Urea market awaits outcome of latest Indian purchasing tender – 2.7m. tonnes offered into latest inquiry

National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) closed a tender 4 January for shipments to 29 February. Business elsewhere has largely been on hold ahead of the conclusion of the tender. Indeed, both price levels and the eventual volume booked will shape market discussions around January into February shipments. This comes as peak-season import demand is due to…

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China: Industry body unveils action plan, call for reduced urea exports met with muted international response

Urea export availability from China has played a major role in shaping global market movements in the second half of this year. Indeed, inspection controls have waxed and waned in tandem with domestic market movements. Most notably, in August and September domestic and international traders faced more onerous CIQ inspections in the wake of 1.1m.…

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Few fireworks in global ammonia market as seasonal factors dampen demand

Softening demand and stronger supply have combined to create downward price pressure in the international ammonia market for late 2023/early 2024 business, with a November spot sale in Algeria agreed at a $20-25pt discount to last business. The market is far better balanced than previous months on plant restarts and with no sign of major…

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Urea: China’s comeback aids India in securing 1.76m. tonnes, undermining bull rally and raising doubts over Q4 support levels

IPL made light work of securing a multi-year record volume through the latest import tender, almost exclusively owing to China’s return to the international stage. As much as 1.1m. tonnes of urea has been committed to India from China for shipment by 26 September, signaling the most significant export business since September 2021, when over…

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Bullish sentiment persists; urea values rally buoyed by supply challenges, Indian demand and strong energy and grain fundamentals

Urea values stepped up another level in trading early this week, prolonging a rally that began mid-June and shows no signs of easing in the near-term. In latest business, Egyptian granular urea has traded at $450pt fob, up more than $165pt in a little over six weeks. Producer price ideas have now moved on with…

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Nitrogen Index advances despite ammonia market woes

The recovery of Profercy’s Nitrogen Index from the mid-June lows extended for a further week on the back of price gains in urea, ammonium sulphate and nitrate markets. The ongoing challenges in the global ammonia market, as reflected in the sharp drop in the Tampa contract price, were insufficient to hold back gains. The Index,…

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