Phosphoric Acid Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Phosphoric Acid in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

For the Fourth Quarter of 2021

Asia

In October, the market remained mostly constant, with some modest decreases in quotations based on their own inventory situation. There were few companies quoting in the market on the first day following the holiday, but the price of the raw material phosphorus yellow was momentarily steady, and most companies had no quotations. Because there was some replenishment demand in the downstream, phosphoric acid prices remained high.

North America

The market in North America remained consolidated in the fourth quarter of 2021, with manufacturer offers fluctuating throughout the period. The main cause for this market shift can be linked to the low reliance on Chinese suppliers for fertiliser exports as well as enough domestic production. The North American demand outlook was bolstered by a paradigm change in the chemical’s market trend from fertilisers to electric vehicles. As a result, the FOB USA quarterly average was set at 1650 USD/MT at the end of the quarter.

Middle East and Africa

Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP), a Moroccan producer, agreed to 1,330 USD/MT CFR phosphoric acid contracts with its joint venture partners for Q4 delivery to India. The price was up 70 USD/MT from the third quarter's CFR price of 1,160 USD/MT, making it the sixth increase since WHO designated COVID-19 a pandemic.

For First, Second and Third Quarters of 2021

Asia

Due to the poor performance of the Asian fertiliser sector during this time, local demand for the chemical in the region remained low. Despite increased demand from European countries, the buying trend in the region remained strong. To guarantee larger profits, several manufacturers chose to export rather than keep it for the home market. The closure of the Suez Canal had an influence on regional trade. Several shipments of the chemical were delayed during this time. Phosphoric acid prices grew by 4.8% in the Indian market from January to March.

The price of yellow phosphorus rose in July, owing to electricity rationing in Yunnan, due to which phosphoric acid prices also increased. In August, demand for the chemical in India remained high, backed by strong offtakes from domestic DAP factories, while supply remained insufficient to meet demand. Its scarcity caused a spike in the overall price of various phosphate fertilisers in India, where the government was attempting to limit downstream fertiliser prices to relieve home farmers of the burden. In the third quarter of 2021, the (fertiliser grade 51.75%) price was recorded at 1220 USD/MT.

Europe

Due to the spring season, Europe's domestic fertiliser sector saw a reasonable demand, while domestic supplies remained insufficient to meet overall domestic demand. As a result, import demand in the region remained high, causing phosphoric acid prices to effectively climb. Meanwhile, a severe cold spell in the United States decreased the availability of phosphoric acid in the region, prompting traders to shift their reliance from the United States to Asian countries.

The price increased in key European countries the second quarter, owing to strong demand from the downstream fertiliser business. Following severe weather conditions in the previous quarter, Europe's agrochemicals sector showed signs of recovery. The price of the chemical rose as a result of the increased demand from fertiliser makers. Furthermore, as a result of the global price increase, cargoes arriving in Europe from Asia were also quoted high, exacerbating the overprice problem.

North America

During Q1 2021, freezing weather disrupted production activities across the US Gulf, resulting in a large spike in phosphoric acid costs. Due to freezing weather and poor crops, demand from the fertiliser sector remained low over the period. Meanwhile, throughout the spring season, export demand from European countries was high, despite the fact that trading activity was largely halted. Phosphoric acid prices in the United States increased from 615 USD/MT in January 2021 to 645 USD/MT in March 2021. They rose across North America, owing to strong demand from both the domestic and worldwide markets.

Demand from downstream fertiliser manufacturers was strong throughout the quarter, as the domestic farming sector picked up steam in May and June. Furthermore, high DAP demand from European and Asian countries pushed up worldwide demand, supporting the pricing curve's upward trajectory. Phosphoric acid prices peaked in the first week of June, hovering about 690 USD/MT in the United States.

For the Year 2020

Asia

Due to its usage in the production of phosphate fertilisers, the chemical’s demand in the Asian market from countries such as China and India remained consistent in Q4. A major player reported increased operating rates at its White Phosphoric Acid (WPA) factory in China, with commercial food-grade acid production expected to begin by the end of Q1 2021. The regional offers were kept in an appropriate range due to pent-up demand from the textile and sugar sectors mills. The price of phosphorus remained consistent, ensuring stable phosphoric acid prices. In Q4 of 2020, Indian businesses reported increased utilization of the chemical in a variety of industrial applications, with local pricing hovering around 713 USD/MT.

Europe

In Europe, the prognosis for phosphoric acid had been rather stable. Players reported significant demand in the European region, with consumers aggressively replenishing to make purchases for the spring season, hence phosphoric acid prices were raised. Because the fertiliser industry was the least affected by the pandemic, its large usage in the production of phosphate fertilisers raised demand in Q4 of 2020. Imports of WPA were found to be high, owing to a significant improvement in food grade phosphates and stable industrial salts.

North America

The demand for the chemical increased as crop yield in the United States improved. It remained significantly above producer projections despite multiple government attempts to bolster the stressed economy. In the fourth quarter of 2020, North American phosphoric acid sales were stable, with product prices maintained at higher levels to offset prior losses. The fertiliser market was impacted by fewer exports of the chemical, as well as port-related congestions, which were heard towards the end of the quarter.

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