Phosphates
Overview
The global phosphates market has witnessed increasing volatility, in response to military conflicts, political tensions and changing market dynamics. Price fluctuations have continued to buffet the market, with increasing demand from south and Southeast Asia the main regions driving consumption growth. Rising raw material prices and improved affordability have lifted prices once again.
Phosphates' usage is also not solely limited to fertilizers. Battery-material suppliers are increasingly seeking to source phosphate rock and specialty phosphates-based products to meet the rapidly rising demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for electric vehicle production.
Our extensive phosphates coverage includes DAP, MAP, TSP and SSP, as well as raw materials phosphate rock and phosphoric acid, with assessments also spanning feed products MCP and DCP. Argus has many decades of experience covering the phosphates market and incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including sulphur and ammonia to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Daily and weekly phosphates price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of processed phosphate and phosphate rock prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest phosphate news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global phosphate industry.
India's Kribhco buys Saudi DAP
India's Kribhco buys Saudi DAP
London, 22 May (Argus) — Indian importer Kribhco has bought 40,000t of DAP at around $738/t cfr from Saudi Arabian producer Ma'aden. The cargo will load in June and the price nets back to around $724/t fob Ras al-Khair. This follows Ma'aden's sale of 40,000t of DAP to another Indian importer at the same price, also for loading in June, reported earlier today . By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell fertilizers
Egypt’s NCIC issues tender to sell fertilizers
London, 19 May (Argus) — Egyptian producer NCIC has issued a tender to sell various fertilizers for loading in June, closing on 24 May. NCIC is offering the following products: 30,000t of DAP – it sold 15,000t at $683-687/t fob in its last tender, probably for shipment to Europe 17,000t of TSP – it sold 15,000t at $535-540/t fob in its last tender. The cargo was probably sold at $573/t cfr Brazil 30,000t of 19pc SSP – it sold 30,000t at $255-260/t fob in its last tender, probably for shipment to Brazil 10,000t of CAN 27 – it sold 10,000t at $275-280/t fob in its last tender 5,000t of granular urea – it did not award the 5,000t offered in its last tender 1,500t of water-soluble SOP – it sold 1,500t at $600-605/t fob in its last tender NCIC's last sales tender offered May-loading fertilizers and closed on 15 April. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Ethiopia’s EABC still needs up to 400,000t DAP in 2025
Ethiopia’s EABC still needs up to 400,000t DAP in 2025
London, 9 May (Argus) — Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses (EABC) will close a tender to buy 425,390t of DAP on 13 May. Argus estimates it needs to secure the majority of this volume to meet the country's phosphates demand for the 2025 application season. Across all tenders to buy DAP that EABC opened between August 2024-May 2025, the importer awarded 1.16mn t across 18 cargoes. Of this awarded total, Argus estimates only up to 750,000t is likely to be delivered to Ethiopia in a timely manner. This is because some of these awarded cargoes — largely Chinese — did not have firm backing from producers. And the bulk of the awarded Chinese cargoes — which made up almost half of all the awarded cargoes — were not shipped while Chinese producers focused on covering domestic demand. In recent years, Ethiopia had imported phosphate in the form of NPS and NPSB through EABC tenders, generally all from Morocco. But in August 2024, ahead of the 2025 domestic season, EABC switched from importing NPS to asking for DAP 18-46. In its last tender to buy NPS, issued in August 2023, EABC asked for around 1mn t of NPSB and 332,000t of NPS containing 37.7pc and 38pc P2O5, respectively. On a P2O5 basis, the 2023 NPS tender asked for a total of around 1.1mn t of DAP-equivalent. This implies EABC needs to line up a further 350,000-400,000t of DAP, assuming a similar demand for P2O5 as last year. Argus line-up data shows 1.046mn t of NPS shipped from Morocco's Jorf Lasfar to Djibouti in the 12 months following August 2023. On a P2O5 basis, this is probably equivalent to only around 900,000t of DAP. EABC would need to buy 150,000-200,000t more to reach this level. Chinese DAP will probably dominate offers into EABC's 13 May tender. After a hiatus of around six months, Chinese suppliers will likely be able to apply for customs inspections under the CIQ system from mid-May for DAP and MAP cargoes. This implies Chinese DAP exports will resume from as early as late May, in time to meet EABC's requirements. Time running out for Ethiopia's season EABC is likely to struggle to secure the remaining DAP needed before the end of Ethiopia's domestic season. Planting during Ethiopia's Meher — the main rainy season — broadly spans from March to June. In its latest tender to buy DAP, closing on 13 May, EABC asked for a loading period up to mid-July. In 2024, the final cargoes under EABC's 2023-24 tender to buy NPS had already arrived in Djibouti by that time. Under the 23 April and 13 May EABC tenders, cargoes loading in June — particularly from closer origins like Saudi Arabia — could still arrive in time to service the tail end of Ethiopia's DAP season. But the bulk of the country's application season will likely have been missed by then. EABC's next tenders will likely be targeting supply for the 2026 domestic season. DAP is more expensive Tender awards are limited by EABC's allocation of funds for DAP before offers are collected. The importer received eight 60,000t offers ranging from $696.27-748.00/t fob with 30 days of credit in its 23 April tender, and awarded only the lowest offer before scrapping the tender and issuing a fresh one. It rejected revised offers in its 20 February and 25 March tenders, which were above its counterbids at $625/t fob and $647.19/t fob, respectively. Awards in the 13 May tender will likely remain difficult because prices in the global DAP market have risen. DAP prices in India — the global DAP benchmark and a key competitor to Ethiopia — are now around $720/t cfr, up significantly from $590/t cfr at the beginning of August 2024. DAP could go elsewhere Any DAP which Ethiopia does not acquire will find willing buyers elsewhere in south and southeast Asia. India began May with around 1.64mn t of DAP in stock — well below a comfortable 2mn t minimum — and will need to boost imports to build its inventories. Bangladesh will likely issue a private-sector tender in the coming weeks, probably seeking around 500,000t or more of DAP. China is traditionally its main supplier, especially through its private-sector tenders. Demand in southeast Asia has generally seen an uptick because of high rainfall, and many buyers have been holding out for the resumption of Chinese exports. DAP prices have reached $700-715/t cfr southeast Asia on latest sales, but offers are climbing higher. And Pakistan will likely step into the import market to secure tonnes for July-August arrival, ahead of the peak of its domestic season from the end of the third quarter. EABC received offers for Jordanian and Saudi Arabian DAP loading in May in its 23 April tender. It rejected the offers, allowing India to buy probably the same cargoes at $719.50/t cfr earlier this month. By Adrien Seewald Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Saudi Arabia's Ma'aden sells DAP at $720/t cfr India
Saudi Arabia's Ma'aden sells DAP at $720/t cfr India
London, 8 May (Argus) — Saudi Arabian phosphates producer Ma'aden has sold around 55,000t combined of DAP to two Indian importers at $720/t cfr for loading on one vessel in May. Argus understands that the buyers are Indorama and Chambal. The price is broadly in line with the sale of 45,000t of Jordanian DAP to Hindalco at $719.50/t cfr , and nets back to $708-709/t fob Ras al-Khair. It is up by $20/t from Ma'aden's last sales to India earlier this week . By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at [email protected] Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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Podcast - 30/04/25Fertilizer Matters Ep30: US Fertilizer Markets are Tariff-ied
Insight papers - 03/04/25Low DAP stocks in India and challenging affordability hurdles prompt launch of new price forecast
Concise market insight paper analysing India's DAP market and pricing risk as well as a new price forecast from Argus
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