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.
France nitrogen demand jumps on subsidy announcement
France nitrogen demand jumps on subsidy announcement
London, 10 July (Argus) — Demand for straight nitrogen fertilizers in France, particularly urea and UAN, increased sharply following the government's subsidy announcement on 9 July. Farmers will receive at least €50/t ($57/t) on purchases of straight nitrogen fertilizers made between 1 June and 30 September, rising to €70/t where fertilizer accounts for more than 10pc of operating costs. Urea buying accelerated immediately, with prices rising to €495/t fca from around €460/t fca. Interest also strengthened for sulphur-enriched granular urea (40N+14SO3), with business reported at €460/t fca in big bags. UAN 30 demand also surged, but prices remained initially unchanged at €370/t fca Rouen and with large sales volumes reported. Some offers reached €380/t fca today while several suppliers withdrew offers pending a reassessment of market levels next week. The impact on AN 33.5 and CAN 27 was less pronounced, but some European producers withdrew offers from the market. Market participants also expressed concern that the subsidy could further divert demand away from NPK fertilizers and ammonium sulphate, which are not covered by the support scheme. By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
French farmers receive €50/t to buy nitrogen until Sep
French farmers receive €50/t to buy nitrogen until Sep
London, 9 July (Argus) — The French government today announced financial support for farmers to buy nitrogen fertilizers, with payments of at least €50/t for purchases until the end of September. The scheme aims to offset price increases since the start of the war in the Middle East, and to "preserve our productive capacities and secure the 2027 harvests", the government said. The announcement already triggered increased farmer buying of fertilizers today. Farmers will receive at least €50/t for purchases of straight nitrogen fertilizers. Where fertilizers account for more than 10pc of a farmer's operating costs, the payments rise to €70/t. Payments are capped at 50pc of farmers' nitrogen consumption from 2025. The scheme applies to purchases between 1 June and 30 September. At the end of the period, a report will review the fertilizer price development. The European Commission has allocated €107mn for the payments, which France may top up to a total of €145mn. Nitrogen fertilizer prices in Europe rose significantly after the start of the war. French granular urea prices rose by 50pc between the end of February and mid-April, to an average of €753/t fca. Prices then fell below pre-war prices again, to €470/t fca by 2 July, but are now once again on the rise. By Claudia Wlk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US seaborne urea imports flat with prior year
US seaborne urea imports flat with prior year
Houston, 26 June (Argus) — Annual seaborne urea imports to the US were flat with year-ago levels in the 2025-26 fertilizer year ending 30 June, despite record-high monthly imports in March. Seaborne imports reached 4.75mn metric tonnes (t) in the 2025-2026 fertilizer year — which runs from July through June — and equalled the 2024-25 period's total imports, according to US Census Bureau (USCB) data and Argus estimates. Both years exceeded the five-year average by about 2.7pc, or roughly 120,000t. Seaborne urea imports reached a record monthly level of 1.26mn t in March, surpassing March 2025 imports of 995,000t in a 26pc increase, according to USCB data. Total urea imports in March exceeded the month's previous five-year average of 706,000t by 78pc. The strait of Hormuz closure following the US-Israel war against Iran disrupted Middle Eastern urea supply and cut off 35pc of global urea trade, causing the US to rely on Russian imports more heavily. Russian urea imports made up 42pc of the 2025-26 financial year's total imports, an increase from 36pc of the total the previous year. Both years exceeded the previous five-year total percentage of 25pc, according to USCB data. The US was already relying more significantly on Russian urea in the 2024-25 year after 2025 tariffs caused Midde Eastern urea prices to rise significantly, turning US buyers to tariff-exempt Russian fertilizer producers. Total urea imports from the Middle East in the 2025-26 year made up 35pc of US urea imports, a significant 12pc decrease from the previous five-year average of 47pc. Imports increased by 1 percentage point from 34pc the previous year after urea was exempt from tariffs when the policy was modified in November 2025. By Uma Gangatirkar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Venezuelan urea headed to US for first time in 8 years
Venezuelan urea headed to US for first time in 8 years
Houston, 23 June (Argus) — Venezuelan urea is coming to the US for the first time in 8 years after the US authorized sanctions waivers on Venezuelan fertilizer on 13 March. Bulk carrier Centurion Goryo is headed to New Orleans (Nola) from Fertinitro's plant in Anzoategui state in Venezuela, according to traders and vessel tracking firm Kpler. The ship loaded on 19 June and is expected at Nola on 26 June. It is unclear how much urea the vessel is carrying but the ship has a deadweight of approximately 40,000t. The Iran war prompted the closure of the strait of Hormuz on 2 March, cutting off 35pc of global urea trade and causing the US to seek alternative fertilizer supplies as the planting season approached. But the spring season at Nola has passed, meaning the urea on the Centurion Goryo will likely be used for summer fill to be consumed at a later date. The US Treasury Department's sanctions enforcement arm, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on 13 March introduced sanction waivers that allowed US buyers to purchase fertilizer and other products from Venezuelan producers. US president Donald Trump first imposed sanctions on Venezuela in 2017, which the administration said were in response to human rights abuses and anti-democratic actions carried out by the Venezuelan government. Venezuela has three major urea plants with a combined operating capacity of 2.2mn t/yr. US last imported urea from Venezuela in January 2018, according to US Census Bureau data. US imports from Venezuela totaled 42,668 in 2017 but were last consistent in 2011, averaging about 30,000 t/month. Venezuelan urea has remained a consistent supplier to Brazil, with Argus ' consulting arm estimating that exports totaled around 400,000t in 2025. By Uma Gangatirkar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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