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.
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- 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.
Pupuk Indonesia distributes subsidised fertilizers
Pupuk Indonesia distributes subsidised fertilizers
Singapore, 16 June (Argus) — State-owned fertilizer producer Pupuk Indonesia has distributed about 3.24mn t of subsidised fertilizers to registered domestic farmers as of 9 June, the company said. The distributed volumes consist of 1.55mn t of urea, 1.57mn t of NPK fertilizers, 25,500t of specialised NPK formulas and 98,600t of Pupuk's Petroganik organic fertilizers. Pupuk Indonesia's current national fertilizer stock availability for the domestic market is around 2mn t, comprising subsidised and non-subsidised products. Subsidised fertilizer stocks amount to 1.37mn t and non-subsidised fertilizer stocks are at 680,000t. Pupuk Indonesia has set a highest retail price (HET) for the sale of subsidised fertilizers. The HET for urea fertilizers is set at 2,250 rupiahs/kg ($138/t), for NPK Phonska fertilizers it is at 2,300 rupiahs/kg ($141/t), for NPK fertilizers for cocoa it is at 3,300 rupiahs/kg ($203/t), and for organic fertilizers it is at 800 rupiahs/kg ($49/t). Pupuk Indonesia is widely expected to have around 150,000t of urea available for July-loading export, according to market participants, but no tender has emerged yet. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Northern Nutrients, Shell partner on ferts plant
Northern Nutrients, Shell partner on ferts plant
Houston, 13 June (Argus) — Canadian fertilizer producer Northern Nutrients will partner with Shell Trading Canada to increase fertilizer output at Northern Nutrients' facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Northern Nutrients produces enhanced nitrogen sulfur fertilizers using Shell's Thiogro technology. The company's flagship product, Arctic S, consists of 75pc micronized elemental sulfur and 11pc nitrogen. The joint venture will result in an expansion of the Saskatoon-based facility, tripling its total fertilizer output from 50,000 metric tonnes (t) to 150,000 t/yr. The expansion will also increase sulfur consumption at the facility to approximately 112,500 t/yr, according to Northern Nutrients. Northern Nutrients said that groundbreaking is underway and the expansion should commence operations in the second half of 2026. The addition of new equipment, infrastructure and construction activity is not expected to impact operations or capacity of the current facility until the project nears completion during the third quarter of 2026, the company told Argus . By Chris Mullins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egyptian urea production halted on Israel attacks
Egyptian urea production halted on Israel attacks
London, 13 June (Argus) — All Egyptian urea plants have stopped production today because of a drop in natural gas flows from Israel, with suppliers withdrawing urea offers. Greek independent Energean has suspended production from its Karish gas field offshore Israel in line with an Israeli government order after the country carried out air and missile strikes against Iran in the early hours of Friday local time. Production at Israel's two other offshore gas fields — Leviathan and Tamar — may also have been affected. Operator Chevron declined to comment, beyond stating that its employees and facilities were safe. One source told Argus that output at Leviathan has been suspended. Leviathan has a production capacity of 1.2bn ft³/d (12.36bn m³/yr), while Tamar's production capacity is 1.1bn ft³/d. Both fields supply gas to Egypt. Egypt has bought at least 140 LNG cargoes for delivery across the rest of this year and next year. But limited import infrastructure and capacity will likely keep urea production outlook uncertain in the near term. Production will be vulnerable to further fluctuations, because of the geopolitical situation in the region. At least five Egyptian urea plants with a combined capacity of around 3.29mn t/yr stopped production on 17 May, following initial reductions a week earlier. Operating rates at the country's urea plants are estimated at 70-80pc of capacity since 9 June. By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU adopts new Russia, Belarus tariffs
EU adopts new Russia, Belarus tariffs
Brussels, 12 June (Argus) — The EU has now formally adopted new tariffs on remaining Russian and Belarus agricultural products, as well as on a range of fertilizers. The regulation, implementing the tariffs, enters into force on 1 July. EU officials estimate the new agricultural tariffs cover up to 15pc of Russian agricultural exports to the EU in 2023. The EU would, from 1 July, place an additional 50pc tariff customs duty based on value on over 145 CN codes. Goods covered include animal, dairy, live trees and other plants, coffee and meat as well as various animal fats and plant oils, including palm and palm kernel oil. The implementation of tariffs is to take place over three years for nitrogen-based and compound fertilisers. The new tariffs add an additional €40/t on imports of most nitrogen fertilizers — including urea, amsul, AN, CAN, and UAN — from Russia and Belarus, beginning on 1 July. They also add €45/t to the import of DAP, MAP, NPKs, NP and some other grades. The new tariffs are additional to already-existing import tariffs to the EU. For most grades from Russia these import tariffs are set at 6.5pc. From 2026 until 2028 the rates increase to reach levels of €315/t and €430/t respectively for the two product groups. The legal text also foresees immediate application of the highest rates, if cumulative imports exceed 2.7mn t in 2025-2026, 1.8mn t in 2026-2027, or 0.9mn t in 2027-2028. The European Parliament adopted the additional tariffs last month. Like EU states, parliament confirmed the commission's legal proposal, leaving unchanged the rates and phase-in period of tariffs proposed by the commission at the end of January. By Dafydd ab Iago EU proposed import tariffs for Russia and Belarus ( €/t *) Urea, Amsul, AN, CAN, UAN NPKs, DAP, MAP, NP Jul 25-Jun 26 40 45 Jul 26-Jun 27 60 70 Jul 27-Jun 28 80 95 From Jul 28 315 430 *All tariffs on top of 6.5pc import duty. Levels are applicable for a total of 2.7mn t in 2025-26, 1.8mn t in 2026-27, and 0.9mn t in 2027-28. Once the quota has been reached, levels jump to the level from July 28 — EU Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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