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.
Lithuania’s Lifosa phosphates plant suspends production
Lithuania’s Lifosa phosphates plant suspends production
London, 7 August (Argus) — Lifosa, Eurochem's phosphate plant in Lithuania, has now suspended production across all products, Argus understands. The suspension could not be directly confirmed with the producer. But it follows reports at the end of July that Lifosa was preparing to come off line because of high raw material costs. The plant has an annual capacity of 1mn t of DAP/MAP/NPS, 220,000t of MCP feed phosphate and 35,000t of tMAP. News of the suspension helped to encourage suppliers to raise DAP prices across Europe in the final week of July. But demand is poor and offers at €870/t fca in Germany and Benelux are so far failing to attract interest. Morocco's OCP this week reported selling 8,000t of DAP/MAP at the equivalent of the low to mid-€850s/t fca west European seaports at current exchange rates. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Bangladesh government issues DAP, TSP, MOP tender
Bangladesh government issues DAP, TSP, MOP tender
London, 3 August (Argus) — Bangladesh's ministry of agriculture has issued a private-sector tender to buy DAP, TSP and standard MOP during the July 2026-June 2027 financial year, closing on 18 August. The ministry will buy: 500,000t of DAP 200,000t of TSP 250,000t of standard MOP Private importers can each offer a maximum of 40,000t of DAP, 30,000t of TSP and 30,000t of MOP. Offers are to be given on cfr basis and will include the cost of delivery to warehouses. The private importers are to establish a letter of credit and give the performance bond to the ministry within seven days of receiving the award. They must then ship the cargo within 45 days of the award. Private importers are to store their fertilizer in warehouses at Chittagong, Narawangang, Nogorbari and Nowapara, the ministry said. The quantities sought are the same as under the ministry's tender issued on 24 July last year . Bangladesh typically issues its private-sector tender ahead of the start of the financial year, but financial problems have caused delays in recent years. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pakistan buys less DAP in June, stocks rise
Pakistan buys less DAP in June, stocks rise
London, 23 July (Argus) — Pakistani DAP inventories rose by 48,000t in June to 268,000t, their strongest month-on-month increase since January, as domestic demand remained underwhelming. Domestic output slowed to 52,000t but still outpaced demand last month, research and development agency NFDC data show. The arrival of 45,000t of Saudi Arabian DAP in the second half of the month further boosted inventories. Domestic demand fell to its lowest since January at 48,000t, in a period that typically sees a seasonal boost in sales. This is below the 122,000t June average in 2021-25, as farmers see DAP as unaffordable. Ex-Karachi prices have remained above Rs15,000/50kg bag at the low end since the first half of May. This is above levels in recent years and exceeds the threshold at which importers warned that demand destruction and substitution with SSP and 18-20 "nitrophos" would occur. Imports deterred by demand destruction Fresh imports in the rest of the quarter, ahead of the high offtake season for wheat applications over October-November, are unlikely as distributors are bearish about domestic offtake for this year. The continued closure of the strait of Hormuz and recent escalation in tensions around the Bab-el-Mandeb strait at the mouth of the Red Sea have supported the DAP price outlook for the coming months. The likely emergence of Bangladeshi and particularly Indian DAP demand will tighten availability further and keep prices elevated. This means that global DAP levels are unlikely to slip to a point that would allow margins for domestic sales in Pakistan. At the same time, suppliers are struggling to raise domestic DAP prices without putting farmers off from buying. The consensus among suppliers for total 2026 DAP offtake is that the market will not exceed 1mn t of demand, which would be about 35pc lower than the yearly average in 2021-25. The cut will be skewed towards the high season in the fourth quarter. The government last year also stopped supporting wheat purchases, and while there have been hopes of subsidy schemes in the country, there is no guarantee that the government will have the revenues to support the sector. Despite limited demand, conglomerate Fauji has indicated that it will keep producing DAP at close to capacity for the rest of this year. This leaves little room for private-sector importers to bring in fresh DAP despite some of them holding low inventories. Pakistan can thus be expected to largely remain out of the international market for the rest of the year. By Adrien Seewald Pakistan long-term DAP inventories-offtake '000t Pakistan supply-demand in kharif 2026 '000t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Commerce recommends keeping Moroccan phosphate duty
Commerce recommends keeping Moroccan phosphate duty
Houston, 21 July (Argus) — The US Department of Commerce today recommended keeping countervailing duties in place for Moroccan phosphate imports, despite an eight-month suspension of the measure implemented by US president Donald Trump in June. Commerce determined that the revocation of the countervailing duty order on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers would likely lead to the continuation of a countervailable subsidy, according to the preliminary results of its five-year review. Commerce said today that if the duty order were to be revoked, Moroccan producer OCP would likely receive subsidies at a level of 20.04pc from Morocco. This rate represents the original investigation rate of 19.97pc, minus a now-terminated export-tax incentive program but includes new Moroccan subsidy programs found in later administrative reviews. Late last month, Trump temporarily suspended countervailing duties on certain phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco for eight months or until the order is terminated, citing a "supply emergency" for US farmers. There have been no confirmed sales of Moroccan phosphate to the US since Trump's suspension. With today's recommendation, it is unclear how OCP will move forward with its participation in the US fertilizer market. Commerce found that several Moroccan subsidy programs are still considered active and assumes the subsidies will continue. The 20.04pc subsidy rate reported by Commerce is not considered the new duty rate but is a recommendation for the International Trade Commission to consider. The review, which began in early March , included participation from US fertilizer producers Mosaic and Simplot, the government of Morocco and OCP. The final results of the review are expected to be published around 28 October, 240 days from the start of the review. OCP and Russian fertilizer producers have been subject to countervailing duties on phosphate exports to the US since 2021, after Mosaic filed a petition with authorities alleging the two countries' imports materially injured the US market. Commerce also recommended countervailing duties remain on Russian phosphate fertilizer imports in its five-year review's final results, saying that Russian producers would also continue to receive countervailable subsidies. Commerce's final result rates are 24.11pc for Russian producer EuroChem, 14.64pc for PhosAgro, and 16.64pc for all others, according to the ruling posted on 30 June. Commerce also noted that Russia's review process was expedited because interest from domestic parties Mosaic and Simplot was adequate, while Russia did not respond or participate in proceedings. Many fertilizer traders were not surprised by Russia's lack of participation in its sunset review, but are uncertain of how OCP will proceed after the latest ruling. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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