China Emerged as a Major Supplier of Phosphates to India

China’s phosphate demand has grown significantly as its agriculture has intensified. DAP/MAP consumption has experienced an annual growth rate of 15 percent over the past decade as phosphate fertilizer consumption grows and farmers use more high analysis products. During the same time period, investment in DAP/MAP production capacity produced an average annual capacity growth rate of almost 29 percent. This has resulted in China becoming a net exporter, supplying DAP to key countries in Asia, including India, but also selling some product to Latin America.
See more at: http://www.potashcorp.com/overview/nutrients/phosphate/market-overview/china-phosphate-profile#sthash.8SaBex30.dpuf

Global Phosphoric Acid Capacity Additions from 2014 to 2018

Majority of Capacity Being Developed in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
New downstream phosphate capacity is expected to be developed in regions able to expand phosphate rock production.
The Ma’aden project in Saudi Arabia, with a capacity of 2.9 million tonnes of DAP per year, continues to ramp up following a lengthy series of start-up delays. A joint venture between Mosaic, Ma’aden and SABIC was recently announced, with plans to build a phosphate complex capable of producing 3.5 million tonnes of finished product annually.
In Morocco, OCP has built granulation capability to enhance its production flexibility. OCP is reportedly working on developing four projects at their Jorf Lasfar site which will house fully integrated phosphate plants capable of producing a variety of solid phosphate fertilizers.
Phosphoric acid capacity additions in China are expected to slow as Chinese producers near the end of the expansion boom that commenced in late 2009. 
See more at: http://www.potashcorp.com/overview/nutrients/phosphate/market-overview/global-phosphoric-acid-capacity-additions#sthash.PwD0UV7z.dpuf

ULTRAFERTIL, the legend goes on

(see brief history in Portuguese at http://www.novomilenio.inf.br/cubatao/ch100n.htm
Antes mesmo de concluir suas instalações industriais e portuárias, a Ultrafértil iniciou (em 1967) a importação de fertilizantes a granel pelo Porto de Santos, produzidos pela Phillips Petroleum. Foi acusada, na época, de participar dedumping, pois vendia o produto importado a baixo preço, com o objetivo de "limpar a área dos concorrentes nacionais de menor porte" (Bandeira, 1975:171).

O terminal marítimo da Ultrafértil entrou em funcionamento em 28 de julho de 1969. Localizado a 6 km da fábrica, tinha 240 metros de comprimento e 15 de largura. A exemplo da Cosipa, a Ultrafértil também teve que enfrentar o Sindicato do Portuários de Santos, bem como a Companhia Docas, para poder operar seu próprio porto.

A Ultrafértil foi solenemente inaugurada em 1 de junho de 1970, com o pomposo título de "maior complexo de fertilizantes da América Latina". Era constituída por sete fábricas integradas e pelo terminal marítimo, que quando em plena atividade seriam capazes de produzir 400 mil toneladas/ano.
Started up in 1970 Ultrafertil as a jv of Grupo Ultra (Igel family), and Philips Petroleum gone under state control as Petrofertil (an army of Petrobras), privatized as Fosfertil-Ultrafertil in 1993.

Now, since 2011, Vale Fertilizantes, Unit Cuabatao 2, the "Colossus of Piaçaguera" still produces NH3, HNO3, NH3NO3, H2SO4, H3PO4 and MAP. (Unity 3 produces SSP at same Av. Plinio de Queiroz at Jardim São Marcos, Cubatão).

Converted to Bayovar Phosphate Rock recently, its is doing great in developing this "new" rock to Phosphoric Acid Production.

Following the path of previous generations, its crew is promoting peruvian phosphate as a new "american standard" in the "high concentration" phosphates industry. 

CADE to reexamine Fosbrasil acquisition

A Superintendência Geral do Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (Cade) decidiu remeter para análise do tribunal do órgão a aquisição de 44,25% da Fosbrasil (participação anteriormente detida pela Vale) pela ICL Brasil. Com a operação, a ICL passará a deter 88,50% da Fosbrasil, consolidando seu controle no capital da empresa. A decisão da superintendência está presente em despacho publicado no Diário Oficial da União desta sexta-feira, 24.

Quando não gera preocupações concorrenciais, operações de natureza semelhante são aprovadas diretamente pela Superintendência. No caso ICL/Fosbrasil, entretanto, foi considerada a necessidade de o tribunal do Cade se pronunciar sobre o negócio.

