Global Fertilizer Market Weekly Update (CW42) | October 5-12, 2026

Nutrien Announces Indefinite Closure of Major Nitrogen Fertilizer Complex

Canadian fertilizer producer Nutrien has announced the indefinite closure of its nitrogen production complex at Point Lisas, Trinidad, following a review of strategic alternatives.

Nutrien said persistent constraints and uncertainty surrounding local natural gas supplies made closure the best option for improving free cash flow and returns on investment.

The Point Lisas complex comprises four anhydrous ammonia plants and one urea plant. One of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer complexes, it produced approximately 85,000 tons of ammonia and 55,000 tons of urea per month. On October 23, 2025, Nutrien initiated a controlled shutdown because of restrictions on local port access and insufficient supplies of economically viable, reliable natural gas.

Nutrien said the closure would not affect its 2026 nitrogen sales guidance, which already assumed no further production from the Trinidad facility. Its previously announced sales guidance for fiscal 2026 was:

• Nitrogen: 9.2–9.7 million tons

• Potash: 14.2–14.8 million tons

• Phosphate: 2.4–2.6 million tons

Indian Urea Tender Pressures Prices: Lowest Offers at $352.10/t CFR East Coast and $356.25/t CFR West Coast

India’s IPL urea tender attracted offers totaling 5.349 million tons, distributed almost evenly between the two coasts: 2.655 million tons for the east coast and 2.694 million tons for the west coast.

Millenium submitted the lowest east coast offer at $352.10/t CFR for 60,000 tons. Aditya Birla followed closely with an offer of $353/t CFR for 350,000 tons. On the west coast, Aditya Bills submitted the lowest offer at $356.25/t CFR for 350,000 tons.

The tender indicates that India is pushing urea procurement prices toward the low-to-mid $350s/t CFR. Although several offers remained above $380-400/t CFR, the lowest offers, if accepted, are likely to set the market tone and intensify pressure on suppliers to reduce prices.

Overall, the tender outcome is bearish for the urea market, with Middle Eastern and Asian FOB offers facing significant pressure. Sellers are competing aggressively for Indian orders, while buyers continue to resist replenishing stocks at higher prices.

Global Fertilizer Imports in H1 2026: Brazil Leads as India and China Record Sharp Growth

Compiled customs trade data show that Brazil remained the world’s largest fertilizer importer by volume in the first half of 2026, followed by the United States, India, China and Australia.

High fertilizer prices, disruptions to Persian Gulf trade routes, tight nitrogen supplies, and shifting phosphate and potash trade flows have affected both purchasing volumes and procurement timing across major importing markets.

According to World Bank WITS/UN Comtrade data, fertilizer imports between January and June 2026 were:

Country	H1 2026 Imports	Year-on-Year Change
Brazil	18.31 million tonnes	−5.7%
United States	14.44 million tonnes	−2.7%
India	9.94 million tonnes	+31.9%
China	9.61 million tonnes	+38.6%
Australia	5.39 million tonnes	+10.1%

Figures for the United States, China and Australia were calculated by subtracting July import volumes from published January-July totals.

Brazil Retains Top Position Despite Lower Purchases

Brazil imported approximately 18.31 million tons of fertilizer in the first six months of 2026, down 5.7% from 19.42 million tons in the same period of 2025.

Higher international prices and tighter margins for agricultural producers prompted Brazilian buyers to delay some purchases and adjust their nutrient mix. Nevertheless, Brazil’s structural dependence on imports remains exceptionally high. Its extensive soybean, corn, sugarcane and coffee industries require substantial nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium supplies that domestic production cannot fully meet.

The composition of Brazil’s nitrogen fertilizer demand is also changing. Under cost pressure, ammonium sulfate imports have now surpassed urea imports.

Phosphate availability has become another source of pressure. Higher sulfur costs and disruptions to some domestic production have tightened Brazil’s phosphate supply in the second half of 2026.

The U.S. Import Mix Could Change Over Time

The United States imported approximately 14.44 million tons of fertilizer in H1 2026, down 2.7% year on year.

The country remains heavily dependent on Canadian potash, which accounts for a particularly large share of its fertilizer imports. Disruptions to Persian Gulf trade have also significantly affected U.S. nitrogen and phosphate supplies.

Despite substantial domestic ammonia, nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate production, the scale of U.S. agriculture means imports remain essential for balancing regional nutrient requirements.

Over the longer term, the import mix could change as the United States evaluates new domestic potash and nitrogen projects and seeks alternative supply routes.

Nitrogen Demand Drives India’s Import Growth

India’s fertilizer imports increased from 7.54 million tons in H1 2025 to approximately 9.94 million tons in H1 2026, a rise of nearly 32%.

Nitrogen demand was the main driver. Although India has a large domestic fertilizer industry, it remains heavily reliant on imported urea, diammonium phosphate and other fertilizers to sustain subsidized supplies to farmers.

Persian Gulf disruptions compounded this dependence in 2026. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), India’s nitrogen fertilizer imports increased by more than 1.1 million tons in the first half of the year amid reduced Gulf supplies and constraints on natural gas availability.

Fertilizer Daily reported in September that Indian buyers had secured several million tons of imported urea, with landed costs falling sharply from their May peak.

India’s import growth is particularly significant for the global urea market because its large tenders can redirect cargoes from multiple exporting regions simultaneously.

China Records a Sharp Increase in H1 Imports

China imported approximately 9.61 million tons of fertilizer in H1 2026, an increase of nearly 39% compared with the same period in 2025.

Potash dominates China’s fertilizer imports, particularly potassium chloride, while the country also exports substantial volumes of nitrogen fertilizers and other products.

Preliminary Chinese customs data show that fertilizer imports reached 11.02 million tonnes between January and July 2026, up 44.7% year on year.

China’s fertilizer export policies also exert considerable influence on international markets. In 2026, China restricted exports of several phosphate fertilizer products, while changes in urea export availability repeatedly affected global pricing.

Persian Gulf Shipping Disruptions Strain Australia’s Fertilizer Supply

Australia imported approximately 5.39 million tons of fertilizer in H1 2026, up 10.1% from the same period in 2025.

Nitrogen fertilizers, particularly urea, dominate the country’s import requirements. Australia has been among the importing markets most exposed to Persian Gulf shipping disruptions, as the Gulf is a major source of its agricultural urea.

During the disruption, Indonesia emerged as an important alternative supplier. The first shipment of 47,250 tons of Indonesian urea arrived in Australia in June.

Although Australia imports less fertilizer than Brazil or the United States, its reliance on overseas nitrogen supplies and long shipping distances magnify the impact of supply disruptions and increase its exposure to fertilizer market risks.

Global Fertilizer Market Weekly Update (CW42) | October 5-12, 2026