July China Phosphate Ore Imports Plunge 87% to Near‑Three‑Year Low; Exports Drop to Zero

In July 2026, China's phosphate ore imports fell to only 17,000 tonnes, down 87.3% month-on-month, hitting a near-three-year low, while exports dropped to zero. The average import price was USD 84.5/tonne, down 7.6% MoM. By province, only Guangxi maintained 14,000 tonnes; all others recorded zero. By origin, Egypt's volume shrank 81%, with only a tiny increase from Kazakhstan. The June export surge was followed by a July zero, due to completed orders, off-season demand, and policy controls. Imports are unlikely to recover soon; watch winter storage and export policy changes.

In July 2026, China's phosphate ore imports and exports experienced sharp fluctuations. Import volume was only 17,000 tonnes, a month‑on‑month drop of 87.3%, marking the lowest monthly level in nearly three years. The main reasons include high sulfur prices, weak phosphate fertilizer demand, and the seasonal off‑season slowdown in domestic procurement.
Total import value fell to USD 1.479 million, down 88.2% MoM; the average price was USD 84.5/tonne, down 7.6% MoM.

The provincial import pattern shrank across the board: Guangxi imported 14,000 tonnes (‑82.8% MoM), remaining the only province with a sizeable import volume; Hubei, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Beijing, and Shandong all recorded zero imports. Zhejiang had surged 89‑fold in June but fell to zero in July, reflecting a broad contraction in demand.

By source country, Egypt remained the dominant supplier, but its volume plummeted from 84,000 tonnes in June to 16,000 tonnes (‑81%). Kazakhstan saw a tiny increase (2,000 tonnes), while alternative suppliers like Jordan and Morocco failed to maintain upward momentum.
On the export side, after a pulse‑like surge of 51,000 tonnes in June, exports dropped to zero in July. The completion of earlier order deliveries, combined with domestic supply tightness, off‑season demand, and tightened export licensing, brought exports to a complete halt.

Outlook: Imports are unlikely to recover in the short term, as low downstream operating rates continue to suppress procurement. For exports, attention should be paid to August policies on calcium superphosphate and triple superphosphate, as well as the start of winter storage demand. In the first half of the year, cumulative imports reached 998,200 tonnes, keeping the annual total at a high level; exports surged 226% in H1, but H2 recovery depends on domestic supply‑demand balance and policy direction.

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