China’s urea exports slump in August

Spanish Market: Fertilizers
28/09/20

China's urea exports fell by 70pc year on year in August to just 201,000t, bringing January-August exports down by 22pc to 2.1mn t.

Mexico was the leading recipient last month with 41,000t, followed by South Korea with 33,000t. Exports to India, traditionally the leading consumer market, totalled just 18,000t, down sharply from 499,000t in August 2019.

The data is confusing as Chinese suppliers did not shun exports last month. The shipment periods of two Indian buy tenders, under which around 320,000t were purchased from China, traversed August implying these tonnes must be captured partially in July, and mostly in September data.

Considering this and subsequent Indian tenders, September figures should show in excess of 1mn t shipping from Chinese ports to India alone, suggesting a massive month for total urea exports.

This could push year to date exports for September ahead of 2019 when 3.2mn t were exported in January-September.

By Carl Roache

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China’s urea exports slump in August

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