Fertilizers
Overview
The fertilizer industry has seen dramatic changes in market dynamics, with challenges posed by policy and regulatory changes, political instability, conflicts and new macroeconomic realities. The drive towards energy transition and ambitious zero-carbon goals has also opened up the industry to new entrants and new opportunities.
It is more vital than ever for market participants to have the full picture – to capitalise on the opportunities and manage the risk of the challenges.
Argus’ fertilizer market intelligence will empower you to work smarter:
- Our price reporting services provide robust daily and weekly price assessments, market moving news, actionable market commentary and proprietary data
- Our short-term outlook and medium to long-term analytics services connect you with industry-leading forecasts and analysis of prices, supply, demand, costs, trade and projects
- Our consulting services partner with you to deliver fully bespoke consulting solutions, including market-specific research and analysis
Our market coverage
Argus is the leading independent provider of market intelligence to the global fertilizer market.
Fertilizer Focus Magazine – sign up here
Get complimentary access to Argus Fertilizer Focus, our bi-monthly magazine focused on traditional fertilizer commodities and specialty fertilizers. Each issue delivers a great blend of news, features, interviews and unique insights into all aspects of the fertilizer industry.
Sign up hereLatest fertilizer news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global fertilizer industry.
Japan’s J-Power steps up coal-fired power phase-out
Japan’s J-Power steps up coal-fired power phase-out
Osaka, 10 May (Argus) — Japanese power producer and wholesaler J-Power is stepping up efforts to halt operations of inefficient coal-fired power plants, while pushing ahead with decarbonisation of its existing plants by using clean fuels and technology. J-Power plans to scrap the 500MW Matsushima No.1 coal-fired unit by the end of March 2025 and the 250MW Takasago No.1 and No.2 coal-fired units by 2030, according to its 2024-26 business strategy announced on 9 May. It also aims to decommission or mothball the 700MW Takehara No.3 and the 1,000MW Matsuura No.1 coal-fired units in 2030. The combined capacity of the selected five coal-fired units accounts for 32pc of J-Power's total thermal capacity of 8,412MW, all fuelled by coal. While phasing out its ageing coal-fired capacity, J-Power is looking to co-fire with fuel ammonia at the 2,100MW Tachibanawan coal-fired plant sometime after 2030 and ensure it runs on 100pc ammonia subsequently. The company plans to increase the mixture of biomass at the 600MW Takehara No.1 unit, along with the installation of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology after 2030. The CCS technology will be also applied to the 1,000MW Matsuura No.2 unit, which is expected to co-fire ammonia, after 2030. J-Power plans to use hydrogen at the 1,200MW Isogo plant sometime after 2035. The company is also set to deploy integrated coal gasification combined-cycle and CCS technology at the 500MW Matsushima No.2 unit and the 150MW Ishikawa No.1 and No.2 units after 2035. The company aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions from its domestic power generation by 46pc by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year against 2013-14 levels before achieving a net zero emissions goal by 2050. This is in line with Tokyo's emissions reduction target. The company aims to expand domestic annual renewable output by 4TWh by 2030-31 compared with 2022-23, along with decarbonising thermal capacity. Its renewable generation totalled 10.4TWh in 2023-24. Tokyo has pledged to phase out existing inefficient coal-fired capacity by 2030, which could target units with less than 42pc efficiency. The country's large-scale power producers have reduced annual power output from their inefficient coal-fired fleet by 13TWh to 103TWh in 2022-23 against 2019-20, according to a document unveiled by the trade and industry ministry on 8 May. It expects such power generation will fall further by more than 60TWh to 39.700TWh in 2030-31. Global pressure against coal-fired power generation has been growing. Energy ministers from G7 countries in late April pledged to phase out "unabated coal power generation" by 2035 or "in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with countries' net zero pathways". By Motoko Hasegawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's 3tentos cuts soy crop outlook amid floods
Brazil's 3tentos cuts soy crop outlook amid floods
Sao Paulo, 9 May (Argus) — Brazilian agribusiness company 3tentos cut its soybean crop outlook for this season because of the floods ravaging southern Rio Grande do Sul state. An important part of 3tentos' operations is headquartered in Rio Grande do Sul, the second-largest soybean producer in the country, which has been facing heavy rainfall since 29 April that has killed 107 people, according to the state's civil defense. As a result, Rio Grande do Su's soybean crop may drop to 20mn-21mn metric tonnes (t) from 23mn-24mn t previously predicted, according to 3tentos' chief executive Luis Osorio Dumoncel. At least 80pc of soybeans harvested this year are stored in warehouses or ports. "We have been working tirelessly to maintain all operations in the supply of inputs, grains, feed and biofuels," he said during a quarterly earnings call. The company sees a "tiny risk" to its supply chains of pesticides, seeds and fertilizers because of the floods. On the logistics side, alternative export routes have also been used to ship products such as soybean meal, chief operating officer Joao Marcelo Dumoncel said. 1Q results 3tentos' first quarter sales reached R2.68bn ($520mn), a 48.5pc hike from the same period a year earlier, driven by the industry, biodiesel and soybean meal segments. The industry segment, the firm's largest, accounted for R1.52bn in sales, rising by 69pc year-over-year. Soybean meal and other products' revenues totaled R927.6mn, 72pc higher than in the first quarter in 2023. Biodiesel sales increased by 64pc to R591mn, thanks to the increase in biofuel blending mandate to 14pc from 12pc since March. "We are confident that the biodiesel operation will help the company's margin this year," Dumoncel said. The firm's soybean crushing margins rose by 3.3pc in the quarter, settling at R442/t, driven by biodiesel production. 3tentos' grain sales grew by almost 27pc to R560mn. Revenues in the agriculture feedstocks segment — such as fertilizers, pesticides and seeds — reached R601mn in the first quarter, up by 35pc from a year prior. The company's first quarter income totaled R156.44mn, a 51pc increase from the same period last year. 3tentos also started to build its first corn crushing unit to produce ethanol and dried distillers' grain (DDG). The company completed the issuance of debt securities worth R560.73mn this week. By Alexandre Melo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Floods to sow chaos for Brazil’s South logistics
