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
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Latest nitrogen news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global nitrogen industry.
France nitrogen demand jumps on subsidy announcement
France nitrogen demand jumps on subsidy announcement
London, 10 July (Argus) — Demand for straight nitrogen fertilizers in France, particularly urea and UAN, increased sharply following the government's subsidy announcement on 9 July. Farmers will receive at least €50/t ($57/t) on purchases of straight nitrogen fertilizers made between 1 June and 30 September, rising to €70/t where fertilizer accounts for more than 10pc of operating costs. Urea buying accelerated immediately, with prices rising to €495/t fca from around €460/t fca. Interest also strengthened for sulphur-enriched granular urea (40N+14SO3), with business reported at €460/t fca in big bags. UAN 30 demand also surged, but prices remained initially unchanged at €370/t fca Rouen and with large sales volumes reported. Some offers reached €380/t fca today while several suppliers withdrew offers pending a reassessment of market levels next week. The impact on AN 33.5 and CAN 27 was less pronounced, but some European producers withdrew offers from the market. Market participants also expressed concern that the subsidy could further divert demand away from NPK fertilizers and ammonium sulphate, which are not covered by the support scheme. By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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.
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