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.
Derailment shuts Australian fertilizer, Cu line: Update
Derailment shuts Australian fertilizer, Cu line: Update
Adds timeline for reopening in paragraph 2 Sydney, 8 December (Argus) — Australia's Mount Isa rail line remains shut after three locomotives and a wagon carrying zinc and copper derailed on 5 December. Repairs are underway and all freight is being held until further notice, Australian rail operator Queensland Rail told Argus on 8 December. Argus understands that the railway will reopen this evening. The derailed freight was carrying zinc and copper from Glencore's operations in Mount Isa and there was no major spillage, Glencore said. The last closure of the railway was caused by torrential rains in February and lasted for 11 days . The railway runs around 900km east to Townsville from Mount Isa transporting mainly fertilizer, concentrates and cement. Australian fertilizer distributor Incitec Pivot uses Townsville port to export ammonium phosphate fertilizers from the 769,000 t/yr Phosphate Hill manufacturing plant 160km south of Mount Isa. MAP and DAP exports from Townsville reached 443,900t in January-October, Australian Bureau of Statistics data show. Australian phosphate producer PRL made its first shipment of phosphate rock since acquiring the 650,000 t/yr Ardmore mine via the port of Townsville. By Susannah Cornford Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Derailment closes Australian fertilizer and copper line
Derailment closes Australian fertilizer and copper line
Sydney, 8 December (Argus) — Australia's Mount Isa rail line remains shut after three locomotives and a wagon carrying zinc and copper derailed on 5 December. Repairs are underway and all freight is being held until further notice, Australian rail operator Queensland Rail told Argus on 8 December. The derailed freight was carrying zinc and copper from Glencore's operations in Mount Isa and there was no major spillage, Glencore said. The last closure of the railway was caused by torrential rains in February and lasted for 11 days . The railway runs around 900km east to Townsville from Mount Isa transporting mainly fertilizer, concentrates and cement. Australian fertilizer distributor Incitec Pivot uses Townsville port to export ammonium phosphate fertilizers from the 769,000 t/yr Phosphate Hill manufacturing plant 160km south of Mount Isa. MAP and DAP exports from Townsville reached 443,900t in January-October, Australian Bureau of Statistics data show. Australian phosphate producer PRL made its first shipment of phosphate rock since acquiring the 650,000 t/yr Ardmore mine via the port of Townsville. By Susannah Cornford Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Indian DAP stocks end Nov above 2.1mn t
Indian DAP stocks end Nov above 2.1mn t
London, 4 December (Argus) — High offtake season continues to draw down Indian DAP inventories, but these have stayed above a comfortable threshold of 2mn t because of robust imports, and could end the year around that level. India started November with 2.31mn t of DAP and produced 363,000t over that month, provisional data show. Importers received 1.16mn t in November — the most for any month in over three years and well above the 562,000t November average in 2020-24 — as they were keen to avoid a repeat of the run-down that left stocks at just 1.1mn t at the start of 2025. Importers could afford to line up cargoes because the government is covering losses they would have made if selling at the maximum retail price and only receiving the nutrient-based subsidy. DAP sales rose to 1.54mn t last month, during peak application season, according to provisional data. This is slightly below November's 1.62mn t five-year average. Sales outpaced supply and DAP inventories dropped to 2.16mn t, Argus data show. But high imports prevented further drawdowns, and stocks opened December above the 1.43mn t level reported a year before. DAP offtake typically slows in December. Taken together, December's provisional opening stocks, 403,000t of imports according to Argus line up data, plus production and offtake figures in line with December's 2020-24 average could mean that India ends the year with 1.96mn t of DAP. Indian TSP inventories rose by 146,000t over November to start December at 541,000t, provisional data show. TSP imports hit a 2025 high of 232,000t, Argus line-up data show, while offtake totalled 86,000t. Another 109,000t is expected to arrive in December — the balance of the volume secured under a deal with Moroccan producer OCP that expires at the end of the year. By Adrien Seewald Indian DAP stocks vs price 000't, $/t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mosaic rolls out phosphate winter fill program
Mosaic rolls out phosphate winter fill program
Houston, 2 December (Argus) — US fertilizer producer Mosaic released phosphate offers to its customers this week for December loading. Mosaic is offering Nola DAP at $650/st fob and Nola MAP at $630/st fob for December loading at New Orleans. Its fresh offer for DAP is down by $70/st from the Argus November monthly average while the MAP offer is down by $63/st. These price levels are subject to change at any time because of the customer response, the producer said. The winter fill program will be open until the end of 5 December. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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