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.
French farmers receive €50/t to buy nitrogen until Sep
French farmers receive €50/t to buy nitrogen until Sep
London, 9 July (Argus) — The French government today announced financial support for farmers to buy nitrogen fertilizers, with payments of at least €50/t for purchases until the end of September. The scheme aims to offset price increases since the start of the war in the Middle East, and to "preserve our productive capacities and secure the 2027 harvests", the government said. The announcement already triggered increased farmer buying of fertilizers today. Farmers will receive at least €50/t for purchases of straight nitrogen fertilizers. Where fertilizers account for more than 10pc of a farmer's operating costs, the payments rise to €70/t. Payments are capped at 50pc of farmers' nitrogen consumption from 2025. The scheme applies to purchases between 1 June and 30 September. At the end of the period, a report will review the fertilizer price development. The European Commission has allocated €107mn for the payments, which France may top up to a total of €145mn. Nitrogen fertilizer prices in Europe rose significantly after the start of the war. French granular urea prices rose by 50pc between the end of February and mid-April, to an average of €753/t fca. Prices then fell below pre-war prices again, to €470/t fca by 2 July, but are now once again on the rise. By Claudia Wlk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pupuk Indonesia closes tender to buy August amsul
Pupuk Indonesia closes tender to buy August amsul
Singapore, 22 June (Argus) — State-owned Pupuk Indonesia has closed a tender today to buy a total of 100,000t of bulk standard caprolactam-grade ammonium sulphate (amsul) for delivery in August to its subsidiary Pupuk Petrokimia Gresik (PKG). Pupuk Indonesia requested that offers be submitted on a formula price with a variable discount. The lowest offer was around $10/t, market participants said, although this was not confirmed by the companies involved. PKG has requested five single shipments of 20,000t each to Gresik port, to be delivered on a weekly basis, except in the third week of August where two cargoes are scheduled. Argus last assessed southeast Asia delivered standard amsul prices at a midpoint of $247.50/t cfr on 18 June. Amsul prices have been on a downward trend in recent weeks, tracking a weakening urea market. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US urea exports to Canada rise to record in April
US urea exports to Canada rise to record in April
Houston, 9 June (Argus) — The US exported a record amount of urea to Canada in April, boosted by first-quarter production outages and spring maintenance at Canadian plants. US urea exports to Canada in April rose to 144,619 metric tonnes (t), up by 99,086t, from the same period last year, according to US Census Bureau data. Exports to Canada were 94,946t higher than the five-year average for April and were the highest for any month in records dating to 2008. Canada's pull on US supplies stems from production downtime in the winter across multiple nitrogen plants when Canada already had limited supplies carried over from the previous fertilizer season. Adding to downtime, Nutrien's Carseland, Alberta, plant had a turnaround start in April and Yara's Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan, site started its turnaround in late May, curtailing availability through Canada's spring and early summer applications. The US has generally been a net importer from Canada, with the 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 fertilizer years — which run from July through June — being an exception. The US appears to be on its way to another year as a net exporter to Canada in 2025-2026 year as well. By Sneha Kumar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Oman’s Omifco plans IPO
Oman’s Omifco plans IPO
Amsterdam, 2 June (Argus) — Omani urea and ammonia producer Omifco aims to float 25pc of its existing shares on the Muscat exchange through an initial public offering (IPO). The precise timeline for the IPO has not been confirmed, but the firm has indicated an expected listing at some point in July, according to its website. Oman's OQ owns half the business, with India's Iffco and Kribhco holding a quarter each. Omifco produced 2.07mn t of urea in 2025, almost all which was exported and sold by OQ, with India accounting for 71pc of deliveries in 2023-25, while 17pc went to Latin America. The firm also produced 1.35mn t of ammonia last year, with India receiving 61pc of shipments in 2023-25 and 23pc shipped to African markets. Omifco exports from the Omani port of Sur. The firm has yet to publish an IPO prospectus, but reported revenue of just over $800mn last year and a profit margin of 40pc, implying profit of just under $321mn. In comparison, fellow supplier Fertiglobe, which operates nitrogen facilities in the UAE, Egypt and Algeria, posted revenue of $2.83bn in 2025, while Saudi Arabia's Sabic reported revenue of 13.1bn riyals ($3.49bn) last year. Omifco is the top urea producer in Oman and the joint third-largest producer in the Mideast Gulf — not including Iranian suppliers — after QatarEnergy and Sabic and has roughly the same urea capacity as Fertiglobe's Fertil facility in the UAE. The timing and speed of the IPO launch are not surprising. Urea and ammonia prices spiked in the aftermath of the US-Iran war at the end of February and the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz. The Middle East is the largest urea exporting region, shipping around 20mn t/yr, or 35pc of global seaborne trade, of which just over 17mn t/yr either loads beyond the strait of Hormuz or from Iran. But Omani suppliers have escaped the snarled traffic in the wider region in recent months and were largely able to continue operations and shipments, capitalising on the highest nitrogen prices in nearly four years. But urea prices have tracked lower in recent weeks, having hit a peak in mid-April. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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