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.
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.
OCP, Koch deepen phosphate ties
OCP, Koch deepen phosphate ties
London, 17 July (Argus) — Major Moroccan phosphates producer OCP Nutricrops has reported selling a 50pc stake in one of its production units to US trading firm Koch Ag & Energy Solutions. The agreement will forge a 50:50 operating joint venture over the Jorf fertilizers company 1 (JFC 1) unit in Jorf Lasfar, which has a nameplate capacity of 1.2mn t/yr of phosphate-based fertilizers. OCP says that this will bring the total production capacity under its joint ventures with Koch to 2.5mn t/yr following its sale of a 50pc stake in Jorf Fertilizers III — renamed Kofert — to Koch in March 2022. The product from JFC will be marketed globally, but the agreement comes just weeks after the US suspended countervailing duties on imports of Moroccan phosphates for eight months. This has reopened the door to the US market for OCP. JFC 1 is one of many production facilities which OCP operates at its Jorf Lasfar complex. Argus understands that OCP had broadly been operating at around 50pc of its total capacity over June, largely because of a lack of sulphur. The producer is understood to now have enough sulphur to theoretically run at 100pc capacity over July-August. But since the conflict between Iran and the US has re-escalated, and Kazakh sulphur remains out of the market, maintaining sulphur stocks continues to be a challenge for all producers. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell DAP, SSP, SOP
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell DAP, SSP, SOP
London, 16 July (Argus) — Egyptian fertilizer producer NCIC has issued a sales tender, closing on 20 July. It is offering the following: 20,000t of DAP — it reported selling 10,000 of the 30,000t offered in its 1 July tender at $872/t fob 15,000t of SSP — it reported selling all 30,000t offered in its 1 July tender at $260/t fob 500t of water-soluble SOP — it did not award the 500t offered in its 1 July tender, after selling 500t at $740/t ex-works in its 24 June tender The DAP and SSP are to be sold in bulk on a fob basis and NCIC says all cargoes will be ready at Damietta port. Cargoes are to be loaded within 37 days. The SOP will be sold in 25kg bags on an ex-works basis from NCIC's Fayoum plant. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Annaba phosphate port expansion to accelerate: Update
Annaba phosphate port expansion to accelerate: Update
Adds the current maximum cargo size in paragraph 3, adds Bled El Hadba rock export availability in paragraph 7, updates Djebel Onk details in paragraph 8 London, 14 July (Argus) — Additional workers and equipment will be deployed this month and next to Algeria's Annaba phosphate port expansion project, aiming for completion by the first quarter of 2027, Algeria's works and infrastructure ministry said. The project's workforce will double and Annaba "will be reinforced with additional machinery and equipment... to accelerate the pace of work and guarantee the project's delivery within the scheduled deadlines", the ministry said, according to Algerian state-controlled media. The project centres on building a deepwater quay that can handle 80,000t ships to strengthen "the logistical competitiveness" of Algerian phosphate rock and fertilizer exports. Algeria's phosphate rock producer and Sonarem subsidiary Somiphos currently loads shipments of up to 55,000t. The port expansion is part of Algeria's Integrated Phosphate Project (IPP), a partnership between state-owned energy company Sonatrach and state-owned mining firm Sonarem. The IPP includes the development of phosphate deposits in Bled El Hadba and a phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid and ammonia facility in Oued Keberit, Souk Ahras province. The IPP "is scheduled to enter production during the first quarter of 2027, coinciding with the completion of the Annaba port expansion project and its readiness to export its initial phosphate shipments", the government said last month. The IPP Souk Ahras phosphoric acid production facility will have a capacity of 900,000 t/yr of P2O5, with potential phosphate rock demand of around 3mn t/yr, according to Argus analysts. The Bled El Hadba mine will supply the Oued Keberit facilities and is already in operation and building up stocks, Argus understands. Somiphos said it will market some of the phosphate rock from Bled El Hadba for export before the phosphoric acid production in Oued Keberit comes on line. Somiphos also expects to complete a 1mn t/yr expansion at its Djebel Onk mine by July 2027. It is aiming for its production to reach 1.8mn t over 2026. After this expansion is complete, Somiphos will likely supply phosphate rock to Indonesia, under an agreement for up to 1mn t/yr signed with state-owned fertilizer group Pupuk Indonesia in January . By Adebiyi Olusolape and Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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