A Fosbrasil é a principal fornecedora nacional de Ácido Fosfórico de Grau Alimentício(PPA), usado para a produção de sais de fosfato, matéria-prima utilizada em diversas indústrias, tais como alimentícia e de produtos de higiene e limpeza. A ICL, por sua vez, é a principal empresa atuante no mercado de sais de fosfato no Brasil, que utiliza o produto fabricado pela Fosbrasil como matéria-prima em sua atividade.

Diante da relação de fornecimento entre as duas empresas, a Superintendência considerou que esse ato de concentração, tal como estruturado, poderia incentivar a Fosbrasil a discriminar ou mesmo recusar o fornecimento do PPA a outras fabricantes de sais de fosfato, com o objetivo de favorecer a ICL.

A Superintendência informa que, após estudos e consultas ao mercado, verificou que a opção de importar o PPA ou a maioria dos sais de fosfato seria pouco viável para as empresas concorrentes, e isso facilitaria eventual estratégia de discriminação por parte da Fosbrasil. Foi identificado que a única concorrente da empresa no Brasil não tem capacidade produtiva e técnica para competir adequadamente nesse segmento. "A eventual redução da competitividade no mercado de sais de fosfato poderia resultar em restrições de oferta e aumentos nos preços do produto no Brasil, com potencial de prejudicar a cadeia produtiva que utiliza os sais como insumo, incluindo a indústria de alimentos", considerou a superintendência.

O tribunal do Cade, portanto, será responsável pela decisão final sobre a aprovação, reprovação ou adoção de eventuais medidas que afastem problemas concorrenciais. As determinações do tribunal podem ser aplicadas de forma unilateral ou mediante acordo com as partes. O ato de concentração foi notificado em 30 de abril deste ano. O prazo legal para a decisão final do Cade é de 240 dias, prorrogáveis por mais 90 dias.

What will happen in Brazilian Fertilizers soon?

Brazil is an enormously important player on the supply side of the fertilizer market with a number of exciting nitrogen, potash, phosphates and AP projects, it is also a very important importer of fertilizers and the largest producer of a range of agricultural products in Latin America.
Big multinationals like Mosaic, Potash, Yara, OCP, ICL, are making movements in order to consolidate with another local players like Vale, Anglo American, Galvani and Heringer. 
Transgas is talking about a US$ 2 billion site from coal to gas to NH3 and Urea, in the coal basin of South Santa Catarina. And Petrobrás is investing firmily in Nitrogen in Três Lagoas (Mato Grosso do Sul) and planning Linhares (in Espírito Santo).
Roullier, Mbac, B&A, are too in the "raw materials" side.
Besides, AMA congregates "blenders" all over the vast interior, where circa 30 million tons are shipped over the clock to prairies ("cerrado"), to the South ("planaltos", "serras" and "pampas"), up to the dry Northeast, and the Amazon, not to forget the central states of São Paulo, Minas and Rio.

Mosaic cuts phosphate fertilizers production

The Mosaic Co. is reducing production of phosphate fertilizer, citing high sulfur and ammonia prices.
The Plymouth-based crop nutrient producer said it doesn't expect to cut employees, though the move will lower operating rates at its mines and concentrates plants.

CF and Yara in merger talks

Norway's Yara International and CF Industries CF in Your Value Your Change Short position said they are discussing a merger that would create a ne w, nearly $19 billion-a-year powerhouse in the global fertilizer business and extend the industry's recent run of consolidation.

A deal would create the world's biggest producer of nitrogen fertilizers, combining Yara's global distribution system with CF's proximity to low-cost natural gas—a key component in nitrogen fertilizer—as sliding crop prices and rising competition from China increase pressure on fertilizer makers.

A tie-up also could face regulatory scrutiny, analysts said, as the two companies have sizable combined market share in some countries.

The companies, in statements confirming the talks, said they are at an early stage and may not result in a deal. Yara spokesman Esben Tuman said the discussions are driven by a belief that the companies have complementary geographic focuses.

A CF Industries spokesman didn't respond to requests for comment.

Share prices of both companies rose Tuesday after the firms disclosed the talks. Yara, which had revenue of $13.4 billion last year, and CF Industries, whose 2013 revenue totaled $5.47 billion, have a combined market valuation of about $26.4 billion. That would rank a merged company just below the $28.8 billion market cap of Canadian fertilizer giant Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, the world's largest producer of potash, another type of fertilizer that is made from minerals.

Fertilizer companies have done a string of deals in recent years, to reduce costs and gain traction overseas. Yara recently acquired fertilizer producer OFD Holding Inc., strengthening its Latin American operations after last year spending $750 million to buy the Brazilian fertilizer operations of grain-trading firm Bunge Ltd.