global supply. The government gave EFA new powers on 30 March to underwrite international purchases of fertilizer and fuel under its strategic reserve laws . Argus last assessed granular urea at A$1,420-1,430/t ($1,017-1,024/t) fca Geelong on 16 April, a 68pc increase from before the war ( see graph ). CSBP and Incitec Pivot did not respond to Argus ' questions by the time of publishing. By Susannah Cornford Australian urea imports (t) Granular urea fca Geelong (A$/t) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Italian urea spring needs mostly covered
Italian urea spring needs mostly covered
London, 21 April (Argus) — Italian urea imports will probably be limited for the rest of the quarter as high international prices have curbed demand, leaving buying interest for the 2026 spring corn season almost fully covered. Market estimates put urea demand destruction at 15pc for the mid-March/mid-June spring season this year, meaning that total demand could slip to 300,000-350,000t. Combined lined-up imports since March and domestic production estimates over the period are expected at around 300,000t, meaning that Italy has already mostly covered its urea needs for the corn season, limiting its need for further imports this quarter. Italian urea demand for the spring season, typically concentrated from around mid-March to mid-June for corn applications, usually amounts to 350,000-400,000t. But importers and distributors expect demand destruction for the season of 10-20pc of normal levels. Domestic urea prices have leapt since the start of the war in the Middle East and the closure of the strait of Hormuz. They rose from €522/t fca in big bags at the midpoint at the end of February to €770/t fca in big bags on 16 April, Argus data show. This is up from €435/t at the midpoint on 11 April last year, a 77pc year-on-year rise. Yara's Ferrara plant returned to full production in early March, following maintenance in most of December-February. The plant is understood to have a monthly production capacity of slightly under 50,000t. Assuming full-capacity output in March-May, this could add around 150,000t of urea supply to the market. And up to 149,000t of urea has been lined up for arrival in Italy in March-April, vessel tracking data show. This is below the 249,000 t/yr average for the period over 2021-25, but adds to 139,000t of urea imports in January-February, GTT data show. Importers and distributors this week have reported that traders aim to re-export at least 30,000t of urea to India, where importer IPL has secured a record 2.79mn t in its 15 April tender. This could not be confirmed with the alleged relevant parties, and IPL's tender is yet to be finalised. By Adrien Seewald Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Weak monsoon may curb Thailand's fertilizer demand
Weak monsoon may curb Thailand's fertilizer demand
Singapore, 16 April (Argus) — Thailand is expected to receive lower-than-normal rainfall in the upcoming southwest monsoon season starting in May, which could slow paddy planting and reduce fertilizer offtake. The main fertilizer application season, mainly for paddy planting, runs over May-October and depends on monsoon rains because paddy cultivation requires a large amount of water throughout the growing period. Rainfall across most of Thailand over April-June could be about 10pc below normal, according to the Thai Meteorological Agency. In the northeastern and central regions, where most of the paddy is planted, rainfall is forecast at 380-480mm compared with the normal 474mm in the northeast, and 270-370mm compared 352mm in the central region. Rainfall will likely be above normal in April, but below normal in May and June. Fertilizer suppliers are also concerned about growers' affordability, given that rice export prices have fallen year on the year , likely reducing farmers' cash flow for purchasing inputs. The ongoing US-Iran war has also tightened urea and phosphate supply, pushing delivered prices to Thailand sharply higher in recent weeks. This will further erode growers' ability to afford fertilizers, traders said. Thailand's department of internal trade has launched a subsidy programme, Green Flag Fertilizer Plus, to ease the impact of high fertilizer costs and falling rice prices. But the initiative will likely do little to boost planting and fertilizer offtake this season, given expectations of below-normal rainfall levels. By Huijun Yao Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights
The complimentary Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights package includes:
• Bi-weekly Fertilizer Newsletter
• Monthly Market Update Video
• Bi-monthly Fertilizer Focus Magazine
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our nitrogen products
Region and country focused market intelligence
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.