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.
Argus support market participants with:
- 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.
India's domestic urea sales remain strong in 1H January
India's domestic urea sales remain strong in 1H January
Amsterdam, 16 January (Argus) — Indian urea sales likely hit 2.3mn-2.4mn t in the first half of this month, with domestic offtake remaining strong after record-high sales in December 2024. Sales to end-users were over 2.3mn t in the first half of January, latest provisional data show, indicating offtake for the month may exceed 4.5mn t. Urea sales were 3.54mn t in January 2024. Production is on track to reach around 2.5mn t this month, while urea inventories have slipped to around 5.5mn t as of 16 January, the data show. Stocks started the year at around 6.1mn t. International urea prices have surged in recent weeks, eclipsing levels in 2024, largely driven up by sustained import demand from India because of its strong domestic appetite. Sales likely hit a fresh record-high for an individual month at 5.2mn t in December . Market participants are keenly awaiting the results from Indian importer and supplier RCF's urea purchase tender, which closes on 23 January . By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Nutrient affordability remains weak into 2025
Nutrient affordability remains weak into 2025
London, 13 January (Argus) — Global fertilizer affordability is still weak into 2025 as high fertilizer prices — mainly for urea — continue to weigh on farmer affordability. Nutrient affordability fell to 0.94 points in the first week of January, unable to recover from a declining trend that started in October 2024. An affordability index — comprised of a fertilizer and a crop index — above one indicates that fertilizers are more affordable, compared with the base year, which was set in 2004. An index below one indicates lower nutrient affordability. The fertilizer index — which includes global prices for urea, DAP and potash, adjusted by global usage — reached the highest value since October, driven by firmer urea prices, which weighs heavily on the fertilizer index owing to the relatively higher global usage when compared with DAP and potash fertilizers. Prices for urea climbed to levels last seen in late 2023, with activity ramping up across the globe. Prices appear well supported through the month with India entering the market over the weekend, seeking 1.5mn t of urea for loading by early March. A slight increase in the crop index owing to a rise in the first week of January for corn and soybeans was unable to offset higher fertilizer prices as the new year started. Crop prices for corn and soybeans, which represent 52pc of global consumption for key crops, also rose into early January following lower production estimates made by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the upcoming crop campaign in the US. The USDA revised earlier estimates made for the 2024-25 corn and soybeans crop by 1.8pc and 2pc, respectively. By Lili Minton and Harry Minihan Global fertilizer affordability Index Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Yara raises CAN, AN offers to NW Europe for February
Yara raises CAN, AN offers to NW Europe for February
Amsterdam, 7 January (Argus) — Norwegian major producer Yara has announced its latest nitrate offers for northwest Europe for delivery next month, raising offers for CAN in German and Benelux markets, and AN in France. Yara is offering CAN 27 at €335/t cif Germany and Benelux for February delivery. This latest offer marks an increase from €317/t cif for January delivery to those markets, as announced in the first half of December . The producer has raised its AN 33.5 offer in France to €425/t cpt. Initial offers outlined in October had been €387/t cpt for December delivery. The higher offers reflect the overall strengthening of prices across the nitrogen complex since the start of December, with Egyptian urea recenty hitting the highest level since October 2023. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pupuk Indonesia issues tender to buy January amsul
Pupuk Indonesia issues tender to buy January amsul
Singapore, 2 January (Argus) — State-owned Pupuk Indonesia has issued a tender to buy 20,000t of bulk standard caprolactam-grade ammonium sulphate (amsul) for shipment to its subsidiary Petrokimia Gresik by the fourth week of January. Pupuk Indonesia has requested a single shipment of 20,000t to Gresik port. The deadline for submitting technical documents is 2 January, and the importer has asked for offers to be submitted at a fixed price. No results have been heard and the online e-auction for the tender is expected to begin shortly. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights
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