In the first half of this year, China’s fertilizer exports showed a notable increase in volume but faced a decline in average export prices. According to customs data, the country exported 4.766 million tons of chemical fertilizers, marking a 30.7% rise compared to the same period last year. The total value reached $1.54 billion, up by 10.5%, while the average export price fell to $329.1 per ton, a drop of 15.4%. On the import side, China imported 4.656 million tons of chemical fertilizers, a decrease of 1.5% year-on-year, with the total value declining by 11.3% to $2.01 billion. The average import price also dropped to $431.5 per ton, down 9.9% from the previous year.
One of the key trends during this period was the fluctuation in monthly trade volumes. In June, both exports and imports saw a year-on-year decline. Fertilizer exports fell by 3.8% to 965,000 tons, although they increased by 19% month-over-month. Meanwhile, the average export price decreased by 1.8% year-on-year but rose by 15.3% compared to May. On the import side, the volume hit a peak in April at 1.128 million tons, the highest since 2007, but then dropped sharply, reaching only 505,000 tons in June, a 42.9% decrease year-on-year. The average import price for June rebounded slightly to $439.6 per ton, a 7.9% drop from the previous year but a 0.9% increase from the prior month.
Most of the trade was conducted through general trade. In the first half of the year, China exported 3.709 million tons via general trade, an increase of 24.9%, accounting for 79.3% of total exports. Another 861,000 tons were exported under other trade methods, rising by 90.8%. On the import side, 3.318 million tons came through general trade, up 3.1%, representing 71.3% of total imports. Imports from border areas reached 1.015 million tons, up 4.2%, and special supervision zone imports stood at 323,000 tons, down 39.6%.
China's main export destinations included ASEAN, India, and Brazil, with exports to these regions totaling 1.674 million, 719,000, and 472,000 tons respectively, increasing by 6.6%, 33.3%, and 43.2%. These three markets accounted for 61.3% of total exports. On the import side, Russia remained the largest supplier, with 1.577 million tons, down 27.5%. Canada and Belarus contributed 1.064 million and 578,000 tons respectively, with increases of 53.8% and 86.9%. Together, these three countries made up 69.1% of total imports.
Ammonium sulfate and urea were the primary export products, while potassium chloride dominated imports. China exported 1.378 million tons of ammonium sulfate, a 44.9% increase, and 1.359 million tons of urea, a 200% jump, which together accounted for 57.5% of total exports. Potassium chloride imports reached 3.634 million tons, up 0.2%, making up 78.1% of total imports. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizers totaled 692,000 tons, a 1.2% decrease.
The drop in fertilizer imports can be attributed to several factors. First, domestic demand remained weak, leading to overproduction, especially in nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers. This oversupply forced companies to seek export markets. Second, the surge in ammonium sulfate exports, driven by its use in desulfurization and as a by-product of coal-based gas production, significantly boosted overall exports. Lastly, increased domestic potash production and high inventory levels reduced the need for imports.
Domestic and international fertilizer prices have continued to fall, raising concerns about China’s pricing power. Prices for urea and phosphate fertilizers have dropped sharply, affecting both domestic and global markets. This trend has been exacerbated by competition among Chinese firms and external market pressures. Additionally, global fertilizer production capacity has expanded rapidly, intensifying competition in export markets. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Morocco are increasing their phosphate output, directly challenging China’s exports.
Finally, the low utilization rate of chemical fertilizers in China poses a challenge to sustainable agriculture. Overuse has led to environmental pollution, with agricultural sources contributing significantly to national nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. Addressing this issue is critical for the long-term health of China’s agricultural sector.
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