Sustainable and specialty fertilizers
Overview
The importance of sustainable and specialty fertilizer markets has grown as producers diversify their product ranges and end users seek more efficient fertilizer compositions. These developments have been further impacted by the drive towards sustainability, which has accelerated interest in these markets.
Argus market experts have many years of experience in these sectors, incorporating price reporting, cost calculations, fundamentals analysis and forecasting.
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Latest sustainable and specialty fertilizers news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global sustainable and specialty fertilizers markets
Egypt’s NCIC sells SSP/SOP higher in tender
Egypt’s NCIC sells SSP/SOP higher in tender
London, 17 March (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has confirmed the following awards in its latest tender to sell fertilizers for loading this month, which closed on 15 March: 25,000t of SSP at $335/t fob to one buyer — the full quantity offered in the tender 1,200t of SOP at $620-630/t fob — NCIC offered 1,500t in the tender The SSP contains 20.8pc total P2O5 on a dry basis — Argus understands that NCIC's SSP contains maximum 4pc moisture — and 16.44pc water soluble P2O5 on a dry basis, according to analysis as of 15 March. The awarded price for the SSP marks a substantial increase from fellow producer Efic's sale of 35,000t of a comparable grade of SSP — around 19pc citrate soluble P2O5 — at $255/t fob Egypt in early March for shipment in April. NCIC has confirmed that the SSP is destined for Brazil. The war in the Middle East has supported oil prices and pushed up freight from Egypt to Brazil to $30-35/t for a 30,000-35,000t bulk cargo. The awarded price probably nets forward to $365-370/t cfr Brazil, far above the latest assessments of $280-290/t cfr for 19pc SSP and $300-320/t cfr for 20pc SSP. The SOP is probably water-soluble and is packed in 25kg bags. The awarded price is significantly higher than NCIC's previous sale of 500t of water-soluble SOP at $575/t fob under its 19 February tender. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU foreign ministers to discuss Hormuz options: Update
EU foreign ministers to discuss Hormuz options: Update
Adds German defence minister comments in paragraph 8 London, 16 March (Argus) — EU foreign ministers will today discuss ways of keeping the strait of Hormuz open, although there appear to be no positive responses to US president Donald Trump's plea for naval help. "The main topic [of today's meeting] will be how to keep the strait of Hormuz open," EU high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas said. She noted the bloc could change the mission of its regional naval security mission Aspides, and that there is a putative French-led initiative to secure traffic through the strait. "We… need to see what could be the fastest to provide this opening for the strait", Kallas said, noting the de facto closure is "really dangerous for the oil supplies" and "problematic for the fertilisers". "If there is lack of fertilisers this year, there is going to be also food deprivation next year," Kallas said. She said she discussed with UN secretary general Antonio Guterres about the possibility of an initiative like the one brokered to allow unimpeded movement of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea. There appears to be limited appetite for sending warships to the Mideast Gulf to aid US operations there, which Trump called for at the weekend. "We will not be drawn into the wider war," UK prime minister Keir Starmer said today. "We're working with our allies including our European partners, to bring together a viable, collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as soon as possible." Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said today his country is prepared to tackle the Hormuz situation through diplomacy, but said "there will be no military involvement." UK-based bank Barclays today said Ice Brent crude prices could average $100/bl this year if the strait of Hormuz is not reopened in the coming four to six weeks. Its current price assumption, for an average of $85/bl, is based on traffic through the waterway normalising "in the next two to three weeks". By Ben Winkley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU foreign ministers to discuss Hormuz options today
EU foreign ministers to discuss Hormuz options today
London, 16 March (Argus) — EU foreign ministers will today discuss ways of keeping the strait of Hormuz open, although there appear to be no positive responses to US president Donald Trump's plea for naval help. "The main topic [of today's meeting] will be how to keep the strait of Hormuz open," EU high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas said. She noted the bloc could change the mission of its regional naval security mission Aspides, and that there is a putative French-led initiative to secure traffic through the strait. "We… need to see what could be the fastest to provide this opening for the strait", Kallas said, noting the de facto closure is "really dangerous for the oil supplies" and "problematic for the fertilisers". "If there is lack of fertilisers this year, there is going to be also food deprivation next year," Kallas said. She said she discussed with UN secretary general Antonio Guterres about the possibility of an initiative like the one brokered to allow unimpeded movement of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea. There appears to be limited appetite for sending warships to the Mideast Gulf to aid US operations there, as Trump called for at the weekend. "We will not be drawn into the wider war," UK prime minister Keir Starmer said today. "We're working with our allies including our European partners, to bring together a viable, collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as soon as possible." UK-based bank Barclays today said Ice Brent crude prices could average $100/bl this year if the strait of Hormuz is not reopened in the coming four to six weeks. Its current price assumption, for an average of $85/bl, is based on traffic through the waterway normalising "in the next two to three weeks." By Ben Winkley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US ag secretary seeking ways to curb fertilizer costs
US ag secretary seeking ways to curb fertilizer costs
Houston, 13 March (Argus) — US Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins said she is looking "at every potential avenue" to keep fertilizer costs down ahead of the spring season in response to surging nitrogen costs resulting from the war in the Middle East. "We are very close to having an announcement on some solutions," Rollins said. "Events around the world are impacting our farmers, but as the president has said: we expect that to resolve itself pretty quickly." Prices of nitrogen fertilizers such as urea, urea ammonium nitrate and ammonia have soared over the past two weeks following the outbreak of the war between the US-Israel and Iran. Urea prices at the New Orleans port have jumped nearly $155/st from pre-war levels. Prices continue to climb quickly, with first-half April barges rising from $585/st fob on 6 March to $645/st fob on Friday. Rollins added that most growers have already booked their fertilizer needs for this year and about 25pc have not. Nitrogen buying was pushed to later in the season as farmers and distributors weighed price uncertainty and weak corn margins, a delay that left some buyers exposed when prices climbed after the conflict. Rollins did not outline any specific policy measures under consideration but said she is working with lawmakers to secure additional funding for farmers. The USDA rolled out its latest farm-aid package in December 2025, with payments beginning to be issued at the end of February this year. The White House has demonstrated an ability to shift course on energy matters, recently floating options it had previously dismissed, including a potential crude export ban and a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Even if the US-Iran conflict concludes, impacts to supply will likely linger through the rest of the fertilizer year, distributors have said. Traders Friday said they were also doubtful and left confused as to what US president Donald Trump's administration could do to bring down fertilizer prices. By Calder Jett and Sneha Kumar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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