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A sprouting fertilizer market

Summary

Brassica are widely grown for their valuable roots, stems, leaves, flowers, buds and seeds and include some of the world's most dominant food crops. We review the nutrient needs of this unusually diverse plant family, including cabbages, broccoli and cauliflowers.

Abstract

The plant genus Brassica, part of the mustard family, includes some of the world’s most widely-cultivated food crops. Commonly consumed vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, kohlrabi, pak choi (Chinese cabbage), radishes and turnips are all types of brassica. Other brassica, notably rapeseed and mustard seed, are grown on a large-scale globally as a rich source of vegetable oil and protein. Keywords: Brassica, Marketable yield, Fertilisers, Nutrients, Nitrogen, Potash, Phosphate, Phosphorus, Deficiency, Recommendations, Applications, China, India, United States, US, Italy, Mexico, France, Poland, South Africa, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Florida, California, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, kohlrabi, pak choi, Chinese cabbage, Radishes, Turnips, Rapeseed, Mustard seed, Haifa, Yara, Tessenderlo, ICL,

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Brazil: global agriculture's powerhouse

Summary

Brazil's massive agricultural industry makes the country a pivotal market for fertilizers. We look at the country's large, diverse and rapidly-growing farming sector and assess future nutrient demand.

Abstract

A sharp economic downturn and political uncertainty made 2015 a difficult year for Brazil’s farmers. Fertilizer purchases were particularly affected with total deliveries down by 6% to 30.2 million tonnes and imports falling by 12% year-on-year to 21.1 million tonnes. Domestic fertilizer production did hold up, however, growing by 3% to 9.1 million tonnes in 2015. Keywords:Consumption Demand Production Imports Farm credit Distribution Bartering Mosaic, ANDA, Vale, Galvani, Petrobras, Anglo American, Fertipar, Heringer, Yara, ADM, Brazil, Latin America, China, Agriculture, Grain, Oilseed, Soybeans, Corn, Yield, Potash, Phosphate, Nitrogen, NPK, Urea, MOP, MAP, SSP

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Selling nitrogen to the world

Summary

The Former Soviet Union (FSU) is a leading global supplier of ammonia, ammonium nitrate and urea. Many of the region's producers, by targeting markets such as Latin America and Western Europe, enjoy lucrative revenues from the international nitrogen export trade. The FSU looks set to maintain its leading position in ammonia and ammonium nitrate trading globally. The region's share of the urea export market, in contrast, is likely to decline due to higher capacity growth in other parts of the world.

Abstract

The size of the fertilizer sector in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) illustrates the region’s enormous geographic spread, economic might and massive endowment in natural resources. The FSU produces more than 70 million tonnes of ammonia and fertilizer products annually, easily outstripping North American production. The nitrogen industry is the dominant force in FSU fertilizer manufacturing. Collective ammonia, urea and ammonium nitrate output is more than double the region’s phosphate and potash production combined (Table 1). Keywords:FSU, Former Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Georgia Estonia, Turkmenistan, Latin America, Western Europe, Nitrogen, Urea, Ammonium nitrate, AN, Urea, ammonium nitrate, UAN, Ammonia, EuroChem, Uralchem, Acron, PhosAgro, Group DF, Ostchem, OPZ, KazAzot, NavoyAzot, Ammonii, National Chemical Group, NChG, IFA, International Fertilizer Industry Association,Cereals, Wheat, Consumption, Demand, Supply, Trade, Export, Trade barriers, Anti-dumping, Tariffs

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Mosaic's game-changing sulphur melter

Summary

The Mosaic Company's new sulphur melter will transform the North American sulphur market now that it is operational. We report on the technological innovation and partnerships behind the successful project to build a one million tonne capacity sulphur melting facility at Mosaic's New Wales complex in Central Florida.

Abstract

The Mosaic Company, as the world’s largest producer of finished phosphates, is unsurprisingly also the world’s largest consumer of sulphur. Mosaic consumes 4.5 million tonnes annually, making sulphur an essential raw material for the company. Traditionally, the company has exclusively sourced the molten sulphur it uses from North American sources, and configured its Florida-based manufacturing operations accordingly. But the long-term viability of relying solely on Canadian and US sulphur has started to look doubtful in recent times. Keywords: Mosaic, Devco, Crescent Technology, CTI Consulting, Integer Research, Fertecon, USGS, Canada, United States, Florida, US, Kazakhstan, UAE, Sulphur melter, New Wales, Shale gas, Sulphur, Sulphur trade, Sulphur imports, Sulphur exports, Molten sulphur, Modular, Logistics

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Nitrogen and energy costs

Summary

Lower energy prices have helped to cut nitrogen fertilizer production costs but also affected margins and the global floor price. Nexant's Dr Dimitrios Dimitriou and Thomas Heinrich explain the complex interplay between global oil pricing, nitrogen industry costs and other market drivers.

