Phosphates
Overview
The global phosphates market has witnessed increasing volatility, in response to military conflicts, political tensions and changing market dynamics. Price fluctuations have continued to buffet the market, with increasing demand from south and Southeast Asia the main regions driving consumption growth. Rising raw material prices and improved affordability have lifted prices once again.
Phosphates' usage is also not solely limited to fertilizers. Battery-material suppliers are increasingly seeking to source phosphate rock and specialty phosphates-based products to meet the rapidly rising demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for electric vehicle production.
Our extensive phosphates coverage includes DAP, MAP, TSP and SSP, as well as raw materials phosphate rock and phosphoric acid, with assessments also spanning feed products MCP and DCP. Argus has many decades of experience covering the phosphates market and incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including sulphur and ammonia to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Daily and weekly phosphates price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of processed phosphate and phosphate rock prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest phosphate news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global phosphate industry.
Phosphates: Brazilian MAP imports recover in April
Phosphates: Brazilian MAP imports recover in April
London, 14 May (Argus) — Brazil's MAP imports in April reached their highest level so far this year, buoyed by plentiful supply from Russia and demand ramping up ahead of the main season. Brazil imported 378,147t of MAP in April, of which Russia accounted for nearly 260,000t, Morocco 67,000t and Saudi Arabia 51,500t. Year-to-date imports for the January to April period reached 1.025mn t, of which Russia accounted for 76pc, Morocco 15pc and Saudi Arabia 6pc. The main changes compared with 2023 are the nearly 600,000t fall in total MAP imports compared to last year. Russia has actually raised its market share from nearly 52pc last year to 76pc. Otherwise, Moroccan MAP exports fell from nearly 500,000t in 2023 to 158,000t, while US exports fell nearly 120,000t year-on-year. Saudi MAP exports almost halved from 109,000t in the first four months of 2023. Chinese MAP exports fell from over 37,000t in 2023 to just 9,000t in 2024. Several reasons explain the changes. Overall imports are down on an exceptionally high first four months of 2023. Average imports for the last five years were around 1.15mn t, imports for 2024 are on par. Moroccan producer OCP concentrated more on DAP shipments to India east of Suez as well as MAP shipments to Australia. High domestic prices in the US cut export availability and pulled in non-Russian and non-Moroccan cargoes from other markets. Saudi producers also concentrated more on DAP markets in India with Chinese phosphate supply out of play. Chinese producers concentrated more on the domestic market and faced customs inspections, which limited export availability for phosphates. By Mike Nash Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Inundações podem prejudicar logística no Sul do Brasil
Inundações podem prejudicar logística no Sul do Brasil
Sao Paulo, 10 May (Argus) — Enchentes sem precedentes no estado do Rio Grande do Sul devem criar uma situação logística ainda mais caótica no país e podem reduzir o uso de fertilizantes na safra de soja 2024-25 do estado. Chuvas intensas atingem o estado desde 29 de abril, culminando nas piores enchentes já registradas no Rio Grande do Sul. As enchentes alcançaram a área central do estado, fechando os portos de Pelotas e Porto Alegre, que movimentam commodities agrícolas, incluindo grãos, oleaginosas e fertilizantes. Os níveis elevados de água devem chegar até o Sul do estado, alcançando o porto de Rio Grande. Os três portos do Rio Grande do Sul movimentaram cerca de 44,8 milhões de toneladas (t) em 2023, sendo o porto de Rio Grande o maior deles, respondendo por pelo menos 42,6 milhões de t, de acordo com dados portuários. O perfil geográfico do estado e um canal particularmente estreito para o escoamento das águas até o mar sugerem que o pior ainda está por vir na parte Sul do estado. Os níveis de água devem aumentar na Lagoa dos Patos, um lago que recebe águas de diversos rios e desemboca no Oceano Atlântico. Porém, as operações estão acontecendo normalmente no porto de Rio Grande até 9 de maio. A Associação Nacional dos Exportadores de Cereais (Anec) projeta que 343.250t de soja