Floods to sow chaos for Brazil’s South logistics
Sao Paulo, 9 May (Argus) — Unprecedented floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state are expected to create even more chaotic logistics situation in the country and could cut fertilizer usage for 2024-25 soybean crop in the state. Heavy rainfall has hit the state since 29 April, culminating in the worst floods ever registered in Rio Grande do Sul. The floods have reached the central part of the state, closing the ports of Pelotas and Porto Alegre, which both handle agricultural commodities, including grains, oilseeds and fertilizers. The high waters are expected to move south, reaching Rio Grande port. The three Rio Grande do Sul ports handled about 44.8mn metric tonnes (t) in 2023, with the larger Rio Grande port accounting for at least 42.6mn t, according to port data. The state's geographic layout and a particularly narrow channel for floodwaters to reach the sea suggests the worst is yet to come in the southern part of the state. Water levels are about to increase in the Lagoa dos Patos, a lagoon that receives water from many rivers and flows to the Atlantic Ocean. But operations are running normally in the Rio Grande port as of 9 May. The national association of cereal exporters Anec project that 343,250 t of soybeans and 131,778 t of soymeal will be shipped in the week ended 11 May, according to port schedule data. Shipments between 28 April and 4 May — which account for the days where rainfall reached its peak and the state began to flood — totaled 183,559t and 133,424t for soybean and soymeal, respectively. Lineup data from maritime agency Williams predicts that soybean exports may total 838,600t, nearly doubling the volumes from the forecast a week ago. The estimated average waiting time for shipping rose to just three days from the two days projected on 29 April. The Rio Grande port was the fifth largest soybean exporter in 2023, with 3.8mn t shipped last year, according to the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq). Waiting time for discharge fertilizers is at around one day, unchanged from the previous week. Rio Grande port was third in terms of fertilizer import volumes in the first quarter 2024, according to lineup data from maritime agency Unimar. Paranagua, in Parana state, received 2mn t of fertilizers, followed by Santos port and Rio Grande, with 1.9mn t and 990,640t, respectively. Lineup data for May and June suggest that Rio Grande is about to receive 540,900t and 66,375t of fertilizers, respectively. Vessels lined-up for Rio Grande may be diverted to other ports, specially for Sao Francisco do Sul, in Santa Catarina state, and Paranagua according to market participants. Even if fertilizer volumes would be discharged as initially planned, the flow to agriculture producing areas would be compromised. The main access to the port, the BR-116 roadway, is already partially blocked, hampering truck flows in the state. Drivers have already been searching for short-stretches to move goods, as long-stretches force them to look for longer alternatives, considering there are around 88 partial and full road blockages in the state as of 9 May. Logistics company Rumo also partially interrupted operations in Rio Grande do Sul state on 6 May. The company has a grain terminal in Rio Grande port and a rail network of around 7,220km in Brazil's South region, which includes Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana states. Fertilizer companies that operate in Rio Grande do Sul are reportedly trying to move their product to warehouses away from the rivers. Considering the agricultural production, volumes that had already been sowed and were in silos are now soaked. With more damage expected to be measured farmers in Rio Grande do Sul may be discouraged from investing in technology and fertilizers for the upcoming 2024-25 soybean crop. More rain forecast for the weekend Brazil's national meteorological institute Inmet expects rainfall to intensify once again in Rio Grande do Sul starting this Friday between the state's center-north and west portions. Rain levels are expected to subside by 12 May, but may surpass 100mm before then. The coastal areas in the north regions and south of Santa Catarina state are also expected to be affected, according to Inmet. By Renata Cardarelli and Nathalia Giannetti Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India's GSFC receives offers in tender to buy DAP
India's GSFC receives offers in tender to buy DAP
London, 9 May (Argus) — Indian importer GSFC likely received offers from two trading firms ranging in the high-$510s/t cfr to around $520/t cfr, under its 8 May tender to buy 100,000t of DAP. The tender sought offers for 50,000t of natural-coloured DAP and 50,000t of "coffee-brown" DAP for delivery to Kandla or Munda on India's west coast at the end of June or in early July. Fellow importer NFL has scrapped its 6 May tender to buy 50,000t of DAP for delivery by the end of May. It had received one offer from a trading firm. Another importer Smartchem on 8 May issued a counterbid of $479/t cfr against the six offers received in its 6 May tender. The initial offers had ranged from the low-$510s/t cfr to the low-$520s/t cfr. Smartchem gave the companies which had offered until close of business on 9 May to accept. The tender had sought 60,000t of DAP in two 30,000t cargoes for delivery by the second half of June. Importer Hindalco earlier this week awarded its 1 May tender to buy 40,000-45,000t of DAP to a regional trading firm at around $508/t cfr, initially reported as around $509/t cfr. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our fertilizer products
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.
Related events
Argus DEF Forum North America
Argus DEF Forum North America
Argus Fertilizer Europe Conference
Argus Fertilizer Europe Conference
Argus Clean Ammonia Europe Conference
Argus Clean Ammonia Europe Conference
