Potash
Overview
The potash market has been disrupted from its traditional trade flows and typically slow-moving price cycles, affected by new entrants, new mines, military conflicts and political tensions in countries that either produce or consume some of the largest quantities of potash in the world. The need for accurate insight and data is more acute than ever.
Our extensive potash coverage includes MOP, SOP and NOP. Argus has many decades of experience covering the potash market and we incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise to provide potash price assessments, analysis and data that provides the full narrative.
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Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell various fertilizers
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell various fertilizers
London, 15 April (Argus) — Egyptian fertilizer producer NCIC has issued a second tender to sell various fertilizers for loading in April. The tender closes on 20 April. NCIC is offering the following in the tender: 20,000t of DAP — it sold 10,000t of DAP at $840/t fob in its 4 April tender 10,000t of TSP — it sold 10,000t at $618/t fob in its 4 March tender 15,000t of SSP — it sold 25,000t at $375/t fob in its 4 April tender 10,000t of urea — it sold 10,000t at $654/t fob in its 4 March tender. Argus last assessed Egyptian urea at $790-820/t fob for European markets 5,000t of CAN26 — it sold 15,000t at $352/t fob in its 4 March tender 1,000t of water-soluble SOP — it sold 1,200t at $620-630/t fob in its 15 March tender The cargoes are to be priced on a bulk fob basis, apart from the SOP, which will be sold ex-works from NCIC's Fayoum plant in 25kg bags. If the buyer does not load the cargo after 27 days from the issuance of the pro forma invoice, NCIC will cancel the shipment. Offers are to be valid for two weeks from the tender closing date. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pakistan SOP output cut on sulphur shortage: Update
Pakistan SOP output cut on sulphur shortage: Update
Adds details in paragraph 2 Singapore, 13 April (Argus) — Pakistan's Mannheim SOP producers have cut run rates to 50-75pc from 80-90pc, driven by tight supply of sulphur from Iran on the back of the US-Iran war, according to producers. Around 0.6t of sulphuric acid or 0.2t of sulphur is needed to produce 1t of SOP using the Mannheim method. Mannheim producers in Pakistan rely heavily on sulphur imports from Iran as feedstocks via cross-border trade, as domestic supply is insufficient to sustain demand. The US-Iran war has pushed delivered sulphur prices sharply higher. Indications for Iranian sulphur via cross-border truck deliveries are now at an equivalent to $750-780/t cfr according to one importer. Domestic prices for sulphur-based sulphuric acid surged to 300,000 rupees/t ex-warehouse ($1,077/t) from Rs100,000/t ex-warehouse Lahore and Faisalabad in February, before the war. Barket Fertilizers has operated at a reduced rate of 75pc since late March at its 50,000 t/yr plant at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim. The producer plans to ramp up production to full capacity on 15 April after securing sufficient feedstocks. Fellow producer Agven is operating at 50pc at its 20,000 t/yr Gwadar plant in April because of a planned turnaround that will last until end of the month. The producer has yet to decide whether to return to full rates as this depends on sulphuric acid price and availability. Other producers, including Suncrop and Akbari, are operating at 50-75pc at their 40,000 t/yr plant in Rahim Yar Khan and 20,000 t/yr plant in Bhikhi, respectively, because of feedstock supply tightness and firm prices. But lower run rates are unlikely to cause SOP shortages, as buyers could switch to buying more MOP. Domestic bagged granular SOP prices are now at 260,000-280,000 rupees/t ($934-1,005/t) ex-warehouse, and buyers are likely to move to granular MOP if prices rise further, one producer said. By Huijun Yao Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pakistan SOP producers cut rates on sulphur shortage
Pakistan SOP producers cut rates on sulphur shortage
Singapore, 13 April (Argus) — Pakistan's Mannheim SOP producers have cut run rates to 50-75pc from 80-90pc, driven by tight supply of sulphur from Iran on the back of the US-Iran war, according to producers. Around 0.6t of sulphuric acid or 0.2t of sulphur is needed to produce 1t of SOP using the Mannheim method. Manheim producers in Pakistan rely heavily on sulphur imports from Iran as feedstocks via cross-border trade, as domestic supply is insufficient to sustain demand. The US-Iran war has pushed delivered sulphur prices sharply higher. Indications for Iranian sulphur are now at $750-780/t cfr according to one importer. Domestic prices for sulphuric acid surged to 300,000 rupees/t ($1,077/t) from 100,000 rupees/t in February, before the war. Barket Fertilizers has operated at a reduced rate of 75pc since late March at its 50,000 t/yr plant at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim. The producer plans to ramp up production to full capacity on 15 April after securing sufficient feedstocks. Fellow producer Agven is operating at 50pc at its 20,000 t/yr Gwadar plant in April because of a planned turnaround that will last until end of the month. The producer has yet to decide whether to return to full rates as this depends on sulphuric acid price and availability. Other producers, including Suncrop and Akbari, are operating at 50-75pc at their 40,000 t/yr plant in Rahim Yar Khan and 20,000 t/yr plant in Bhikhi, respectively, because of feedstock supply tightness and firm prices. But lower run rates are unlikely to cause SOP shortages, as buyers could switch to buying more MOP. Domestic bagged granular SOP prices are now at 260,000-280,000 rupees/t ($934-1,005/t) ex-warehouse, and buyers are likely to move to granular MOP if prices rise further, one producer said. By Huijun Yao Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Indian government raises NBS for N, P, S
Indian government raises NBS for N, P, S
London, 8 April (Argus) — The Indian government has raised the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) for nitrogen, phosphate and sulphur each by 10pc for the April-September kharif season, while holding the rate for potash steady . The NBS applies to phosphate and potash-based fertilizers including DAP, MOP and NPKs. It does not cover urea. The latest subsidy rates per nutrient are as follows: Rs47.32/kg for nitrogen Rs52.76/kg for phosphate Rs2.38/kg for potash Rs3.16.kg for sulphur The government has stated a tentative budgetary requirement for the season at 415bn rupees ($4.5bn), up by Rs43bn from the budgetary requirement for the 2025 kharif season. This raises the NBS for DAP to around Rs32,787/t ($355/t), and keeps the NBS for MOP at Rs1,428/t. Despite the rise in the subsidy, Indian DAP importers and producers would make a loss if receiving only the NBS and the maximum retail price of Rs27,000/t. Market participants expect the government to maintain the additional financial support for DAP importers and producers beyond the nutrient-based subsidy, but no official confirmation has yet emerged. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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