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.
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Latest nitrogen news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global nitrogen industry.
Norway’s Yara fertilizer output, deliveries rise in 1Q
Norway’s Yara fertilizer output, deliveries rise in 1Q
London, 25 April (Argus) — Norwegian fertilizer producer Yara posted an increase in its output, earnings and deliveries in January-March compared with the previous year. Yara's finished-fertilizer output in the first quarter rose to 4.9mn t, up by 6pc on the year, driven by increased demand. Yara's financial year runs from January to December. Yara's first-quarter urea production stood at just over 1.1mn t, down by 5pc on the year, while nitrate output jumped to 1.48mn t, up by 19pc on the year. First-quarter NPK output also rose to 1.59mn t, up by 7pc on the year. Its ammonia output in the quarter stood at 1.72mn t, marking a slight 1pc decline from the 1.74mn t produced a year earlier. Yara's first-quarter fertilizer deliveries rose to 5.8mn t, up by 10pc on the year, mainly driven by Europe and Brazil. Its first-quarter earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), excluding special items, stood at $638mn, a jump of 47pc from a year ago, owing to increased deliveries, mainly driven by Europe and Brazil, higher margins and reduced fixed costs. US tariffs limit impact on urea markets Although the geopolitical landscape is shifting rapidly, the US tariffs announced in April have had a "limited impact on the global urea markets so far but could lead to altering trade flows", according to Yara. The producer's imports into the US are limited and represent less than 5pc of consolidated revenues and delivered volumes, it said. Yara said that it is prioritising higher-return core assets and is therefore targeting a reduction of fixed cost and capex of $150mn by the end of 2025. The producer said that it is on track to ensure that the fixed cost run-rate inflation of $2.38bn pre-2026 will be achieved. Yara expects to see a tightening global supply balance in the future as industry projections for supply growth for 2025 onwards are significantly below trend consumption growth. "Combined with strong demand fundamentals, this indicates a tightening global supply/demand balance in the coming years, improving European production margins as gas prices are expected to be lower," Yara said. But China's export policy remains a key uncertainty, especially for the short-term global supply/demand balance. By Suzie Skipper Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Algerian urea to head to India for IPL tender
Algerian urea to head to India for IPL tender
Amsterdam, 24 April (Argus) — Swiss trading firm Ameropa is set to load 45,000t of Algerian granular urea for India under IPL's 8 April tender, marking the first urea shipment along that route since December 2023. The firm has nominated the Spar Tarus to sail for the Indian east coast. The shipment highlights the fallout from US president Donald Trump's import tariff levy rollout, combined with dwindling demand in Europe and Brazil. The US had placed an initial import tariff of 30pc on Algerian urea on 2 April , before granting a 90-day reprieve on 9 April. The US had been Algeria's second-largest destination market after Brazil, with Algeria's urea supplies accounting for 456,000t of US imports last year and shipping as much as 590,000t to the US in 2023. The lack of clarity on the situation in the US likely forced the pivot towards India, with the Indian east coast price of $398.24/t cfr under IPL's enquiry offering higher netbacks and liquidity compared with Europe and Brazil at the time. But the US market has since firmed further, increasing its attractiveness, despite the 10pc import tariffs in place. Domestic urea barge prices jumped to $435-470/short ton fob Nola on 23 April, while the European spring season is coming to an end and Brazil's appetite remains comparatively lacklustre. Algeria benefits from a sailing time of 20-24 days to the US, depending on the destination port, the shortest among major producers. The Phatra Naree has been nominated to load around 35,000t of urea from Algeria's Arzew city to the US on 27 April, according to trade analytics firm Kpler data. Meanwhile, Egyptian producer Mopco sold 30,000t of granular urea at $395/t fob on 23 April, likely for the US. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kaltim granular urea bid in low $400s/t fob Indonesia
Kaltim granular urea bid in low $400s/t fob Indonesia
Amsterdam, 22 April (Argus) — A trading firm is understood to have bid $402/t fob Bontang in Pupuk Indonesia subsidiary Kaltim's granular urea sales tender today. Other bids were heard around and above $400/t fob, but most were in the $390s/t fob and below. But there was no comment from the parties involved. Kaltim offered 45,000t of bulk granular urea for shipment in the first week of May. Bids were to be valid until 24 April. This enquiry follows BFI's sales tender in Brunei on 17 April for three lots of 6,000t of granular urea, which saw a trading firm bid up to around $405/t fob for second-half-May loading. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US Senate seeks coordinated cargo theft probes
US Senate seeks coordinated cargo theft probes
Washington, 14 April (Argus) — US rail and other transportation industries are urging Congress to move forward on a bill that would create a division within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate investigations of organized cargo theft. The bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 was introduced on 10 April by Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada). The bill, similar to a 2023 effort, calls for creation of an organized retail and supply chain crime coordination center to unite experts from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as retail industry representatives. The Class I railroads also operate their own police forces with powers equivalent to public law enforcement. Coordinating investigations in a timely manner is difficult because of the proliferation of different agencies. Railroad police officials are limited to carriers' facilities, while local police forces are unable to quickly investigate railroad thefts because they need specific permission to enter railroad property. "Organized criminal operations continue to evolve and escalate their targeted attacks against our nation's supply chain and retailers," Association of American Railroads chief executive Ian Jefferies said. The nation's largest railroads experienced a 40pc spike in cargo theft last year, costing carriers more than $100mn, AAR said. Rail thefts tend to be split between flash mob robberies and organized efforts by criminal networks, according to Danny Ramon, director of intelligence and response at logistics platform Overhaul. Flash mobs often target containers in urban areas, seeking valuable products such as apparel and footwear that they can quickly sell. These thefts often occur in regions near ports where containers are loaded onto trains, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. But thefts in rural areas are becoming more prolific, Ramon said. They have become popular locations because it can take law enforcement an hour or longer to reach trains as opposed to minutes for urban rail cargo thefts. Rural areas also make it easier for groups to stage larger thefts. The organized groups tend to track trains from origin and monitor them along the way, breaking in during breaks in rural areas. They come prepared with equipment and cargo vans to enable them to quickly empty products from trains. Arizona has become a popular location for thefts because of its vast portions of rural area. In addition, many trains are heading east with containers of goods recently loaded from west coast ports. Thefts by criminal organizations have increased in part because of the ease in selling to individuals. The proliferation of on line websites have allowed these organizations to bypass traditional third-party middlemen and sell directly to consumers, Ramon said. By Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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