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.
Australia's Dyno Nobel to sell Phosphate Hill plant
Australia's Dyno Nobel to sell Phosphate Hill plant
Sydney, 9 March (Argus) — Australian explosives company Dyno Nobel will sell its 769,000 t/yr Phosphate Hill fertilizer plant to Australian energy and resources company Mayfair's wholly owned subsidiary Ryowa II GPS for up to A$100mn ($70mn), the company said today. The finalisation of the sale on 1 April depends on agreements between Dyno Nobel, Mayfair, the Queensland government, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Dyno Nobel said. Dyno Nobel will close Phosphate Hill by 30 September 2026 if the sale is unsuccessful, the company said. The agreement includes around A$80mn of inventory from Phosphate Hill. Dyno Nobel will provide A$125.9mn to support the future rehabilitation and remediation of the facility. The sale also ensures employment for current employees, allowing the facility to continue to provide a domestic fertilizer supply, Dyno Nobel said. Extended closures of the Mount Isa railway affected Phosphate Hill's operations over July 2025-February 2026. The facility depends on sulphuric acid supply from Glencore's Mount Isa copper smelter and refinery . Phosphate Hill generated A$233.2mn of earnings ending before interest and taxes in the October 2024-September 2025 financial year, the company said on in November 2025. It has generated A$33mn in its October 2025-September 2026 financial year to date, it said. Glencore received a A$600mn aid package from the Australian government to support the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, allowing the company to continue operations and invest in upgrades, Glencore said in October 2025. Glencore and Phosphate Hill operations are interlinked, Australia's minister for industry Tim Ayres said in an interview on 18 February. They are interoperable, and it is very important that Phosphate Hill's owners operate in the regional interest and invest in the site, Ayres added. Mayfair did not respond to comment by time of publishing. Glencore will monitor Phosphate Hill developments related to the Mount Isa acid plant, the company told Argus on 9 March. By Susannah Cornford and Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Nola DAP re-export demand drives prices higher
Nola DAP re-export demand drives prices higher
Houston, 2 March (Argus) — Re-export demand for DAP at New Orleans (Nola) drove prices higher today as traders looked to capture a premium in the global market while the US-Israel conflict with Iran unfolds. At least 30,000 short tonnes (st) of DAP were sold Monday morning at Nola. Multiple March barges at Nola traded from $640-645/st fob, with most recent offers for the loading period at $650/st fob. That is up $25.50/st or 4pc from business trade last week at $617/st fob Nola. Nearly all of the DAP barges were sold for re-export to a major global distributor with a notable position in Latin America, according to multiple sources. Re-exports from Nola will tighten the US market, but sellers today believe they could shave some of their stocks, sources said. US grower demand for P2O5 this spring could still be subject to demand destruction because of low affordability for phosphate fertilizer. Meanwhile, a sizeable volume of DAP recently reached the Nola port. At least 170,000t of DAP were unloaded at Nola in February, with 132,000t of Saudi Arabian DAP being dropped into the port last week alone, according to vessel tracking data and Argus estimates. Global market participants expect supply to tighten, especially from Saudi Arabia because of the conflict in Iran. Loading operations at Saudi Arabia's Ras Al-Khair port are reportedly proceeding normally, but cargoes loaded from the port must pass through the strait of Hormuz to reach their destination markets. Any disruption to shipping through the strait could affect phosphate exports. Roughly 80,000-85,000t of DAP/MAP is expected to load or ship this month from the Ras Al-Khair port to Latin America, according to sales reported by Saudi Arabia's Maaden and Sabic. The US phosphate market will further tighten as well, just days away from the start of farmer applications across the Corn Belt, with DAP tons being redirected from the Nola port back into the global market. Ammonia applications are nearly done in Kansas and Nebraska, which usually means phosphate and potash applications should follow, one distributor said. If Saudi Arabia imports are reduced or delayed, the US supply outlook becomes more snug, they said. Additionally, some traders expected the significant increase in Nola urea prices on Monday morning would incentivize more growers to turn to phosphate and potash during the spring application season. But with a massive wave of DAP now being sold for re-export, US traders feel more uncertain about near-term supply and demand fundamentals for multiple fertilizer products. Because US crop prices are relatively low, farmers will have little ability to absorb higher fertilizer prices if the Iran conflict continues to tighten global fertilizer supplies. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egypt’s NCIC issues March fertilizer sales tender
Egypt’s NCIC issues March fertilizer sales tender
London, 2 March (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has issued its second tender to sell various fertilizers for loading this month, closing on 4 March. NCIC is offering the following fertilizers: 10,000t of DAP 10,000t of TSP 10,000t of granular urea 15,000t of CAN26 Under its previous tender to sell fertilizers for loading in March, which closed on 19 February, NCIC reported the following awards : 20,000t of DAP at up to $750/t fob 25,000t of TSP at up to $560/t fob 20,000t of granular urea at up to $492/t fob 20,000t of CAN26 at up to $305/t fob 500t of water-soluble SOP at up to $575/t fob By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Indorama matches Nutrien on 1Q Indian phosacid price
Indorama matches Nutrien on 1Q Indian phosacid price
London, 26 February (Argus) — Senegalese producer Indorama has confirmed settlement of its first-quarter phosphoric acid contract price with Indian importer IFFCO at $1,290/t P2O5 cfr with 30 days' credit. The price is in line with Nutrien and Coromandel's first-quarter settlement earlier this month. It is also unchanged from contract settlements for the last quarter. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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