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.
Romania’s Azomures mothballs ferts production
Romania’s Azomures mothballs ferts production
London, 12 January (Argus) — Romanian fertilizer producer Azomures has today mothballed its production facilities after efforts by state-owned natural gas company Romgaz to acquire the firm stalled. Azomures will temporarily terminate the employment of 600 workers and suspend all major plant maintenance. But production facilities remain ready to restart when conditions are deemed "economically feasible". Azomures has not produced fertilizer since August 2024 , barring small-scale production in the second half of last year . The company, currently owned by Switzerland-based trading firm Ameropa, can produce up to 1.6mn t/yr of NPK and nitrogen fertilizers, and consumes around 1bn m³/yr of gas when operating at full capacity. Around three-quarters of its production is sold on the Romanian domestic market. Romgaz first expressed interest in Azomures in February and an acquisition was presented as the best solution for Romanian farmers. But negotiations between the two parties stalled this week after Romgaz failed to submit an offer and acquisition timeline. By Aidan Hall Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
CBAM suspension for ferts would be 'surprising': Yara
CBAM suspension for ferts would be 'surprising': Yara
London, 9 January (Argus) — Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara is not expecting a suspension of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for fertilizer products, despite recent confusion. The Commission is set to issue further guidance around provisions that could allow for the temporary suspension of the CBAM with retroactive application from 1 January 2026, according to a statement issued on 7 January , which created some confusion as to whether the carbon levy will remain in place. "To remove [CBAM] 7 days after implementing it… would undermine what it was meant to do" Yara said during the firm's Capital Markets Day presentation. Article 27a, included within proposals issued last month, stipulates a temporary suspension could be issued if CBAM causes "severe harm to the Union internal market due to serious and unforeseen circumstances related to the impact on the prices of goods". But the impact to prices of carbon intensive goods has always been expected, Yara pointed out. "It's been crystal clear that the carbon cost will be reflected in the cost of the product. The additional carbon cost is based on the commission's own methodology and default values, so this cannot be a surprise or an emergency, this is exactly what it was supposed to do", Yara chief executive Svein Tore Holsether said. A suspension on the grounds of increased cost would therefore be surprising, he indicated. CBAM has also been designed to coincide with the phasing out of free allowances for domestic industry emitters under the EU's emission trading system (ETS). "Suspending CBAM, while continuing the reduction of EU ETS allowances, will reduce the competitiveness of EU producers," Holsether said. "The intention of CBAM was to... mirror the cost that the European industry has been subject to for a number of years", he added. Yara has built a ‘quota bank' of 6mn EU ETS quotas through its emission efficiency investments which it can use against its own emissions or sell back into the market, equating to a value of around $500mn, according to the firm. Yara also plans to limit its CBAM exposure through investments or supply agreements with low-carbon ammonia production assets outside of Europe, such as the firms proposed partnership with Air Products But a suspension of CBAM would mean "we likely wouldn't have the return required on a US blue [low-carbon] project", Holsether said. Any weakening of CBAM instead "risks opening the door to carbon-intensive imports, eroding Europe's industrial base, and jeopardising food security". CBAM revenues should instead be used to create incentives to help farmers while making emitters pay, Holsether said. The Commission's 7 January statement also proposed a removal of duties on imports of ammonia and urea to help offset some of the additional costs associated with CBAM, and included details on a €48bn package of measures to aid farmers. But critics say the measures are not sufficient to support Europe's agri-food industry with additional costs, particularly while fertilizer prices are already 60pc higher than in 2020. The EU's CBAM took full effect on 1 January, imposing a carbon levy for certain goods imported into the EU. Ammonia and all fertilizers containing nitrogen from countries that are not already subject to the EU emissions trading system (ETS) or a system fully linked to the EU ETS are within scope. By Lizzy Lancaster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU to suspend import tariffs on ammonia, urea
EU to suspend import tariffs on ammonia, urea
London, 7 January (Argus) — The EU is set to suspend standard import tariffs on ammonia and urea, in a move to offset extra costs imposed by the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). Trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the EU will "swiftly" implement the suspension for the remaining most-favoured nation tariffs, and may include other fertilizers. Urea currently carries a 6.5pc standard tariff rate in the EU, applied to origins such as Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Nigeria. The standard ammonia tariff is 5.5pc, and this applies to Middle Eastern origins as well as the US. Key sources for both products — such as Egypt and Algeria for urea, and Algeria and Trinidad and Tobago for ammonia — are already exempt from tariffs. The change comes after European agriculture ministers, including from France and Italy, raised alarms at a meeting with commissioners today about CBAM's financial impact on farmers. CBAM, which took effect on 1 January, imposes a carbon cost for certain goods imported into the EU, including ammonia and all fertilizers containing nitrogen from countries that are not already subject to the EU emissions trading system (ETS) or a system fully linked to the EU ETS. The EU previously suspended urea and ammonia import tariffs in 2022 for a period of six months. By Aidan Hall and Claudia Wlk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Middle East granular urea sold in high $410s/t fob
Middle East granular urea sold in high $410s/t fob
Amsterdam, 7 January (Argus) — Fertilizer producer Qatarenergy is understood to have sold 45,000t of granular urea in the high-$410s/t fob for loading in February, up by around $20/t on business last week. The deal took place under a tender earlier on Wednesday. But there was no comment from the parties involved. International urea prices are firming as the market digests an ongoing major buy tender in India , with trading firms anticipating further rises east of Suez, largely driven by demand from India and Australia. Southeast Asian granular urea also traded up to $410-415/t fob earlier on Wednesday . By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights
The complimentary Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights package includes:
• Bi-weekly Fertilizer Newsletter
• Monthly Market Update Video
• Bi-monthly Fertilizer Focus Magazine
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our nitrogen products
Region and country focused market intelligence
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.