Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Latest market news

Argentina to remove import duties on urea, UAN: Caputo

  • : Fertilizers
  • 24/04/10

Argentina's economic minister Luis Caputo is proposing to eliminate import tariffs of 5.4pc and 3.6pc on nitrogen-based fertilizers urea and UAN.

Caputo reported the planned move on X, formally known as Twitter, without specifying a timeline.

Argentina is the third-largest urea import market in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico, receiving 825,000t last year, and as much as 1.55mn t in 2021, trade data show.

Egyptian product accounted for 44pc of imports, or 364,000t, in 2023. Argentina has a commercial agreement with Egypt which exempts the import duty.

Meanwhile, Nigerian producers supplied almost a fifth at 156,000t, while imports of Algerian urea were 125,000t last year.

The country has one major urea producer, Profertil, which is jointly owned by north America's Nutrien and Argentinian state-owned energy company YPF, and has an annual granular urea capacity of 1.32mn t.

UAN receipts were around 350,000 last year, down from just over 680,000t in 2020. Imports are typically sourced from the US, Trinidad and Tobago and Russia.


Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

25/04/11

Malaysia sets new haulier limits at Port Klang

Malaysia sets new haulier limits at Port Klang

Singapore, 11 April (Argus) — The Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) — under the transport ministry's directive — hasset operational weight limitson hauliers operating at port Klang effective from 1 May, possibly raising logistical costs for some fertilizer importers. The majority of haulier equipment used at port Klang has a maximum capacity of 38,000kg (38t), and the AMH has set a verified gross mass (VGM) weight limit of 25,000kg (25t). This results in trailers of 20ft and 40ft having a VGM limit of 25,000kg (25t), while side loaders will be imposed a VGM limit of 22,000kg (22t). These new weight limits could increase logistical costs for fertilizer importers, especially those using side loader hauliers, according to one fertilizer importer. Importers could previously load around 24-25t of product, but imposing a weight limit would mean that importers using side loader hauliers must pay for more containers for the same cargo size. Importers typically use side-load hauliers if they are importing large volumes of product, as it is more efficient. But this new regulation is unlikely to affect urea fertilizers as the typical volume for a urea cargo is usually around 21t, the importer said. The limits would more likely impact the loadings of fertilizers like phosphates, NPKs and potash. One NPK producer indicated that this could raise their import costs for incoming cargoes at port Klang by around 10pc. Some Malaysian importers have also indicated that they only ship cargoes in 25t containers and they would not be affected, as the policy is only limited to port Klang and 24t containers. Others have filed complaints to the port Klang authorities and are expecting to receive more feedback next week. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Egypt’s NCIC issues fertilizer sales tender


25/04/10
25/04/10

Egypt’s NCIC issues fertilizer sales tender

London, 10 April (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has issued a tender to sell various fertilizers for loading in May, closing on 15 April. NCIC is offering the following products: 15,000t of DAP — it sold 30,000t at $647-650/t fob in its 24 March tender for shipment to India, likely in May 15,000t of TSP — it sold 15,000t at $495-503/t fob in its 24 March tender 30,000t of 19pc SSP — it sold 10,000t at $213-215/t fob in its 24 March tender 10,000t of CAN27 — it sold 12,000t at $300-305/t fob in its 24 March tender 5,000t of granular urea 1,500t of water-soluble SOP — it sold 1,500t at $555-560/t fob bagged in its 24 March tender, significantly lower than $580-590/t fob bagged in its 26 February tender NCIC had offered the fertilizers sold in its 24 March tender for loading in April. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India’s DOF proposes additional phosphate subsidies