e 131.778t de farelo de soja sejam embarcados na semana encerrada em 11 de maio, de acordo com o cronograma de embarques do porto. Os embarques entre 28 de abril e 4 de maio — que representam os dias em que as chuvas atingiram seu pico e o estado começou a inundar — totalizaram 183.559t e 133.424t de soja e farelo de soja, respectivamente. Dados de lineup da agência marítima Williams mostram que as exportações de soja devem totalizar 838.600t, quase o dobro do volume projetado na semana anterior. O tempo médio estimado de espera para embarque aumentou para 3 dias, em comparação com 2 dias estimados em 29 de abril. O porto de Rio Grande foi o 5º maior exportador de soja em 2023, com 3,8 milhões de t embarcadas no ano passado, de acordo com a Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (Antaq). O tempo de espera para descarga de fertilizantes está em torno de 1 dia, estável em comparação com a semana anterior. O porto de Rio Grande foi o 3º maior em termos de volumes de importação de fertilizantes no 1º trimestre de 2024, de acordo com dados da agência marítima Unimar. O porto de Paranaguá, no Paraná, recebeu 2 milhões de t de fertilizantes, seguido de Santos e Rio Grande, com 1,9 milhão de t e 990.640t, respectivamente. Dados de lineup para maio e junho apontam que Rio Grande deve receber 540.900t e 66.375t de fertilizantes, respectivamente. Os navios com destino a Rio Grande podem ser direcionados para outros portos, especialmente para São Franciso do Sul, em Santa Catarina, e Paranaguá, de acordo com participantes de mercado. Mesmo que os volumes de fertilizantes sejam descarregados conforme planejado inicialmente, o escoamento para as áreas agrícolas pode ficar comprometido. O principal acesso ao porto, a rodovia BR-116, já está parcialmente bloqueada, dificultando o fluxo de caminhões no estado. Os motoristas já buscam trechos curtos para transportar mercadorias, uma vez que os trechos longos os obrigam a procurar alternativas que elevam ainda mais o percurso, considerando que há cerca de 88 bloqueios parciais ou totais em rodovias no estado até 9 de maio. A empresa de logística Rumo também interrompeu parcialmente as operações no Rio Grande do Sul em 6 de maio. A empresa possui um terminal de grãos no porto de Rio Grande e uma malha ferroviária de cerca de 7.220km na região Sul do Brasil, que inclui os estados do Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina e Paraná. Empresas de fertilizantes que atuam no Rio Grande do Sul relataram que estão tentando mover seus produtos para armazéns longes dos rios. Considerando a produção agrícola, os volumes que já foram colhidos e estavam armazenados em silos, estão encharcados agora. Com a previsão de mais danos, agricultores do Rio Grande do Sul podem se sentir desencorajados a investir em tecnologias e fertilizantes para a próxima safra de soja 2024-25. Mais chuvas para o fim de semana O Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (Inmet) espera que as chuvas se intensifiquem novamente no Rio Grande do Sul, começando nesta sexta-feira, entre as regiões Centro-Norte e Oeste do estado. Os níveis de chuva devem diminuir até 12 de maio, mas podem ultrapassar 100mm antes disso. As áreas litorâneas das regiões Norte e Sul de Santa Catarina também devem ser afetadas, de acordo com o Inmet. Por Renata Cardarelli e Nathalia Giannetti Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
Floods to sow chaos for Brazil’s South logistics
Floods to sow chaos for Brazil’s South logistics
Sao Paulo, 9 May (Argus) — Unprecedented floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state are expected to create even more chaotic logistics situation in the country and could cut fertilizer usage for 2024-25 soybean crop in the state. Heavy rainfall has hit the state since 29 April, culminating in the worst floods ever registered in Rio Grande do Sul. The floods have reached the central part of the state, closing the ports of Pelotas and Porto Alegre, which both handle agricultural commodities, including grains, oilseeds and fertilizers. The high waters are expected to move south, reaching Rio Grande port. The three Rio Grande do Sul ports handled about 44.8mn metric tonnes (t) in 2023, with the larger Rio Grande port accounting for at least 42.6mn t, according to port data. The state's geographic layout and a particularly narrow channel for floodwaters to reach the sea suggests the worst is yet to come in the southern part of the state. Water levels are about to increase in the Lagoa dos Patos, a lagoon that receives water from many rivers and flows to the