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.

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Latest nitrogen news

Browse the latest market moving news on the global nitrogen industry.

Latest nitrogen news
25/02/11

Vessel nominations roll in for RCF urea tender

Vessel nominations roll in for RCF urea tender

Amsterdam, 11 February (Argus) — Vessel nominations in Indian importer RCF's 23 January tender to buy urea have emerged, with 11 out of 12 shipments nominated. Four vessels will load from the Middle East, two from Nigeria, two from Indonesia, at least two — and probably three — from Russia and one cargo of probably re-exported material from Yantai in China ( see table ). The 11 vessels nominated are set to load this month. Quest is the one supplier still to nominate a vessel, but this will probably load in Russia. Vessels are to load by 5 March, as per RCF's request. There will be nine shipments for a combined 411,500t to the east coast and 147,400t in three lots to the west coast, totalling 558,900t. Indagro made the lowest offer at $422/t cfr west coast and $427/t cfr east coast. RCF had sought up to 1.5mn t of urea and market participants are awaiting the next tender from India to bridge the shortfall, which is expected in the next 1-2 weeks. By Harry Minihan RCF 23 Jan urea tender vessels Supplier Tonnage t Prilled/granular urea Origin Destination port West coast Indagro 45,000 Granular UAE Mundra Ameropa 52,400 Granular Sohar, Oman Deendayal Quest 50,000 Russia TBC Rozy East coast Indagro 45,000 Granular Onne, Nigeria Kakinada Midgulf 45,000 Granular Indonesia Krishnapatnam Midgulf 31,500 Granular Lekki, Nigeria Krishnapatnam OQ 45,000 Granular China Kakinada Sun International 50,000 Prilled Qatar Paradip Liven 47,500 Granular Indonesia Vizag Fertistream 45,000 Prilled Tuapse, Russia Gangavaram Aditya Birla 52,500 Granular Sohar, Oman Dhamra Aditya Birla 50,000 Prilled Ust Luga, Russia Karaikal Total 558,900 — market sources Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Latest nitrogen news

Offers emerge for India's RCF urea tender: Update


25/01/27
Latest nitrogen news
25/01/27

Offers emerge for India's RCF urea tender: Update

Amsterdam, 27 January (Argus) — Prices under Indian fertilizer importer RCF's 23 January tender have emerged, with the lowest urea offers at $422/t cfr west coast and $427/t cfr east coast. Trading firm Indagro offered the lowest for both coasts. There was a comparatively tight spread, with four other offers in the $420s/t cfr west coast. The lowest offers net to around $410/t fob Middle East, $370/t fob Baltic, and the high $400s-410/t fob southeast Asia to the east coast. There were 21 offers, with 1.37mn t to the east coast and 1.29mn t to the west coast, for a total of 2.66mn t ( see below ). RCF requested that the cargoes be loaded by 5 March and that offers are to be valid until 31 January. The importer is seeking 1mn t of urea for the west coast and 500,000t for the east coast. By Harry Minihan RCF's 23 January urea tender in India Supplier East coast tonnage ('t) Price ($/t cfr) West coast tonnage ('t) Price ($/t cfr) Indagro 45,000 427 45,000 422 Ameropa 99,550 437 52,400 422.50 Sun International 50,000 428 50,000 424 Hexagon 50,000 429.19 50,000 427.19 Midgulf 100,000 434 100,000 429 Quest 50,000 430 Aditya Birla 150,000 443 150,000 434 Fertistream 47,500 440 47,500 435 Keytrade 45,000 440 45,000 435 Koch 95,000 445 95,000 435 Dreymoor 80,000 449 80,000 439 Agricommodities/ETG 100,000 452.40 100,000 442.50 Fertiglobe Distribution 90,000 452 90,000 445 Macrosource 45,000 451 45,000 446 Continental 50,000 433 50,000 447 OQ 45,000 429 100,000 449 Samsung 90,000 436.20 90,000 450.20 Fertiglobe Fertilizer Trading 45,000 458 Liven 47,500 437 Indorama 46,000 435 IMR Metallurgical Resources 50,000 Rejected 50,000 Rejected Market sources Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Latest nitrogen news