25/04/10
25/04/10

India’s DOF proposes additional phosphate subsidies

London, 10 April (Argus) — India's Department of Fertilizers (DOF) has proposed additional subsidies on DAP and imported TSP for the April-September Kharif season, according to a document seen by Argus . The proposed compensations are on top of the current nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) and the 3,500 rupees/t special additional subsidy (other costs) on DAP that are already in place. If approved, they would balance DAP importers' losses at current rates. The DOF has proposed returning to DAP importers and producers 4pc of the maximum retail price (MRP), plus a rebate on the goods and services tax (GST) on the MRP. The DOF also has suggested paying importers the difference between the cfr prices for cargoes imported during this Kharif season and the average cfr price for DAP imports over the October 2024-March 2025 Rabi season. At current exchange rates, this would add $81-82/t to the subsidy on DAP imported in the mid-$670s/t cfr, broadly equal to the losses currently faced by importers. Importers buying DAP in the mid-$670s/t cfr are facing losses of about $84/t, given the US dollar/rupee exchange rate, the MRP of Rs27,000/t, the NBS of Rs27,799/t and the special additional subsidy of Rs3,500/t. The 4pc return on the MRP, plus GST, will fall slightly short of covering the $33/t losses incurred by DAP producers importing phosphoric acid at $1,153/t P2O5 cfr and ammonia at $350/t cfr. Producers making DAP with 30-31pc P2O5 phosphate rock imported at $153/t cfr, sulphur received at $300/t cfr and ammonia delivered at $350/t cfr already are making profits of about $50/t. But they also would still receive the 4pc MRP return and GST rebate. The same proposal applies to imported TSP. The DOF suggests paying 4pc of the Rs25,000/t MRP, and the GST, plus the increase from the average Rabi import cost to importers. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Flooding on US rivers mires barge transit


25/04/07
25/04/07

Flooding on US rivers mires barge transit

Houston, 7 April (Argus) — Barge transit slowed across the Arkansas, Ohio and lower Mississippi rivers over the weekend because of flooding, which prompted the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to close locks and issue transit restrictions along the waterways. The Corps advised all small craft to limit or halt transit on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MCKARNS) in Arkansas because flows reached above 200,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), nearly three times the high-water flow. The heavy flow is expected to persist throughout the week, posing risks to those transiting the river system, said the Corps. Some barges have halted movement on the river, temporarily miring fertilizer resupply efforts in Arkansas and Oklahoma in the middle of the urea application season. The Corps forecasts high flows to continue into Friday, and the National Weather Service predicts several locations along the MCKARNS will maintain a moderate to minor flood stage into Friday as well. Both the Arthur V Ormond Lock and the Toad Suck Ferry Lock, upriver from Little Rock, Arkansas, shut on 6 April because of the high flows. Flows along the Little Rock Corps district reached 271,600cfs on 7 April. The Corps forecasts high flows to continue into Friday. Ohio and lower Mississippi rivers The Corps restricted barge transit between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Cairo, Illinois, on the Ohio River to mitigate barge transportation risks, with the Corps closing two locks on the Ohio River on 6 April and potentially four more in the coming days. Major barge carrier American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) anticipates dock and fleeting operations will be suspended at certain locations along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers as a result of the flooding. NWS forecasters anticipate major flooding levels to persist through the following week. Barge carriers also expect a backlog of up to two weeks in the region. To alleviate flooding at Cairo, Illinois, where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers meet, the Corps increased water releases at the Barkley Dam on the Cumberland River and the Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River. The Markland Lock, downriver from Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Newburgh lock near Owensboro, Kentucky, closed on 6 April. The Corps expects the full closure to remain until each location reaches its crest of nearly 57ft, which could occur on 8 or 9 April, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Around 50 vessels or more are waiting to transit each lock, according to the Lock Status Report published by the Corps on 7 April. The Corps also shut a chamber at both Cannelton and McAlpine locks. The John T Myers and Smithland locks may close on 7 April as well, the Corps said. The Olmsted Lock, the final lock before the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, will require a 3mph limit for any traffic passing through. The NWS expects roughly 10-15 inches of precipitation fell along the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys earlier this month, inducing severe flooding across the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. A preliminary estimate from AccuWeather stated an estimated loss of $80-90bn in damages from the extreme flooding. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Atome signs EPC contract for Paraguay CAN project


25/04/07
25/04/07

Atome signs EPC contract for Paraguay CAN project

Singapore, 7 April (Argus) — London-listed energy firm Atome has signed a definitive engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Swiss contractor Casale for its renewable CAN project in Paraguay. Atome has signed a fixed-price $465mn EPC agreement with Casale for the 260,000 t/yr CAN plant at Villeta, Paraguay. The deal marks the latest step towards Atome taking a final investment decision for its project targeting towards the end of the first half of 2025, the firm said today. This follows Atome's agreement with French clean hydrogen infrastructure fund Hy24 earlier this year. The CAN at the plant will be made using ammonia produced from hydroelectricity, and output is scheduled to start in 2027. Atome is targeting first sales of "green" fertilizer in 2028. The project, when complete, would be the world's first large-scale carbon-free fertilizer facility. By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more