China's Phosphate Ore Imports Fell in Volume but Rose in Price in December 2025, with Total Imports Down 24.2% MoM and Average Price Up 13.5%

SMM January 22 News:
Highlights: In December 2025, China's total phosphate ore imports decreased 24.2% MoM to 145,000 mt, and the total import value decreased 13.9% MoM. The comprehensive national import average price increased 13.5% MoM. The rise in average price was mainly due to a phosphate chemical enterprise in Hubei importing 60,000 mt of high-priced phosphate ore from Peru at a unit price of $121/mt.
In December 2025, China's phosphate ore imports decreased MoM from 192,000 mt in November to 145,000 mt in December, down 24.2% MoM. The import value decreased 1.5% MoM from $16.537 million to $14.235 million. The import average price increased 13.5% MoM. The rise in average price was mainly due to a phosphate chemical enterprise in Hubei importing 60,000 mt of high-priced phosphate ore from Peru at a unit price of $121/mt. Egypt remained the largest source country, accounting for 50% of China's total imports, while Jordan accounted for 4%. Exports increased from zero in November to 200 mt in December, primarily destined for the US.

Phosphate ore import and export situation: Imports decreased 24.2% MoM, exports were at the hundred-ton level.

1. Phosphate ore imports: China's traditional major phosphate ore import sources are Egypt, Peru, and Jordan; major importing provinces include Guangxi and Hubei; major importing enterprises include coastal phosphate chemical companies such as Sichuan Jinhe. In December, the main source countries were Egypt and Peru; the main importing provinces were Guangxi and Hubei, accounting for over 80% of imports.

Hubei and Guangxi are the two major phosphate ore importing provinces. Guangxi's imports were 58,000 mt, down MoM, while Hubei's imports were 64,000 mt, a significant increase.

Phosphate ore import conditions in November presented an opposite trend compared to October's volume increase and price decrease – showing a volume decrease and price increase. Jordan's unit price decreased 1.3%, while the unit prices for imports from Egypt and Pakistan increased 3.9% and 17.1% respectively, leading to an overall unit price increase of 2.6%. Total import volume increased 4.0% to 192,000 mt, and the unit price increased by 2.2 yuan/mt to 862,000 yuan/mt.

Egypt: The largest supplier, imports increased MoM from 116,000 mt in October to 168,000 mt in November (up 45.7% MoM), accounting for 88% of total imports in November, reaching the highest import volume for the year (January-November). The price decreased from $83.2/mt in October to $86.4/mt in November, an increase of 3.9%.
Peru: As the largest supplier in July (49,000 mt), imports were zero for four consecutive months from August to November.
Jordan: Imports recovered to the July level of 54,000 mt in September, then reached 81,000 mt in October, before shrinking to 15,000 mt in November; the unit price decreased 1.3%.

2. Phosphate ore export situation: Exports increased from zero in November to 200 mt in December, primarily destined for the US, with a small amount to Australia.

Nationally, phosphate ore exports showed three consecutive increases: 10,600 mt in July, 11,000 mt in August, and 15,000 mt in September. Exports in October were less than 1 mt, there were no exports in November, and exports in December were 200 mt.

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