Urea (Granular)
Granular urea is the world's most widely used nitrogen fertilizer, containing 46% nitrogen. The granular form (2-4mm particles) is preferred for bulk blending and direct application due to superior handling and reduced caking. Middle Eastern and North African producers benefit from low-cost natural gas feedstock.
- Granular (46% N)
- SGN 240-280
- Polymer Coated
- FOB
- CFR
- CIF
Urea (Granular), in brief.
- Common origins
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Iran
- Russia
- China
- Common destinations
- India
- Brazil
- United States
- Thailand
- Australia
- Grades and specifications
- Granular (46% N)
- SGN 240-280
- Polymer Coated
- Incoterms
- FOB
- CFR
- CIF
- Unit of measure
- Metric Tons
What moves Urea (Granular) pricing
Granular urea prices off Argus and Fertecon FOB benchmarks (FOB Egypt, FOB Middle East, FOB Baltic, FOB Indonesia, FOB China). The natural gas-to-urea spread is the marginal cost driver: US, Russian, and Middle East producers benefit from cheap gas; Chinese and European producers run on higher gas costs. Indian state tender results (DAP and urea both) move global pricing materially. Chinese urea export policy (subject to inspection regime) is the dominant supply swing factor.
How Urea (Granular) cargoes are priced and settled
Cargoes 5,000-50,000 tonnes per parcel, bagged (50 kg) or bulk. Pricing FOB origin against Argus or Fertecon. India MMTC and IPL tender awards set monthly price points. Letter of credit standard.
Urea (Granular) specifications and dispute practice
Specs: nitrogen 46% min, biuret 1.0-1.2% max, moisture 0.5% max, particle size (granular 2-4mm or 1-2mm). Disputes turn on biuret content (above-spec material damages crops via stunted growth), caking from moisture absorption in transit, and dust generation from prilled material.
Where Urea (Granular) comes from and where it goes
Top exporters: Russia (sanctions-affected since 2022), Qatar (QAFCO), Saudi Arabia, Iran (sanctions), Egypt, Algeria, Indonesia, Oman. Top importers: India (~10 Mt/year typical tender volume), Brazil, US (also a producer but net importer for some grades), Türkiye, Australia, Thailand. Chinese urea export curbs since 2021 have structurally tightened the market.
Who trades Urea (Granular)?
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Related market pages.
- Urea (Prilled)Prilled urea consists of small, spherical particles (1-2mm) formed by spraying molten urea into a prilling tower. While less popular than granular in blending operations, prilled urea is preferred for certain industrial applications including resin production and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF/AdBlue).
- DAPDiammonium Phosphate (DAP) is the world's most widely used phosphate fertilizer, providing both nitrogen (18%) and phosphorus (46% P2O5). It is water-soluble and suitable for a wide range of soils and crops. China, Saudi Arabia (Ma'aden), and Morocco (OCP) are the major producers.
- MAPMonoammonium Phosphate (MAP) is a phosphate fertilizer with a higher phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio (11-52-0) than DAP, making it preferred for alkaline soils and crops with lower nitrogen requirements. It is also a key ingredient in compound NPK fertilizer production.
- Potash (MOP)Muriate of Potash (MOP, potassium chloride) is the dominant potassium fertilizer, containing 60-62% K2O. It is essential for crop health, water regulation, and disease resistance. Canada (Saskatchewan), Russia, and Belarus hold the vast majority of global reserves. Canpotex and BPC are the key export cartels.
- Ammonia (Anhydrous)Anhydrous ammonia is a pungent, corrosive gas (NH3) that is the fundamental building block of nitrogen-based fertilizers and a key industrial chemical. It is shipped as a pressurized liquid in specialized tankers. Trinidad, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are major exporters to consuming markets.
- Sulphuric AcidSulphuric acid (H2SO4) is the world's most produced industrial chemical, essential for phosphate fertilizer manufacturing, metal processing, petroleum refining, and wastewater treatment. Smelter acid (a byproduct of copper and zinc smelting) competes with virgin acid produced from elemental sulfur.
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