Fertilizers
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The fertilizer industry has seen dramatic changes in market dynamics, with challenges posed by policy and regulatory changes, political instability, conflicts and new macroeconomic realities. The drive towards energy transition and ambitious zero-carbon goals has also opened up the industry to new entrants and new opportunities.
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Iran says diplomacy, negotiations continue
Iran says diplomacy, negotiations continue
Dubai, 18 May (Argus) — Iran's foreign ministry has said negotiations with Washington aimed at ending the war are continuing, even as US President Donald Trump issues increasingly incendiary rhetoric towards Tehran. Trump last week described Tehran's response to a US plan to end the war was "totally unacceptable" and a "piece of garbage" that he did not finish reading. He said the ceasefire, which has been in place since 8 April, was "on life support." At the weekend, Trump issued new threats against Tehran, saying "the clock is ticking" and that Iran had "better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them." On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed Washington's framing of the negotiations. "After we presented our 14-point plan, the American side raised its concerns. In return, we also raised our concerns," he said. "And last week, despite the American side publicly announcing that the plan was rejected, we still received a set of amendments via our Pakistani mediators." Iran's latest response to the US was sent on Sunday 17 May, he said, and "the process continues through Pakistan." Iran's nuclear activities remain the foremost sticking point between the sides, with Trump repeatedly insisting Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Iranian state media on Sunday published five conditions the US has set for Iran to secure a deal, including the shuttering of all but one nuclear facilities, and the transfer of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US. Baghaei today would not be drawn on the US proposals, but reiterated Iran's right to enrich uranium is protected as a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT), and is therefore up for neither negotiation nor compromise. Planning for Hormuz The unresolved situation means shipping is still disrupted through the strait of Hormuz. Trump has over the past two months repeatedly claimed agreements with Iran that he said should restore at least some traffic through the strait. But little has changed since the start of the war, prompting Washington to impose last month a blockade of its own on vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports. Argus reported in April that Iran's parliament was discussing a bill to formalise and govern Tehran's oversight and management of traffic through the strait. At that point, the bill had secured the approval from parliament's national security council, but had not been brought to parliament. Speaking at the weekend, Ebrahim Azizi, head of parliament's national security council, said this framework "to manage traffic in the strait" had been prepared, and would "be unveiled soon." "Under this framework, only commercial vessels and parties co-operating with Iran can benefit from it," Azizi said. The route will be closed to operators of Project Freedom, he said, referring a US operation to support vessels stranded in the Mideast Gulf to exit through the strait. Speaking on Monday, Baghaei said Iran is "in continuous contact with Oman and other relevant countries" as it develops this new mechanism. Iranian and Omani experts met on the matter last week, he said. By Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India’s IPL secures over 1.3mn t of DAP: Update 2
India’s IPL secures over 1.3mn t of DAP: Update 2
Updates the lists for deliveries to each coast published on 12 May. The total quantity secured in the tender, the quantity per supplier, and the suppliers themselves are unchanged. London, 14 May (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer and producer IPL has issued letters of intent to 14 suppliers, securing 1.3465mn t of DAP at $930-935/t cfr in a tender that closed on 7 May. Suppliers are to deliver 631,500t of DAP to India's east coast and 715,000t to the west coast. The delivery schedule is not yet available, but IPL had specified shipment from loading ports by 15 August in the tender. The quantity secured is above the 1.2mn t that IPL had sought in the tender. It received offers for 2.325mn t of DAP before asking all suppliers to match the lowest offers submitted at $935/t cfr east coast and $930/t cfr west coast India. The suppliers for the east coast are as follows: Indagro: 30,000t from Egypt Aditya Birla: 31,500t from Egypt Samsung: 50,000t, open origin Sun International: 40,000t from the US Fertistream: 50,000t from Russia Maaden: 60,000t from Saudi Arabia Oasis Global: 60,000t from Russia Ameropa: 15,000t from South Korea Agricommodities: 245,000t from the US/Saudi Arabia Hexagon: 50,000t, open origin The suppliers for the west coast are as follows: Indagro: 40,000t from the US Quest Group: 50,000t from Morocco Agrifields: 45,000t from Jordan VB Venture: 40,000t from Saudi Arabia Sun International: 40,000t from the US Maaden: 110,000t from Saudi Arabia Oasis Global: 90,000t from Russia Ameropa: 50,000t from the US/Tunisia Midgulf International: 60,000t from the US Agricommodities: 190,000t from the US/Saudi Arabia Agricommodities had initially accepted IPL's counterbid prices for up to 600,000t of DAP from Saudi Arabia . But Argus understands that IPL wanted Agricommodities to load all of its cargoes from Red Sea ports, rather than from Ras al-Khair in the Mideast Gulf. IPL had also sought 400,000t of TSP in the tender. Argus understands that IPL has countered Moroccan producer OCP at $710/t cfr for TSP. Talks with OCP for DAP and TSP are reportedly ongoing. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU eyes deducting carbon credits under CBAM