Atlantic Ocean. But operations are running normally in the Rio Grande port as of 9 May. The national association of cereal exporters Anec project that 343,250 t of soybeans and 131,778 t of soymeal will be shipped in the week ended 11 May, according to port schedule data. Shipments between 28 April and 4 May — which account for the days where rainfall reached its peak and the state began to flood — totaled 183,559t and 133,424t for soybean and soymeal, respectively. Lineup data from maritime agency Williams predicts that soybean exports may total 838,600t, nearly doubling the volumes from the forecast a week ago. The estimated average waiting time for shipping rose to just three days from the two days projected on 29 April. The Rio Grande port was the fifth largest soybean exporter in 2023, with 3.8mn t shipped last year, according to the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq). Waiting time for discharge fertilizers is at around one day, unchanged from the previous week. Rio Grande port was third in terms of fertilizer import volumes in the first quarter 2024, according to lineup data from maritime agency Unimar. Paranagua, in Parana state, received 2mn t of fertilizers, followed by Santos port and Rio Grande, with 1.9mn t and 990,640t, respectively. Lineup data for May and June suggest that Rio Grande is about to receive 540,900t and 66,375t of fertilizers, respectively. Vessels lined-up for Rio Grande may be diverted to other ports, specially for Sao Francisco do Sul, in Santa Catarina state, and Paranagua according to market participants. Even if fertilizer volumes would be discharged as initially planned, the flow to agriculture producing areas would be compromised. The main access to the port, the BR-116 roadway, is already partially blocked, hampering truck flows in the state. Drivers have already been searching for short-stretches to move goods, as long-stretches force them to look for longer alternatives, considering there are around 88 partial and full road blockages in the state as of 9 May. Logistics company Rumo also partially interrupted operations in Rio Grande do Sul state on 6 May. The company has a grain terminal in Rio Grande port and a rail network of around 7,220km in Brazil's South region, which includes Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana states. Fertilizer companies that operate in Rio Grande do Sul are reportedly trying to move their product to warehouses away from the rivers. Considering the agricultural production, volumes that had already been sowed and were in silos are now soaked. With more damage expected to be measured farmers in Rio Grande do Sul may be discouraged from investing in technology and fertilizers for the upcoming 2024-25 soybean crop. More rain forecast for the weekend Brazil's national meteorological institute Inmet expects rainfall to intensify once again in Rio Grande do Sul starting this Friday between the state's center-north and west portions. Rain levels are expected to subside by 12 May, but may surpass 100mm before then. The coastal areas in the north regions and south of Santa Catarina state are also expected to be affected, according to Inmet. By Renata Cardarelli and Nathalia Giannetti Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India's GSFC receives offers in tender to buy DAP
India's GSFC receives offers in tender to buy DAP
London, 9 May (Argus) — Indian importer GSFC likely received offers from two trading firms ranging in the high-$510s/t cfr to around $520/t cfr, under its 8 May tender to buy 100,000t of DAP. The tender sought offers for 50,000t of natural-coloured DAP and 50,000t of "coffee-brown" DAP for delivery to Kandla or Munda on India's west coast at the end of June or in early July. Fellow importer NFL has scrapped its 6 May tender to buy 50,000t of DAP for delivery by the end of May. It had received one offer from a trading firm. Another importer Smartchem on 8 May issued a counterbid of $479/t cfr against the six offers received in its 6 May tender. The initial offers had ranged from the low-$510s/t cfr to the low-$520s/t cfr. Smartchem gave the companies which had offered until close of business on 9 May to accept. The tender had sought 60,000t of DAP in two 30,000t cargoes for delivery by the second half of June. Importer Hindalco earlier this week awarded its 1 May tender to buy 40,000-45,000t of DAP to a regional trading firm at around $508/t cfr, initially reported as around $509/t cfr. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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