Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Latest market news

Egypt’s Helwan signs deal to produce black urea

  • : Fertilizers
  • 24/02/20

Egyptian urea producer Helwan has signed an agreement with SML-INNO UK to produce 130,000 t/yr of black urea.

Production is expected to start in 5-6 months. The agreement was signed on 18 February.

Helwan said that black urea, a slow-release fertilizer, should boost crop growth while using 25-30pc less nitrogen than conventional urea. The Egyptian producer did not provide additional details regarding the production process.

The project, which will target European and UK markets, is likely to cost $5mn. Helwan currently operates a 635,000 t/yr granular urea facility.


Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

25/03/18

Bangladesh’s BCIC receives two phosacid offers: update

Bangladesh’s BCIC receives two phosacid offers: update

Adds the disqualification of Qmark Group's offer in the second paragraph. Updates the origin offered by Sun International in the third paragraph. London, 18 March (Argus) — State-owned Bangladeshi fertilizer importer and producer BCIC received two offers in its tender to buy 20,000t of 52-54pc P2O5 phosphoric acid, which closed on Monday. Bangladeshi trading firm and newcomer to BCIC phosphoric acid tenders Qmark Group offered the lowest at $633/t cfr, equivalent to $1,172-1,217/t P2O5 cfr. But this offer was disqualified. The origin offered is not known. Trading firm Sun International offered $655.90/t cfr, equivalent to $1,215-1,261/t P2O5 cfr, for South African or Jordanian product. BCIC asked for the cargo to be shipped within 45 days of the receipt of the letters of credit, for delivery to Chattogram. The offers are higher compared with Sun International's offer at $617.76/t cfr — equivalent to $1,144-1,188/t P2O5 cfr — in BCIC's 1 January tender to buy 20,000t of the same grade of acid. They are also above the offers for 52-54pc P2O5 acid to BCIC in November at $620.87-631/t cfr — equivalent to $1,150-1,213/t P2O5 cfr. The lift in offers supports firmer expectations for the Indian phosphoric acid contract price — the global benchmark — for the second quarter, from the first-quarter price of $1,055/t P2O5 cfr India. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Bangladesh’s BCIC receives two phosacid offers


25/03/18
25/03/18

Bangladesh’s BCIC receives two phosacid offers

London, 18 March (Argus) — State-owned Bangladeshi fertilizer importer and producer BCIC received two offers in its tender to buy 20,000t of 52-54pc P2O5 phosphoric acid, which closed on Monday. Bangladeshi trading firm and newcomer to BCIC phosphoric acid tenders Qmark Group offered the lowest at $633/t cfr, equivalent to $1,172-1,217/t P2O5 cfr. Trading firm Sun International offered $655.90/t cfr, equivalent to $1,215-1,261/t P2O5 cfr. BCIC asked for the cargo to be shipped within 45 days of the receipt of the letters of credit, for delivery to Chattogram. The origins offered by the two firms are not yet known. The offers are higher compared with Sun International's offer at $617.76/t cfr — equivalent to $1,144-1,188/t P2O5 cfr — in BCIC's 1 January tender to buy 20,000t of the same grade of acid. They are also above the offers for 52-54pc P2O5 acid to BCIC in November at $620.87-631/t cfr — equivalent to $1,150-1,213/t P2O5 cfr. The lift in offers supports firmer expectations for the Indian phosphoric acid contract price — the global benchmark — for the second quarter, from the first-quarter price of $1,055/t P2O5 cfr India. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Iranian urea offers fall to $370/t fob, output ramps up


25/03/17
25/03/17

Iranian urea offers fall to $370/t fob, output ramps up

Amsterdam, 17 March (Argus) — Iran's fertilizer producers have reduced their granular urea offers to $370/t fob, down from last week's artificially high levels in the mid to high-$380s/t fob, with output set to return to typical levels after curtailments that have been in place since early December. The offers at $370/t fob are valid for this week. Producers had kept offers notionally high last week in the mid to high-$380s/t fob, but there was no liquidity at these levels and Argus assessed granular urea at $360-370/t fob on 13 March. Producers have yet to return to the market with tenders, but all suppliers have returned plants to full output, including Shiraz's 1.07mn t/yr granular urea unit. Exports are expected to return to more typical rates in April, after suppliers have met domestic and prior commitments. Production was heavily reduced from the first week of December , largely restricted to just one of Pardis' 1.07mn t/yr granular urea units in the following months. The country frequently experiences urea output cuts in winter as domestic heating and gas consumption are prioritised over industrial production. Iran has a total urea production capacity of 9mn t/yr and typically exports around 5mn t/yr. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India’s RCF buys MAP, Hindalco receives no DAP offers


25/03/17
25/03/17

India’s RCF buys MAP, Hindalco receives no DAP offers

London, 17 March (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer and producer RCF has bought 20,000t of MAP 10-50 from trading firm Hexagon at $649/t cfr with 30 days of credit in its 28 February tender. The cargo is due for shipment to Mumbai by 30 April. RCF had sought two 20,000t cargoes of MAP 10-50 or DAP in the tender, asking for the first cargo to be shipped within 30 days from issuing the purchase order. Dubai-based trading firm Petrotex offered DAP for the first shipment, but RCF has not accepted the offer. Hindalco receives no offers in DAP tender Fellow importer Hindalco received no offers in its tender to buy 40,000t of DAP, which closed on 14 March. It had asked for the cargo to arrive at Mundra on India's northwest coast in the second half of April. The lack of offers in the tender indicates the current tightness in global DAP supply because Chinese producers are focusing on meeting domestic demand, while many other producers have already sold DAP for March-April. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell fertilizers


25/03/17
25/03/17

Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell fertilizers

London, 17 March (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has issued a tender to sell various fertilizers for loading in April, closing on 24 March. NCIC is offering the following fertilizers: 30,000t of DAP — it sold 30,000t at $638-640/t fob in its 26 February tender 15,000t of TSP — it sold 17,000t at $487-490/t fob in its 26 February tender 10,000t of 19pc SSP — it sold 30,000t at $198-203/t fob in its 26 February tender and 20,000t at $213/t fob in its 4 March tender 12,000t of CAN27 — it sold 15,000t at $321-325/t fob in its 26 February tender 5,000t of granular urea — it offered 5,000t in its 26 February tender but was not awarded 1,500t of water-soluble SOP — it sold 1,500t at $580-590/t fob bagged, with the customer supplying the bags, in its 26 February tender The fertilizers sold in its 26 February tender were scheduled to load in March. NCIC only offered SSP for loading in April in its 4 March tender. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more