NPKs
Overview
The global market for compound NPKs is one of the most important and dynamic markets in the fertilizer sector. Around 20pc of a total market of over 100mn t was traded between countries in 2023. This traded volume is growing relatively quickly, with an increasing number of fertilizer producers entering the market or expanding their supply base to meet demand from a rising number of buyers. Growth from consumers is well founded on fundamentals. Farmers are under ever-increasing pressure to improve their yields and crop quality, and to use fertilizers efficiently, not only to manage costs but to limit potential environmental losses.
Greater agricultural sophistication is bringing an increasing variety of grades to the market. Producers are also striving to move from commodity grades, such as 15-15-15, to more specific formulations (often tailored to specific customer needs) to increase nutrient-use efficiency and capture market share.
The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has also seen major shifts in trade flows, given Russia’s significant compound-NPK capacity, and Russian-origin product has long been seen as a benchmark for high-quality NPKs. Russian exports have been seen shifting from Europe to India, and this is reflected in NPK & NPS grades and trade.
Argus has decades of experience covering the NPKs market. We incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including nitrogen, phosphates, potash and sulphur to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Weekly NPKs price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest NPKs news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global NPKs industry.
India's RCF seeks 100,000t of NPS
India's RCF seeks 100,000t of NPS
London, 29 April (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer RCF has issued a tender to buy two 50,000t lots of 20-20-0+13S. RCF requests delivery of the first lot by 10 June and the second by 20 June. The tender is to close on 3 May, and offers must be valid until 7 May. The tender is open only to suppliers with which RCF has signed long-term agreements. RCF in February bought just over 30,000t of Saudi Arabian 20-20-0+13S from a trading firm at around $359/t cfr duty unpaid, equating to $377/t cfr duty paid/free. The Argus assessment for Indian imports of the grade has remained broadly flat since, largely because of a lack of trade. Indian importers have been buying mainly NPK grades — particularly Russian-produced 10-26-26 — while high stocks have helped to ensure little NPS activity. But the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) for 20-20-0+13S being raised by just 11pc season on season , compared with 19pc for 10-26-26 and 20pc for 12-32-16, has also helped to nudge demand towards the latter products. By David Maher Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India's Fact issues tender to buy 15-15-15
India's Fact issues tender to buy 15-15-15
London, 29 April (Argus) — Indian fertilizer producer and importer Fact has issued a tender to buy two 20,000-30,000t lots, plus or minus 10pc, of 15-15-15 product. The tender closes on 13 May at 14:30 Indian Standard Time (IST). The first shipment should be delivered to the port of New Mangalore before 20 June, and the second to Tuticorin during 1-15 July. If suppliers cannot meet these timelines, they can offer to the nearest available date, and these submissions will be considered in the absence of offers that match Fact's desired dates. Offers can be made for either shipment or both. By David Maher Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US amsul stripping margin rises again in April
US amsul stripping margin rises again in April
Houston, 19 April (Argus) — The stripping margin for ammonium sulfate (amsul), driven by higher amsul prices, continued to rise in April even as variable costs grew. The stripping margin increased by nearly $24/st to $270/st for April, up by 10pc from March and up by 13pc from April 2023. Inland amsul trade exceeded $400/short tons (st) this month on continued supply tightness following production outages in the first quarter. Minimal length at New Orleans (Nola) spurred sellers to offer imported tons as high as $405/st fob for first half May delivery. Participants in the amsul market anticipate values to keep rising into May as supply tightness persists. Higher amsul prices have been partially caused by higher costs for inputs. The Tampa, Florida, ammonia contract rose by 7pc to $475/st in April from the month prior and the sulfur Tampa contract climbed by 17pc to $81 per long ton (lt) from the previous quarter. The cost of ammonia and sulfur were 8pc and 27pc lower than a year earlier, respectively. The total variable cost for amsul rose by $10/st in April to $143/st after holding steady in March. Rising ammonia prices have supported amsul variable costs but gains in the price of ammonia have not been as substantive as the market expected, sources said. Applications of ammonia in the US are slowing, which may weaken the price of the Tampa contract, but production outages could offset seasonal declines. Ma'aden's ammonia II plant is due to undergo a month of maintenance starting mid-April. Sulfur prices are expected to remain firm in the near term but lose momentum entering the third quarter on higher refinery utilization in the US and the return of Chinese exports of MAP and DAP, which could oversaturate the phosphate fertilizer market. Sulfuric acid is used to produce DAP and MAP. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
New deadline in Kenya 26-5-5 tender set for 17 April
New deadline in Kenya 26-5-5 tender set for 17 April
London, 10 April (Argus) — The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has asked participants in its tender to buy 96,988t of bagged compound 26-5-5 to submit lower offers by 17 April. The initial deadline for the submission of financial offers — for those that passed the pre-qualification stage of the process — was 26 March. The lowest offer was $400/t cfrlo bagged for 86,988t of Russian and/or Kenyan 26-5-5. But Argus understands that this submission was disqualified, probably because it did not have a producer's backing. The second-lowest offer was for 96,988t of Russian product at $428.85/t cfrlo bagged. The highest offer was of domestic product at $508/t cfrlo bagged, but for just 10,000t. Eight other offers were made, seven of which were for the full volume. Most of the product offered was of Russian origin. But one submission was for 45,000t, plus or minus 5pc, of Romanian product. At $490.46/t cfrlo bagged, that offer was uncompetitive. All of the offers — aside from the submission of 10,000t — were for delivery in two shipments. By David Maher Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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