Argus Phosphates Editor, Mike Nash, reviews the recent developments in the market, charting the rise and relative decline of China as a supplier, the retrenchment of the US phosphate sector with increased concentration on regional and domestic markets and producer strategies to move down the supply chain, often at the expense of traders, in order to garner market share and guarantee outlets for their product.

There is particular focus on the key import markets of Brazil and India, the former a battleground for many producers, the latter with its stagnating demand and unpredictable monsoon and subsidy policy that have forced producers to look to other markets or diversify into new products as new capacity outstrips demand.

Mike also argues that the market has increasingly regionalised, with certain continents dominated by key producers, such as OCP in Africa, and examines the political and market drivers behind this phenomenon.

Key topics include:

• The increased concentration and rationalisation of the global phosphates supply side
• The changing dynamic between the producer and international traders
• The increased regionalisation of the market as producers look to dominate key markets
• Diversification into new products such as NPKs and NPS as DAP/MAP becomes commoditised