EU eyes deducting carbon credits under CBAM
London, 13 May (Argus) — Domestic and Paris Agreement-aligned international carbon credits used to pay for emissions in non-EU countries could be counted towards a carbon price already paid on an import's emissions under the bloc's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), under proposals published by the European Commission today. Under the CBAM regulation, declarants can claim a reduction in the CBAM certificates they must surrender for emissions embedded in imported goods if a carbon price has already been paid in the country of origin. In a draft implementing act published for consultation today, the commission proposed including all forms of compliance options allowed in the relevant country in the calculation, including carbon credits. Claiming this reduction should be allowed "irrespective of whether the mitigation activities linked to the carbon credit takes place domestically or outside the domestic jurisdiction", according to the draft implementing regulation. But while domestic credits could be counted with no additional criteria, only international credits issued under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement should be counted, the commission proposed. "This criterion should promote the development of Article 6 credits and provide the quality assurance necessary to ensure the environmental integrity of CBAM," it said. Counting international credits as a carbon price already paid on CBAM goods should also be limited to 10pc of the reported emissions to incentivise domestic emissions cuts, the commission said. Any rebates or compensation received by installations covered by carbon pricing should also be factored in, the commission proposed, including free allowances or other exemptions. The carbon price could have been paid on direct, indirect or precursor emissions, under the draft. The commission may publish default carbon prices for relevant countries, it said. And it proposed publishing a yearly reference price for CBAM certificates to be used in the calculation of the deduction. The price paid in the non-EU country would be based on either a yearly average primary or secondary market price or individual records of payment, converted to euros based on yearly average exchange rates. The regulation would apply from 1 January this year. The consultation closes on 10 June. By Victoria Hatherick Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia secures 90,000t of urea via government scheme
Australia secures 90,000t of urea via government scheme
Sydney, 13 May (Argus) — Australia's federal government has secured 90,000t of urea across three cargoes under its underwriting scheme to support fertilizer imports in response to tight domestic and global supply, it said today. The government is working with fertilizer distributers Incitec Pivot and CSBP to import the 90,000t of urea through Export Finance Australia (EFA), agriculture, fisheries and forestry minister Julie Collins said on 13 May. The timeline for delivery of the cargoes was not disclosed. This is additional to Incitec Pivot's 250,000t of urea from Indonesian state-owned producer Pupuk, scheduled for delivery over May-December. More supply is expected to be announced in the coming days, Collins said. Urea imports fell by 3pc on the year to 572,300t in January-March, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, owing to dry summer conditions and low soil moisture levels. About 454,000t of urea is currently in transit to Australia for delivery through June, data from vessel-tracking platform Kpler show. The deals aim to protect importers from price volatility. Argus last assessed granular urea at A$1,430-1,440/t ($1,029–1,037/t) free carrier (fca) Geelong on 7 May, up by 72pc from levels before the US-Iran war began. ( see graph ) Australian farmers are preparing for top-dressing applications for the winter crop, but prompt supply is tight because of minimal trade through the strait of Hormuz. But Australian suppliers are concerned about the limited competition associated with these underwritten urea cargoes, market sources told Argus . The government said it is streamlining the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to improve supply chain efficiency, as announced in the 12 May Federal Budget . By Susannah Cornford Granular urea fca Geelong A$/t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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