Abstract

Fertilizer consumption is primarily driven by population growth. That makes large-scale fertilizer production essential if food availability is to be maintained and ensure food output continues to match global population growth. Secondary influences on fertilizer consumption include rising GDP, government tariff and subsidy policies, biofuels demand and environmental aspects of fertilizer use. Keywords: Nexant, Energy prices, Oil price, Natural gas, Coal, Anthracite, Nitrogen, Ammonia, Urea, Price, Cost, Drivers, Cost curve, Laggard, Margin, Production, Trade, Supply, Feedstock, Investment, Capacity, Overcapacity, Supply, Oversupply, Downstream, China, Iran, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, US, United States, CIS

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Morocco's phosphate growth dash

Summary

OCP is investing on an unprecedented scale as it attempts to double phosphate mining output and triple fertilizer production capacity by 2023. This year marks the mid-point of what is the phosphate sector's most bold and ambitious expansion programme. We review OCP's recent landmark achievements and look at the company's future plans.

Abstract

Morocco’s Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) got off to a flying start in 2016. The state-owned company’s new, one million t/a Jorf Lasfar phosphate fertilizer unit was officially opened by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI in February. Named the ‘Africa Fertilizer Complex’, the large-scale plant provides a dedicated supply of DAP fertilizer for the African market. The integrated unit also comprises a 1.4 million t/a sulphuric acid plant, a 450,000 t/a capacity phosphoric acid plant, a 62-megawatt solar power plant, as well as 200,000 tonnes of fertilizer storage capacity. Keywords: OCP, Morocco, Africa, Jorf Lasfar, Khouribga Boucraa, Safi, Phosboucraa, Laâyoune, Western Sahara, Gantour, Meskala, Beni Amir, Merah El Ahrach, MEA, Finance, Investment, Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank, European Investment Bank, KFW, CRU Hannam & Partners, Export, Phosphoric acid, Phosphate, Phosphate hub, Phosphate rock, TSP, DAP, MAP, DCP, MCP, Sulphuric acid, Production, Processing, Desalination, Slurry pipeline, Mining

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Muga: Spain's big potash hope

Summary

Highfield Resources is awaiting a mining concession permit prior to green-lighting its one million tonne capacity Muga potash project in northern Spain. We weigh-up the prospects and look at the next steps for this highly-promising European potash project.

Abstract

Highfield Resources, the Australian stock exchange listed developer, is pursuing five separate potash projects across a 500 km2 area of the Ebro basin in northern Spain. These five Iberian ventures – the Muga, Vipasca, Izaga, Pintanos and Sierra del Perdón projects – are being developed by Geoalcali, Highfield’s Spanish subsidiary. Keywords: Highfield Resources, Geoalcali, PotashCorp, Europe, Spain, Pamplona, Sangüesa, Muga, Potash, MOP, Mining, Production, Export, Brazil, Definitive feasibility study, DFS, Final investment decision, Construction, Finance, Lending, Mining concession, Environmental declaration, Greenfield, Capex, Opex

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Phosphates 2016

Summary

More than 400 delegates from 36 countries gathered at the Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris, France, 13-15 March for CRU's Phosphates 2016 conference.

Abstract

We report on the key market outlook presentations at CRU’s 9th Phosphates International Conference and Exhibition held in Paris in March. Mike Gallagher, CRU’s general manager for fertilizers, opened proceedings: “Welcome to Paris in the spring and the 2016 CRU Phosphates conference. Over the next two days we’re going to examine a number of challenges but also opportunities for our industry.” Gallagher went on to outline four of the conference’s main themes. “First of all, as we’ve seen a squeeze on profit margins in 2015, what is the outlook for demand and supply in 2016 and how is that going to impact fertilizer prices? Secondly, what are the regional opportunities for key markets, China, India, Brazil, and the US, and what is the developing opportunity for Africa?” Keywords: CRU, Control Risks, Hannam & Partners, OCP, OCP, Africa, JR Simplot, Yara, PhosAgro, Prayon, TIMAB, Phosphates, Willem Schipper Consulting, Paris, Conference, Phosphates, Feed phosphates, Food phosphates, SOP, MAP, DAP, SSP, Micronutrients, Phosphorus recovery, Phosphorus recycling, Ammonia, Sulphur, Chloride, Chloride sensitivity, US, United States, Syria, Ethiopia, India, China, Brazil, Africa, Outlook, Markets, Price, Supply, Demand, Capacity, Investment

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