Sustainable and specialty fertilizers
Overview
The importance of sustainable and specialty fertilizer markets has grown as producers diversify their product ranges and end users seek more efficient fertilizer compositions. These developments have been further impacted by the drive towards sustainability, which has accelerated interest in these markets.
Argus market experts have many years of experience in these sectors, incorporating price reporting, cost calculations, fundamentals analysis and forecasting.
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Latest sustainable and specialty fertilizers news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global sustainable and specialty fertilizers markets
Trump tariffs to hit Canada, Mexico, China on 1 Feb
Trump tariffs to hit Canada, Mexico, China on 1 Feb
Washington, 31 January (Argus) — President Donald Trump will proceed with plans to impose 25pc tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10pc on imports from China on 1 February, the White House said today. The White House pushed back on reports that the tariffs would be delayed and declined to confirm whether Trump made a decision on whether to exclude Canadian and Mexican crude from the tariffs. "Those tariffs will be for public consumption in about 24 hours tomorrow, so you can read them then," the White House said. The looming face-off on tariffs has unnerved US oil producers and refiners, which are warning of severe impacts to the integrated North American energy markets if taxes are imposed on flows from Canada and Mexico. Industry trade group the American Petroleum Institute has lobbied the administration to exclude crude from the planned tariffs. Trump on Thursday acknowledged a debate over the application of tariffs to oil but said he had yet to make a decision on exemptions. The White House dismissed concerns about potential inflationary effects of Trump's tariffs. "Americans who are concerned about increased prices should look at what President Trump did in his first term," it said. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau reiterated today that Ottawa would retaliate against US tariffs. Nearly all of Mexico's roughly 500,000 b/d of crude shipments to the US in January-November 2024 were waterborne cargoes sent to US Gulf coast refiners. Those shipments in the future could be diverted to Asia or Europe. Canadian producers have much less flexibility, as more than 4mn b/d of Canada's exports are wholly dependent on pipeline routes to and through the US. Canadian crude that flows through the US for export from Gulf coast ports would be exempt from tariffs under current trade rules, providing another potential outlet for Alberta producers — unless Trump's potential executive action on Canada tariffs eliminates that loophole. Tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico would most likely have the greatest impact on US Atlantic coast motor fuel markets. New York Harbor spot market gasoline prices are around $2/USG, meaning a 25pc tariff on Canadian imports could up that price by as much as 50¢/USG. This could prompt buyers in New England or other US east coast markets to look to other supply options. Canadian refiners could also start sending their product to west Africa or Latin America. US refiner Valero said that the tariffs could cause a 10pc cut in refinery runs depending on how the tariffs are implemented and how long they last. The tariffs may affect regional natural gas price spreads and increase costs for downstream consumers, but there is limited scope for a reduction in gas flows between the two countries — at least in the short term. The US is a net gas importer from Canada, with gross imports of 8.36 Bcf/d (86.35bn m³/yr) in January-October, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The US' Canadian imports far exceeded the 2.63 Bcf/d it delivered across its northern border over the same period, EIA data show. Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports also will disrupt years of free flowing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) trade between the three countries, market sources said. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Study calls for e-fuels bunker subsidies, GHG tax
Study calls for e-fuels bunker subsidies, GHG tax