Узбекистан начал поставлять карбамид в Бразилию


25/01/16
Latest nitrogen news
25/01/16

Узбекистан начал поставлять карбамид в Бразилию

Riga, 16 January (Argus) — Компания Uzkimyoimpeks в декабре приступила к контейнерным поставкам карбамида в направлении Бразилии. Первый блок-поезд с 54 сорокафутовыми контейнерами (по 28 т карбамида в каждом) компания отправила 11 декабря с терминала First Dry Port Terminal в Ташкенте. Состав с удобрениями производства компании Maxam-Chirchiq отправлен транзитом через Туркменистан и Азербайджан в направлении грузинского порта Поти. В Поти контейнеры планируется погрузить на морское судно для доставки в бразильский порт Паранагуа. Ожидается, что вся партия карбамида будет доставлена из Узбекистана в Бразилию в течение 60—70 дней. Из Узбекистана в Поти контейнеры планируется доставить за 20 дней, а морская перевозка займет 35—45 дней. До конца текущего года компания планирует вывезти в направлении Бразилии всего 108 контейнеров с карбамидом. Услуги по экспедированию контейнеров до конечного пункта оказывает компания First Dry Port Terminal, которая владеет терминалом для сухих грузов, площадью в размере 22 га в районе железнодорожной станции Сергели в Ташкенте. Станция оборудована восемью подъездными путями общей длиной 5,3 км. С данного терминала вывозится также минеральная продукция в направлении портов Латвии и Эстонии. Uzkimyoimpeks, дочерняя госкомпании Узкимесаноат, оператор экспортно-импортных операций химической продукции предприятий Maxam-Chirchiq, Аммофос-Максам и других производителей Узбекистана. ________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических обзоров рынка транспортировки грузов в странах Каспийского региона и Центральной Азии — в отчете Argus Транспорт Каспия . Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

Latest nitrogen news

India's domestic urea sales remain strong in 1H January


25/01/16
Latest nitrogen news
25/01/16

India's domestic urea sales remain strong in 1H January

Amsterdam, 16 January (Argus) — Indian urea sales likely hit 2.3mn-2.4mn t in the first half of this month, with domestic offtake remaining strong after record-high sales in December 2024. Sales to end-users were over 2.3mn t in the first half of January, latest provisional data show, indicating offtake for the month may exceed 4.5mn t. Urea sales were 3.54mn t in January 2024. Production is on track to reach around 2.5mn t this month, while urea inventories have slipped to around 5.5mn t as of 16 January, the data show. Stocks started the year at around 6.1mn t. International urea prices have surged in recent weeks, eclipsing levels in 2024, largely driven up by sustained import demand from India because of its strong domestic appetite. Sales likely hit a fresh record-high for an individual month at 5.2mn t in December . Market participants are keenly awaiting the results from Indian importer and supplier RCF's urea purchase tender, which closes on 23 January . By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Latest nitrogen news

Nutrient affordability remains weak into 2025


25/01/13
Latest nitrogen news
25/01/13

Nutrient affordability remains weak into 2025

London, 13 January (Argus) — Global fertilizer affordability is still weak into 2025 as high fertilizer prices — mainly for urea — continue to weigh on farmer affordability. Nutrient affordability fell to 0.94 points in the first week of January, unable to recover from a declining trend that started in October 2024. An affordability index — comprised of a fertilizer and a crop index — above one indicates that fertilizers are more affordable, compared with the base year, which was set in 2004. An index below one indicates lower nutrient affordability. The fertilizer index — ⁠which includes global prices for urea, DAP and potash, adjusted by global usage — ⁠reached the highest value since October, driven by firmer urea prices, which weighs heavily on the fertilizer index owing to the relatively higher global usage when compared with DAP and potash fertilizers. Prices for urea climbed to levels last seen in late 2023, with activity ramping up across the globe. Prices appear well supported through the month with India entering the market over the weekend, seeking 1.5mn t of urea for loading by early March. A slight increase in the crop index owing to a rise in the first week of January for corn and soybeans was unable to offset higher fertilizer prices as the new year started. Crop prices for corn and soybeans, which represent 52pc of global consumption for key crops, also rose into early January following lower production estimates made by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the upcoming crop campaign in the US. The USDA revised earlier estimates made for the 2024-25 corn and soybeans crop by 1.8pc and 2pc, respectively. By Lili Minton and Harry Minihan Global fertilizer affordability Index Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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