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EABC eyeing switch to DAP from NPS in large tender

  • Spanish Market: Fertilizers
  • 28/08/24

Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses (EABC) is preparing to seek DAP in its annual large-scale fertilizer tender, rather than NPS/NPSB, Argus understands.

Argus has been unable to confirm this with EABC. But several sources reported that the switch to DAP is being seriously considered, and one rated the change as highly likely.

Typically, the corporation seeks large amounts of NPS and NPSB, and Moroccan major fertilizer producer OCP is awarded the full volume. In its 2023 tender — issued in August — EABC requested a little over 1.02mn t of NPSB and 332,300t of NPS, as well as 980,000t of urea. The NPS grades that EABC receives contain nutrient values of around 19pc nitrogen, 38pc phosphorus and 7pc sulphur.

But it may be set to abandon complex fertilizers in favour of DAP this year. It is set to seek 800,000-1mn t of the phosphate product, one source said.

The switch should allow the process to be more unpredictable, with various producers vying for awards, rather than one manufacturer being all but certain to supply the full amount.

But global DAP supply is tight, keeping prices firm, which would make EABC's decision — if and when confirmed — all the more surprising.

OCP has already sold 510,000t of DAP for September-November shipment to India, which is short of the grade because of lower imports earlier in the year.

EABC is expected to issue its tender in the next two weeks.


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Egypt's NCIC issues SOP tender


14/10/24
14/10/24

Egypt's NCIC issues SOP tender

London, 14 October (Argus) — Egyptian SOP producer NCIC has issued a sales tender for 1,500t of water-soluble SOP, closing on 18 October. The product will be offered in 50kg bags on a fob basis for loading by the end of November. NCIC made awards in its 25 September SOP sales tender at $655-660/t fob equivalent, the first time in two years that it has offered SOP for export. It was previously carrying out maintenance at some of its ovens and supplying the domestic market exclusively. NCIC is now operating at full capacity, producing water-soluble SOP at a rate of 50 t/d. By Nykole King Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil's drought: Northern rivers continue to drop


11/10/24
11/10/24

Brazil's drought: Northern rivers continue to drop

Sao Paulo, 11 October (Argus) — The worst drought in Brazil's history continues to reduce river levels in the Northern Arc region, hampering navigation on rivers that are used as waterways and are important routes to transport grains and fertilizers. Madeira waterway The waterway links Rondonia state's capital Porto Velho to the Itacoatiara port, in Amazonas state. Itacoatiara port is expected to receive around 78,100 metric tonnes (t) of fertilizers in October, according to line-up data from shipping agency Unimar. Status: The situation is critical in Porto Velho on the Madeira waterway, the second largest in the northern region. The state's ports and waterways authority (Soph) halted operations on 23 September because the Madeira River registered the lowest water level since monitoring began in 1967. The Madeira River's depth in Porto Velho decreased to 24cm on 11 October, from 48cm on 2 October, according to monitoring data from the Brazilian Geological Survey (SGB). Navigation remains suspended in the port. Amazonas waterway It is the main waterway in Brazil's north, handling around 65pc of the region's cargo, according to the national transportation and infrastructure department (Dnit). It links Amazonas' capital Manaus to Para's capital Belem. Status: The Negro River has also been falling. The depth was at 12.25m at the SGB monitoring point in Manaus on 11 October, down from 12.89m on 2 October. This is an extreme drought level and below the historic low of 12.7m recorded in 121 years of monitoring. Tapajos waterway It is an important waterway to move product from Mato Grosso state's northern area, with the Santarem port, in Para state, as a destination. The Santarem port is expected to receive 90,976t of fertilizers in October, according to line-up data from Unimar. Status: The Tapajos-Teles Pires waterway is also facing a dire situation. The national water and sanitation agency ANA declared a water shortage on the Tapajos River on 23 September. Drier than usual weather has dropped the levels of Tapajos, especially in the stretch between Itaituba and Santarem cities, in Para state, where flows are below historic minimum levels. The depth of the Tapajos River at the Itaituba monitoring point, where the transfer point for the Miritituba waterway is located, was at 86cm on 11 October, from 87cm on 2 October and below the record low of 1.32m, according to SBG data. At the Santarem monitoring point, where the port of Santarem is located, the Tapajos River was at -6cm, a level considered dry. The level was 25cm on 2 October. The historic minimum at the location is -55cm below the port's reference point. A level below zero does not mean the river is dry, but a negative reading indicates very low conditions. Tocantins-Araguaia waterway The Tocantins-Araguaia waterway encompasses the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers. It runs from the Barra do Garcas city, in Mato Grosso, into the Araguaia River, or from Peixes city, in Tocantins state, into the Tocantins River, to the port of Vila do Conde, in Para state. Soybeans, corn, fertilizers, fuels, mineral oils and derivative products are transported via the northern waterways. Vila do Conde port is expected to receive 152,800t of fertilizer in October, according to Unimar. Status: The SGB has two monitoring points on the Araguaia River. In the Nova Crixas city, in Goias state, the river was at 2.84m on 11 October, from 2.87m on 2 October. The river remains below the historical level of 3.10m. In Sao Felix do Araguaia city, in Mato Grosso state, the river was at 2.54m, from 2.55m in the prior week, a situation of extreme drought and close to the historical minimum level of 2.51m. By João Petrini Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India's Fact extends NPK, NPS tender closing dates


