India's Fact awards sulphuric acid tender to Hindalco

Spanish Market: Fertilizers
08/10/26

Indian fertilizer importer and producer Fact has awarded its 24 September tender for 10,000-14,000t of sulphuric acid to west coast-based smelter Hindalco at 34,100 rupees/t delivered Kochi, equivalent to around $355/t cfr at the time of the offer.

The tender sought a cargo for arrival on 1-10 November and offers were received from domestic suppliers Hindalco and Kutch Copper.

Fact's 17 August purchase tender was awarded to Kutch Copper at Rs34,385/t delivered, equivalent to around $370/t cfr at the time of the offer.

By Nikhil Gill

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12/10/26

Ammonia STS transfers enable strait of Hormuz exports

London, 12 October (Argus) — A transshipped ammonia cargo loaded in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, according to data from vessel tracking firm Kpler. A medium-sized ammonia carrier was identified inside the strait of Hormuz after the vessel was acquired by Saudi Arabian owner Bahri. A shipment of about 25,500t was then likely loaded on the vessel from Saudi Arabia and exported. Following a ship-to-ship transfer (STS) with the Searambler , the Saudi Arabian cargo is now expected to deliver to Paradip, India, by 20 October, according to Kpler. The delivery will most likely serve contract customers in India who have so far been unable to receive Saudi volumes largely since March. Saudi Arabian producers delivered more than 1mn t to India in 2025. That figure has fallen to just 146,000t so far this year. This shipment is the first non-Iranian vessel to attempt ammonia loading during the war, a move that most owners have so far deemed too risky given ammonia's toxicity and potential explosivity while vessels in the crucial waterway continue to sustain attacks. Iran has this week renewed threats against vessels which opt to turn off their navigation and identification systems in the waterway and are viewed as hostile. Meanwhile, Yemeni militant Houthis have over the weekend intensified attacks against Saudi Arabian infrastructure with strikes on King Khalid International airport in Riyadh. But the recent STS manoeuvre follows similar efforts in other markets such as LNG, LPG and crude, all of which have been utilising STS transfers to enable strait of Hormuz exports despite security risks. By Lizzy Lancaster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Vietnam's Vinachem plans MOP project in Laos

12/10/26

Vietnam's Vinachem plans MOP project in Laos

Singapore, 12 October (Argus) — Vietnamese state-owned chemical and fertilizer producer Vinachem and Vietnam Energy and Mining Investment Joint Stock Company will jointly construct a 500,000 t/yr MOP project in Laos, the producer said today. The project will involve a total investment of around $500mn. The companies aim to obtain approvals for the feasibility study and environmental assessment report this month, build the plant and start commercial production in 2028, they said. Vietnam's MOP imports reached 1.4mn t in 2025 from 1.2mn t in 2024, Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data show. Laos accounted for roughly a quarter of total imports in both years. Vinachem's subsidiaries consume around 190,000 t/yr of MOP, the producer said. The project will allow Vinachem to become partially self-sufficient in potash for its fertilizer production, it added. By Huijun Yao Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Increase in Iran ship attacks follows rise in targets

08/10/26

Increase in Iran ship attacks follows rise in targets

New York, 8 October (Argus) — Iran's recent increase in vessel attacks in the strait of Hormuz is likely the result of an increase in the number of targets in the region, but it is unclear whether this resurgence of attacks will hamper rising oil flows through the strait. Iran has increased the pace of its attacks against commercial shipping in the last week, with increasingly deadly results. Two attacks occurred around the strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, including the first attack inside the Mideast Gulf in a month, which resulted in multiple casualties . The number of casualties in the incident has not yet been confirmed. "Iran has seemingly more targets to shoot at now, which could mean that the same probability of impact is resulting in higher raw numbers of successful attacks," Joshua Tallis, research program director at the Center for Naval Analyses, told Argus . It is difficult to assess if Iran has improved its ability to target ships without the coastal radar capabilities the US claims it destroyed as part of its increased strikes in July, Tallis said. But it is reasonable to assume the country has adapted. "Higher traffic creates more opportunities for exposure, while shuttle operations send the same ships repeatedly through the risk area," Claire Jungman, director of maritime risk and intelligence at vessel tracking firm Vortexa, told Argus . Through 24 September, Vortexa identified 148 tankers involved in shuttle operations, with 85 tankers active during September, up from 11 in April, with 42 of those tankers completing four or more runs through the strait of Hormuz. "That repeat participation is important: this has become a regular operating model for a core group of ships," Jungman said. It is unclear if the recent increase in attacks against tankers will stymie the recovery of crude exports that are making their way — albeit very expensively and inefficiently — through the strait of Hormuz. "It's still a bit too early to say whether the most recent salvos would have an impact, but in the past we've seen attacks did not deter the main actors in the shuttle trade," Tomer Raanan, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Lloyds List Intelligence told Argus . By Charlotte Bawol Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Nepal’s STCL issues tender to buy DAP

08/10/26

Nepal’s STCL issues tender to buy DAP

London, 8 October (Argus) — Nepalese fertilizer importer Salt Trading (STCL) has issued a tender to buy 20,000t of DAP, closing on 28 October. The shipping tolerance for the volume is 2pc. STCL says that it will open the technical offers on 28 October. Financial offers are to be submitted by 6 November, when they will be opened. Financial offers are to be valid for 21 days from opening. Offered prices are to be given in US dollars on a cip basis for delivery to STCL warehouses in Biratnagar, Birgunj and Bhairahawa. India's RCF received a lowest offer at $994/t cip in its tender to buy 25,000t of DAP in 50kg bags for delivery to Nepal's KSCL, which closed on 17 September. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Amogy, GS E&C venture secures NH3 for S Korean power

08/10/26

Amogy, GS E&C venture secures NH3 for S Korean power

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