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.
Spain's Fertiberia to supply PepsiCo low-CO2 fertilizer
Spain's Fertiberia to supply PepsiCo low-CO2 fertilizer
London, 7 May (Argus) — Spanish fertilizer producer Fertiberia will progressively supply global food and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo with up to 150,000 t/yr of low-carbon nitrate fertilizers by 2030, under a new long-term supply agreement. Fertiberia will supply its renewable ammonia-based fertilizers, known under its Impact Zero brand, to global food and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo over an unspecified time frame. Farmers supplying PepsiCo will then use the fertilizers across approximately 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of farmland. Fertiberia has produced 20,000 t/yr of renewable ammonia at its Puertollano plant since 2022. The site has a 20MW electrolyser fed by an integrated 100MW solar photovoltaic plant. Fertiberia also produces 180,000 t/yr of natural-gas based ammonia at Puertollano, and previously indicated plans to add a further 50-180MW of electrolyser capacity — although it is yet to do so. The firm has also announced tentative plans for four further renewable ammonia projects in Spain, all of which have yet to reach final investment decisions. Fertiberia produces around 155,000 t/yr nitric acid at Puertollano. Combined with its ammonia feedstock, this can produce around 280,000 t/yr of ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizers. Fertiberia's Impact Zero range utilises slow-release formulas and biological inhibitors to further enhance agronomic efficiency, reducing the overall greenhouse gas emissions of the finished product by 63pc. The supply agreement with PepsiCo builds on a successful trial in Spain and Portugal, where carbon emissions were cut by up to 20pc across corn farming and up to 15pc across potato farming, Fertiberia and PepsiCo said, without providing a benchmark emission level. The programme will now expand to France, Romania, Serbia, Greece and Turkey, for key crops including potatoes, corn, sunflower, sugar beet and rapeseed. The agreement will bring PepsiCo's share of low-carbon fertilizers used in its European operations up to 50pc by 2030, the company said. PepsiCo also has deals with Norwegian fertilizer company Yara in Europe , US nitrogen producer CF in the US and, most recently, agriculture technology company TalusAg across multiple regions . Similar initiatives have been undertaken by other global food and beverage manufacturers, which have a higher willingness to pay for the use of emissions-reducing fertilizer products in their supply chains than the farmers that are directly applying the product. By Lizzy Lancaster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Dakota Gas' urea focus tied to demand, not DEF rules
Dakota Gas' urea focus tied to demand, not DEF rules
Houston, 30 April (Argus) — Dakota Gasification said it is prioritizing granular urea production over diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) because of a lack of fertilizer imports, indirectly rebutting US secretary of agriculture Brooke Rollins' claim that the shift was prompted by recent federal guidance around DEF sensors. Responding to Rollins' comments, Dakota Gasification on Thursday told Argus that it is maximizing urea fertilizer production at its Beulah, North Dakota, nitrogen plant "due to lack of imports into the US and significant need domestically". The company's statement appears to contradict Rollins' assertion on 28 April that Dakota Gasification is raising urea production and reducing DEF output in reaction to 26 March guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that diesel engines will no longer be required to have urea quality sensors (UQS). Her remarks came as she outlined for reporters the US government's efforts to address the fertilizer affordability crisis . A significant portion of domestic fertilizer imports come from the Mideast Gulf, and the supply shock resulting from the US-Iran war has increased the cost and reduced the availability of imports to the US. Since the war started at the end of February, urea at New Orleans, Louisiana, has risen by $159/st, or 24pc, to $629/st. That is $144/st above year-ago levels. Urea is also used to produce DEF, allowing nitrogen producers to choose between producing granular urea for agricultural use or for urea liquor for DEF. Argus Analytics does not expect the EPA guidance to reduce DEF demand . Diesel engines are still required to retain their NOx sensors. If an operator dilutes its DEF, the sensors will increase the engine's dosing rate to ensure tailpipe NOx emission requirements are still met, offsetting the reduced urea content in the DEF. By Calder Jett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell fertilizers for May
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell fertilizers for May
London, 30 April (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has issued a tender to sell various fertilizers for loading in May, closing on 4 May. NCIC is offering the following: 30,000t of DAP — it sold 20,000t at up to $880/t fob in its 20 April tender 10,000t of TSP — it sold 10,000t at up to $695/t fob in its 20 April tender 30,000t of SSP — it sold 20,000t at $340-375/t fob Ain Sokhna in its 27 April tender 25,000t of urea — it sold 10,000t at up to $852/t fob Ain Sokhna in its 27 April tender 1,000t of water-soluble SOP — it sold 1,000t at up to $705/t bagged ex-works in its 20 April tender All cargoes will be ready at the port of loading on 7 May. Products will be priced on a fob basis, except for the SOP, which will be priced on an ex-works basis in 25kg bags from the Fayoum plant. Buyers must load cargoes within 27 days of the issuance of invoices. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Philippines' agriculture sector braces for El Nino
Philippines' agriculture sector braces for El Nino
Singapore, 30 April (Argus) — Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a preparedness plan to mitigate agricultural disruptions in the latter parts of 2026, when moderate-to-strong El Nino conditions are likely, the DA said in a 29 April press release. El Nino will bring warmer and drier weather to the country, reducing rainfall and in some cases causing drought that could undermine agricultural output. Drier conditions could curb fertilizer demand in the Philippines, one importer told Argus . Fertilizer application and offtake largely depend on rain, but reduced rainfall from El Nino may limit demand. The Philippines last faced a strong El Nino event in 2024, when drought cut rice output and supported the country's rice imports. It imported 4.8mn t of rice that year, which is the highest in at least the last decade and up by 32pc from 2023, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data. Assessing current irrigation systems and identifying the most vulnerable areas would be an integral part of the DA's preparedness plan. It is also looking to ensure that sufficient drought-tolerant seed varieties and fertilizers are available to farmers, and provide irrigation support when needed, along with economic aid to farmers in terms of crop insurance, credit access and market facilitation. By Hui Xuan Lek Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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