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.
Australian Whyalla port takes first fertilizer delivery
Australian Whyalla port takes first fertilizer delivery
Sydney, 27 February (Argus) — Australian fertilizer supplier Marnco has delivered an unspecified amount of MAP/DAP into Whyalla Port in South Australia, marking a first for the port. Fertilizer imports into South Australia are usually imported via Port Adelaide and Port Lincoln. Australia's Agfert Fertilizers likely bought the supplies. The company recently completed its new 20,000t fertilizer storage and distribution centre on the Eyre peninsula. By Tom Woodlock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Granular urea bids likely at low $410s/t fob SE Asia
Granular urea bids likely at low $410s/t fob SE Asia
Amsterdam, 25 February (Argus) — Indonesian Pupuk subsidiary Kaltim closed a sales tender today, with the highest bid emerging so far in the low $410s/t fob Bontang for granular urea loading next month. Higher bids are yet to emerge and Kaltim may decide not to progress with the tender, with the supplier understood to be targeting around $430/t fob. Other bids were around the low-$400s/t fob, with the bulk of bids in the $390s/t fob and below. There was no comment from the parties involved. Latest fob business in the region took place in the low $430s/t fob Brunei for smaller lots in mid-February . The tender requested bids for 45,000t of granular urea loading from Bontang in the second week of March. Participants had anticipated that Kaltim had 2-3 cargoes available for loading next month. A delayed tender issuance from India, the potential restart of Iranian urea production in the coming weeks and a drop in US barge prices at Nola last week have combined to cool market sentiments following a continued rise in prices since early December. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia's CSBP fertilizer sales rise in 1H FY25
Australia's CSBP fertilizer sales rise in 1H FY25
Sydney, 20 February (Argus) — Fertilizer sales by Australia's CSBP rose by 31pc to 396,000t in the first half of the July 2024-June 2025 financial year compared with a year earlier, according to the company's half-year presentation. CSBP is the fertilizer division of WesCEF, a subsidiary of Western Australia (WA)-based conglomerate Wesfarmers. The company did not provide a breakdown of fertilizer sales by type. CSBP's fertilizer revenue increased by 14pc on the year to A$246mn ($155.27mn) in July-December 2024, supported by the higher sales volumes. Revenue from the chemical division of WesCEF rose to A$704mn, up by 12pc from a year earlier, owing to higher ammonium nitrate earnings, while revenue from its energy division fell by 0.8pc to A$260mn over the same period. WesCEF's overall revenue increased by 9.5pc to A$1.21bn in July-December 2024. The company expects higher contracted natural gas prices in WA to continue to weigh on earnings, it said in the presentation. CSBP is seeking to boost its ammonium nitrate output by 40,000 t/yr through "planned debottlenecking" of one of its nitric acid plants, which will increase the firm's capacity to 865,000 t/yr in the first half of the 2025-26 financial year, the company said. By Tom Woodlock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Weather to set the tone for ferts in Argentina
Weather to set the tone for ferts in Argentina
Sao Paulo, 14 February (Argus) — Climate conditions in Argentina and their impact on 2024-25 oilseed and grain crop output are expected to set the course for investments in fertilizers for the next season. Reduced liquidity prevails in Argentina, as the country is now in its off-season for fertilizer purchases. Wheat planting starts in May in main producing areas, while the first corn crop starts in September. One-off demand emerging for nitrogen has been covered by domestic production, according to market participants that operate in the region. Despite the reduced activity, granular urea in the domestic market has been firming, following the international market trend. Prices in the domestic market are referenced at $450/metric tonne (t) cfr equivalent, while Argus assessed granular urea at $445-455/t cfr Argentina on 13 February. Investments for fertilizers to be applied during the 2025-26 season are still uncertain in Argentina, as it faces unfavorable weather conditions because of the La Nina weather phenomenon, which may hamper farmers' profitability. Fertilizer usage in Argentina increased by 7pc to 4.9mn t in 2024 from the previous year, according to preliminary data from fertilizer association Fertilizar. That is the highest volume since 2021, when fertilizer usage reached a record high of 5.6mn t. Hydric stress lowers outlook for corn Corn planting finished in Argentina as of 13 February, while crop conditions continue to deteriorate because of extremely dry weather. Areas rated of good quality total only 16pc of the sowed area this cycle, falling by 49 percentage points from two months ago, according to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange (Bage). Areas sowed in October-November are likely to have suffered the most from the drought, as they reached their reproductive stages when weather conditions were most dire. Recent rainfall received by some Argentinian areas was not enough to reverse previous losses, while favoring crop development of later crops. Hydric stress caused production outlooks for the 2024-25 corn crop to decrease by 1mn t in February, according to Bage and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bage and USDA now project volumes to total 49mn t and 50mn t, respectively. The reductions are curbed by planted area expansions of 300,000 hectares (ha) to 6.6mn ha in December, according to Bage, which has revised its acreage outlook upwards based on decisions from farmers to plant less soybean this season because of tight margins. Further downward revisions are likely to come in the next months, as the areas that were most affected by the lack of soil moisture are harvested, according to market participants. But farmers' profitability could still be high this season, as the global market is expected to face a supply shortage this year. USDA projects that global demand will surpass world production by 25mn t, boosting prices worldwide amid higher competition for the grain from major importers and domestic industries from key producers. Despite La Nina-related losses, Argentina is still the third largest corn exporter, behind only Brazil and the US. Fertilizer usage up in 2024 The increase of fertilizer usage in 2024 from 2023 reflects a 5pc increase in 2024-25 wheat acreage area from the previous season, reaching 6.3mn ha, according to Bage. Despite the corn area's nearly 17pc decrease to 6.6mn ha from 7.9mn ha, fertilizer usage for corn also increased in 2024, Fertilizar said. Farmers opted to plant the first corn crop instead of the second corn crop, which forced producers to invest in technology to plant, including fertilizer usage. The second corn crop is usually planted in December, when hot and dry weather conditions favor the development of leafhoppers. The decision came after Argentinian farmers struggled with the occurrence of leafhoppers in 2023, which hampered production. Granular urea imports increased by nearly 31pc to 1.1mn t in 2024 from a year prior, with Nigeria and Algeria accounting for 27pc and 25pc, respectively. Urea from Egypt significantly decreased its market share in 2024, representing almost 7pc of deliveries from 44pc in 2023. Egypt and Argentina have a free trade agreement that exempts some Egyptian products from tariffs. Imports from the country were significant until June and peaked in April at 34,225t, according to data from Global Trade Tracker (GTT). But the country provided zero volumes in July-November and sent only 4,400t to Argentina in December. The reduction of Egypt's market share came because of the Argentinian government's decision in early May to eliminate import tariffs of 5.4pc on urea and 3.6pc on UAN, making nitrogen-based fertilizers from other origins more competitive. By Renata Cardarelli and Nathalia Giannetti Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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