New York, 30 January (Argus) — E-fuel subsidies and a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions tax is needed for e-fuels to compete as a bunkering fuel before 2044, said a study by maritime consultancy University Maritime Advisory Services (Umas) and the UCL Energy Institute. The study found that adding a multiplier of the GHG intensity credit given to e-fuels could help to make e-fuel use financially competitive, but it would have to be set at high levels at the start. Using a multiplier of two, where one ship running on zero emissions e-fuel could generate credits to offset three other similar ships operating on conventional fossil fuels, was not able to make e-fuels more competitive before 2041. The multiplier would have to be set initially at 15 in 2030, falling to 10 by 2035, to enable the competitiveness of e-fuels, concludes the study. Additionally, levying a GHG tax or fee of $150-$300/t of CO2-equivalent would also make e-fuels more competitive. A tax of $30-$120/t CO2e is close to the aggregate level of subsidies, and would not create a sustained promotion of e-fuels. Under the current marine fuel standards, a combination of fossil fuels, including LNG, biofuels and carbon capture and storage systems would be most competitive up until 2036. After, blue ammonia dual fuel ships would be the lowest-cost solution until 2044. Ships that were more competitive from 2027-2035 would have at least 25pc higher operating cost from 2040 onwards. Thus, if ship owners order newbuild vessels to maximize short-term competitiveness, the sector is at a "major risk of technology lock-in" and will not be as cost-effective for reaching net zero by 2050. The study models a 2027-build, 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit container ship. The vessel sails between Asia and Latin America using different marine fuels such as bio-methanol, e-methanol, LNG, bio-LNG, e-LNG, bio-marine gasoil (MGO), e-MGO and very low-sulphur fuel oil. By Stefka Wechsler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil biofuels venture to add complex in Alagoas
Brazil biofuels venture to add complex in Alagoas
Sao Paulo, 28 January (Argus) — Brazilian advanced biofuels firm GranBio, biofuels producer Impacto Bioenergia and two sugarcane plant operators will build a biofuels complex in northeastern Alagoas state, the companies said on Monday. The biorefinery project, named Exygen I, will cost an estimated R1.5bn ($253mn) and produce carbon neutral ethanol, biomethane and biofertilizers. It will have production capacity of 160mn l/yr (2,760 b/d) by 2026 and use sugarcane byproducts as feedstock, according to GranBio. Exygen I's estimated biomethane production capacity will be 50mn m³/yr. The complex will produce the renewable gas from vinasse, a by-product of sugarcane processing. Future investments would include increasing Exygen I's storage capacity and biogas distribution. But the initial storage and biogas distribution capacities were not disclosed. The project's next step includes producing biogenic CO2 — made from organic matter decomposition — biofertilizers and e-methanol, used in marine fuels. The project is a joint effort between GranBio, Impacto Bioenergia, Alagoas-based producing unit Caete and sugar and ethanol firm Central Açucareira Santo Antonio. Brazil's fuels of the future law , approved in October, increased incentives for the country's biofuels market. By Maria Frazatto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Offers emerge for India's RCF urea tender: Update
Offers emerge for India's RCF urea tender: Update
Amsterdam, 27 January (Argus) — Prices under Indian fertilizer importer RCF's 23 January tender have emerged, with the lowest urea offers at $422/t cfr west coast and $427/t cfr east coast. Trading firm Indagro offered the lowest for both coasts. There was a comparatively tight spread, with four other offers in the $420s/t cfr west coast. The lowest offers net to around $410/t fob Middle East, $370/t fob Baltic, and the high $400s-410/t fob southeast Asia to the east coast. There were 21 offers, with 1.37mn t to the east coast and 1.29mn t to the west coast, for a total of 2.66mn t ( see below ). RCF requested that the cargoes be loaded by 5 March and that offers are to be valid until 31 January. The importer is seeking 1mn t of urea for the west coast and 500,000t for the east coast. By Harry Minihan RCF's 23 January urea tender in India Supplier East coast tonnage ('t) Price ($/t cfr) West coast tonnage ('t) Price ($/t cfr) Indagro 45,000 427 45,000 422 Ameropa 99,550 437 52,400 422.50 Sun International 50,000 428 50,000 424 Hexagon 50,000 429.19 50,000 427.19 Midgulf 100,000 434 100,000 429 Quest 50,000 430 Aditya Birla 150,000 443 150,000 434 Fertistream 47,500 440 47,500 435 Keytrade 45,000 440 45,000 435 Koch 95,000 445 95,000 435 Dreymoor 80,000 449 80,000 439 Agricommodities/ETG 100,000 452.40 100,000 442.50 Fertiglobe Distribution 90,000 452 90,000 445 Macrosource 45,000 451 45,000 446 Continental 50,000 433 50,000 447 OQ 45,000 429 100,000 449 Samsung 90,000 436.20 90,000 450.20 Fertiglobe Fertilizer Trading 45,000 458 Liven 47,500 437 Indorama 46,000 435 IMR Metallurgical Resources 50,000 Rejected 50,000 Rejected Market sources Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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