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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- Daily and weekly nitrogen price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
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Latest nitrogen news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global nitrogen industry.
CF exec questions efficiency of USDA fertilizer grants
CF exec questions efficiency of USDA fertilizer grants
Houston, 6 November (Argus) — CF Industries chief executive Christopher Bohn questioned the efficiency of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) fertilizer investment grant program, which announced $573mn in awards for new fertilizer projects last week. The awards from the Fertilizer Investment and Expansion for Long Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) program spanned eight projects ranging from brownfield expansions for urea, ammonia and ammonium sulfate as well as greenfield projects that would produce organic fertilizer, calcium sulfate, sulfate of potash and modular ammonia units. "But a lot of those are very, very small," Bohn said about the funding in CF's third quarter earnings call. "You sort of question [the projects] on scale, on their efficiency and really their capital cost per ton." Bohn said he believes the size of the projects — which range from 4,100-250,000 metric tonnes (t) a year of output, according to the USDA — will not significantly improve US fertilizer supply, while suggesting that CF could increase nitrogen production at a much lower cost by taking advantage of company's scale. CF is the largest ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer producer in the US with 8.76mn short tons of gross ammonia capacity, which represents 43pc of total US capacity, based on CF and Argus data. "You're looking at some pretty small debottlenecks, things that we look at through our network all the time to increase efficiency. And obviously, we believe given our technical expertise, we can do that on a lower cost per ton than anybody else," Bohn said. The USDA has stated that expanding domestic fertilizer production is a priority but CF and other companies in the top four in terms of US fertilizer market share were not allowed to participate in the FIELDS program. Stated concerns surrounding market concentration in the fertilizer market appear to underpin the USDA's decision to exclude larger companies from FIELDS. Since the start of the US war with Iran and the resulting run up in fertilizer prices, the USDA and Department of Justice under President Donald Trump launched an investigation to look at the competitiveness of the US fertilizer market. USDA officials and Trump himself have also made statements insinuating that fertilizer producers have engaged in anticompetitive practices that are unfair to US farmers. The investigation launched at the end of September and agricultural associations last week urged the Trump administration to deliver results from investigation as farmers continue to contend with elevated input costs. The USDA did not respond to a request for comment on Bohn's remarks related to the FIELDS program. By Calder Jett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Azoty's ferts division makes losses in 3Q on gas prices
Azoty's ferts division makes losses in 3Q on gas prices
Warsaw, 6 November (Argus) — Higher natural gas feedstock prices pushed Polish chemical group Grupa Azoty's fertilizer business to a loss in the third quarter, according to preliminary results. Azoty's agriculture division posted third-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) of -166mn zlotys (-$42mn), its first negative agriculture ebitda since fourth-quarter 2024. The weaker fertilizer business hit Azoty's overall financial performance, with the company expecting to post a 547mn zlotys net loss in the third quarter. The loss would more than triple the 150mn zlotys in the third quarter last year and widen by 62pc from 338mn zlotys in the second quarter this year. Azoty has made losses in every quarter since mid-2022. In addition to fertilizers, Azoty's business includes production of other chemicals. In its fertilizer business, Azoty said farmers' limited purchasing power constrained price increases and contributed to negative margins. "Although high gas prices significantly increase our operating costs, we cannot fully pass these burdens on to the prices of fertilizers," vice-president for sales Piotr Szajczyk said. "Farmers themselves are grappling with low prices for their products and mounting cost pressures." Azoty's fertilizer sales volumes fell by 9pc on the year in the third quarter. Farmers in Poland are entering the upcoming fertilizer season with a relatively low volume of fertilizer purchases, Azoty said. The company is focusing on ensuring stable fertilizer supplies ahead of the upcoming season at prices acceptable to users in Poland, even though this is putting pressure on its margins. "Despite very high gas prices, maintaining the availability of fertilizers remains one of our priorities," Szajczyk said. By Tomasz Stepien Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Another vessel loads with granular urea in Mideast Gulf
Another vessel loads with granular urea in Mideast Gulf
London, 28 October (Argus) — The Al Jurf has loaded with about 54,000t of granular urea from Qatar inside the Mideast Gulf, data from ship tracking firm Kpler show. The vessel is still docked at Mesaieed port. It is likely to be the sixth ship to have loaded with non-Iranian granular urea this month. There are seven vessels carrying about 390,000t of non-Iranian granular urea in the Mideast Gulf, Argus estimates. No vessels loaded with non-Iranian urea have left the Gulf since the Cape Trader on 16-18 October, according to Kpler data. By Louise Hossien Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Venezuela sends 30,000 t of fertilizer to US
Venezuela sends 30,000 t of fertilizer to US
Caracas, 15 October (Argus) — Venezuela has shipped another 30,000 metric tons (t) of fertilizer, likely urea, to the US, US charge d'affaires in Caracas John Barrett said. The fertilizer was shipped by Venezuelan state-owned firm Pequiven through XTS Commodities, a subsidiary of Xtellus Partners, Barrett said in a social media post. "This cargo will contribute to the supply of key materials for North American agriculture," Barrett said. "We continue to strengthen bilateral commerce and the economic recovery of Venezuela." The embassy did not respond to a question on the type of fertilizer, but a source with Venezuela's natural gas industry said that the shipment was urea. The embassy posted a photo of the Annaliese , a dry bulk vessel that loaded about 30,000t of urea at Pequiven's nitrogen plant in Anzoategui state in Venezuela, according to vessel tracking firm Kpler. That is Pequiven's only facility capable of manufacturing that quantity of fertilizer, the source said. The plant was previously owned by US firm Koch, but was nationalized in 2010 during the government of late former President Hugo Chavez. The Annaliese would be the third Venezuelan urea vessel to bring urea to the US this year since the US authorized sanctions wavers for Venezuelan fertilizer in March. Acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez in July appointed to Pequiven's presidency Jose David Cabello , the brother of interior minister Diosdado Cabello who is still on a US wanted list. The US embassy in Caracas and Pequiven declined to comment further. By Carlos Camacho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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