11/10/24
11/10/24

India's Fact extends NPK, NPS tender closing dates

London, 11 October (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer Fact has pushed back the closing dates of its latest tenders to buy 15-15-15, 10-26-26, and 20-20-0+13S. The tenders sought 40,000t of each product , plus or minus 10pc of the respective quantities, and were due to close on 14 October. Fact has amended the 15-15-15 and 20-20-0+13S tenders' closing dates to 18 October, with the 10-26-26 tender now due to close on 21 October. All three tenders asked for the 40,000t total to be split into two 20,000t cargoes. By David Maher Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Florida ports, fuel supplies, begin recovery: Update 2


10/10/24
10/10/24

Florida ports, fuel supplies, begin recovery: Update 2

Updates more port and terminal conditions, adds daily CBOB/ULSD prices. Houston, 10 October (Argus) — Port Tampa Bay, Florida, docks did not sustain significant damage from Hurricane Milton, the port authority said Thursday, a positive sign for resuming fuel imports into the storm ravaged state. Some port buildings were damaged and power remains out, according to preliminary assessments, but the port docks appear to have escaped major damage, according to the port authority. Many roads leading to the port remain flooded, but the port's main gates are accessible. There is no current timeline for the port's re-opening. Damage to Global Partners' Florida fuel terminals is less severe than the company expected, a spokesperson said Thursday afternoon. Global is loading cargoes from its three Port Everglades terminals. Its Tampa terminal is offline and running on generator power due to power outages, but staff are on site working to restore operations. Kinder Morgan is continuing to assess its terminals and pipeline, a spokesperson said Thursday afternoon. Chevron's Tampa refined products terminal remains closed and damage assessments will begin once crews can safely access the facility, a company spokesperson said Thursday morning. The company's terminals in Panama City and Port Everglades are operational. Citgo said it found no major damage at its Tampa terminal after an initial assessment but a more detailed inspection is ongoing as it works to restore operations. Buckeye, which shut Tampa terminals ahead of the hurricane, did not immediately respond to requests for information on the status of its operations. Tampa spared the worst Florida governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday that Port Tampa avoided the worst-case scenario in terms of storm surge and that eastern Florida ports on the opposite side of the state from where Milton made landfall appear largely undamaged. Nearly half of Florida's supply of petroleum and refined products passes through Port Tampa Bay, the majority via waterborne cargo from the US Gulf coast. Tampa Bay is also the site of major fertilizer operations, including Mosaic's Riverview phosphate plant. The state has 1.5mn USG of diesel and about 1.1mn USG of gasoline available to deploy in its emergency response, DeSantis said. Florida's highway patrol continues to escort fuel tankers making deliveries to gas stations and has completed about 130 escorts after some stations ran dry earlier this week as Floridians stocked up on fuel and evacuated coastal regions. DeSantis said he expects gas stations to reopen "very quickly, at least that's our hope." Prices for Florida CBOB delivered at Tampa and Port Everglades rose by 8.51¢/USG to $2.17/USG today while prices for Florida ULSD rose by 7.09¢/USG to $2.39/USG. Cash differentials in the waterborne ULSD markets and gasoline cargo markets were little changed. About 3.4mn Floridians were without power early today after Hurricane Milton came ashore south of Tampa Bay late Wednesday night as a category 3 storm. Utility crews are assessing the damage from high winds, tornadoes and flooding, and starting to restore power. The number of customers without power dipped below 3mn Thursday afternoon. Restrictions were lifted Thursday at a number of Florida ports closed for the storm, the Coast Guard said, while others are expected to open in the next day. By Nathan Risser and Cooper Sukaly Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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