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.
Egypt’s NCIC awards fertilizers sales tender: Update
Egypt’s NCIC awards fertilizers sales tender: Update
Updates that the reported prices are the highest awarded prices for each product London, 24 February (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has reported selling various fertilizers for loading in March in its latest tender , which closed on 19 February. NCIC reports the following awards in the tender: 20,000t of DAP at $750/t fob — it reported selling 60,000t of DAP at $725-745/t fob in its previous tender, probably all for shipment to Europe 25,000t of TSP at $560/t fob — it sold 18,000t at $547-550/t fob in its previous tender 20,000t of granular urea at $492/t fob — it sold 12,000t at $475/t fob in its previous tender 20,000t of CAN26 at $305/t fob — it sold 5,000t at $315-325/t fob in its previous tender, having offered 34,000t 500t of water-soluble SOP at $575/t fob — it sold 1,000t at $560-580/t fob in its previous tender, having offered 2,000t. Argus understands that the prices reported by NCIC are the highest awarded prices for each product in the tender. Some awards for some of the quantities may be slightly lower. The quantities of DAP, TSP, urea and CAN26 awarded in this latest tender are the full quantities offered. NCIC had offered 1,000t of SOP in 25kg bags in this tender. No buy-side confirmations have yet emerged and the destinations of the products awarded are not yet known. NCIC's previous tender offered February-loading fertilizers and closed on 25 January. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egypt’s NCIC awards fertilizers sales tender
Egypt’s NCIC awards fertilizers sales tender
London, 24 February (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has reported selling various fertilizers for loading in March in its latest tender , which closed on 19 February. NCIC reports the following awards in the tender: 20,000t of DAP at $750/t fob — it reported selling 60,000t of DAP at $725-745/t fob in its previous tender, probably all for shipment to Europe 25,000t of TSP at $560/t fob — it sold 18,000t at $547-550/t fob in its previous tender 20,000t of granular urea at $492/t fob — it sold 12,000t at $475/t fob in its previous tender 20,000t of CAN26 at $305/t fob — it sold 5,000t at $315-325/t fob in its previous tender, having offered 34,000t 500t of water-soluble SOP at $575/t fob — it sold 1,000t at $560-580/t fob in its previous tender, having offered 2,000t. The quantities of DAP, TSP, urea and CAN26 awarded in this latest tender are the full quantities offered. NCIC had offered 1,000t of SOP in 25kg bags in this tender. No buy-side confirmations have yet emerged and the destinations of the products awarded are not yet known. NCIC's previous tender had offered fertilizers for loading in February and closed on 25 January. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Indian DAP stocks fall again in January
Indian DAP stocks fall again in January
London, 23 February (Argus) — A slump in imports versus robust offtake kept Indian DAP stocks under pressure in January, leading to the fourth consecutive monthly stock draw, according to government data. Argus estimates India's DAP stocks at the end of January at just below 1.9mn t. India imported just 70,000t of DAP in January, while domestic DAP production was steady at 342,000t. Domestic sales fell seasonally but, at 535,000t, surpassed the average for the same month over the previous three years by almost 100,000t. But total DAP sales so far this rabi season — beginning in October 2025 — are broadly level against the same period a year earlier. Farmers likely prioritised urea in December, deferring some DAP buying until January, while distributors also say that increased sown acreage and possible early buying ahead of the kharif season beginning in April is supporting offtake across all fertilizers. Higher production has not made up for lagging imports compared with this point during rabi last year, leading to a stock draw — production plus imports minus sales — so far this rabi season of 573,000t. Indian importers prioritised unloading urea earlier in rabi, slowing DAP trade and leaving fewer berthing opportunities for DAP cargoes. But firm imports earlier in the fertilizer year — starting in April 2025 — and a slip in total offtake so far have allowed India's DAP stocks to build by almost 600,000t year on year, according to Argus data. India imported just over 6mn t of DAP over April-January, well above the 4.4mn t imported over the period a year before. Sales of around 8.5mn t of DAP so far this fertilizer year are lagging the same period a year earlier by around 200,000t. But combined DAP and TSP sales so far this fertilizer year total 9.14mn t, likely more than 100,000t ahead of last year, according to Argus data. Even though domestic TSP offtake has almost doubled on the year, and India has no domestic TSP production, the country has already imported around 145pc more TSP than it did over the 2024-25 fertilizer year — all from Morocco. This has allowed India's TSP stocks to swell by 563pc since April 2024, according to Argus estimates. By Tom Hampson Indian DAP production, imports and prices '000t Indian DAP stocks and prices '000t Indian TSP imports and stocks '000t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
South Africa’s Kropz raises phosrock output, grade
South Africa’s Kropz raises phosrock output, grade
London, 19 February (Argus) — South African phosphate rock producer Kropz has increased the capacity and possible rock grade at its Elandsfontein mine and processing facility. Kropz is now producing about 40,000 t/month of beneficiated phosphate rock, up from about 30,000 t/month last year. It is standardly producing rock containing 30pc P2O5 and 42-43pc CaO. But it shipped a 40,000t cargo of 31.1pc P2O5 rock to a buyer in South Korea in December, the highest grade of rock it has yet exported. Kropz loaded a 26,000t phosphate rock cargo for shipment to Australia earlier this week. Recent sales of 30-31pc rock from Kropz have settled at $120-130/t fob Saldanha port. Typical destinations for phosphate rock from Kropz have been Asia, Australia and New Zealand. By Tom Hampson 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.
European AdBlue & TGU markets: What’s shaping the outlook?
European AdBlue & TGU markets: What’s shaping the outlook?
Africa's Fertilizer Market: Will High Prices Destroy Demand?
Africa's Fertilizer Market: Will High Prices Destroy Demand?
Sulphur, Sulphuric Acid, Metals: Asia Market Dynamics
Sulphur, Sulphuric Acid, Metals: Asia Market Dynamics
Explore our phosphate 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.