Coromandel International
Foskor Richards Bay
2024-2024Company profileCountry market, South Africa, phosphate (P₂O₅)
South Africa: phosphate fertiliser market
South Africa consumed 491 kt of P₂O₅ in agriculture in 2024; produced 445 kt P₂O₅; net imports of phosphate fertilisers were 147 kt P₂O₅.
Demand of P₂O₅, 2024 Demand: agricultural consumption of fertiliser nutrients (N, P₂O₅, K₂O), in tonnes of nutrient. Industrial uses of nitrogen are not included. Official statistics where reported, otherwise graded FertRadar estimates (grades A to D). Source: FAO and national statistics (CC BY 4.0), completed by graded FertRadar estimates grade B, 1.1% of world
Production of P₂O₅, 2025 Production of fertiliser nutrients (N, P₂O₅, K₂O), in tonnes of nutrient, as reported by countries; gaps filled with graded FertRadar estimates. Not mine output: mine production and capacity are shown separately. Source: FAO and national statistics (CC BY 4.0), completed by graded FertRadar estimates grade D
Net imports of phosphate fertilisers, 2025 Imports minus exports of fertilisers in nutrient tonnes, from the FertRadar trade matrix (indicator D10). Raw materials and intermediates excluded. Source: Customs statistics reconciled by CEPII (BACI, Etalab Open Licence 2.0), cleaned and adjusted by FertRadar net importer
Phosphate rock mining capacity Identified capacity at the end of 2024: sum of site capacities from producers' documents or authorities, converted to nutrient. Compared with the USGS country reference. Source: Producers' and authorities' documents site by site; U.S. Geological Survey for the country reference partly identified
Demand
agricultural consumption, tonnes of P₂O₅Demand of P₂O₅estimate (grade C or D)
kt P₂O₅, agricultural consumption.
| Year | Demand of P₂O₅ |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 491 |
| 2023 | 418 |
| 2022 | 428 |
| 2021 | 447 |
| 2020 | 386 |
| 2019 | 325 |
| 2018 | 317 |
| 2017 | 304 |
| 2016 | 290 |
| 2015 | 361 |
| 2014 | 353 |
| 2013 | 264 |
| 2012 | 266 |
| 2011 | 221 |
| 2010 | 211 |
| 2009 | 198 |
| 2008 | 185 |
| 2007 | 193 |
| 2006 | 204 |
| 2005 | 159 |
| 2004 | 228 |
| 2003 | 201 |
| 2002 | 225 |
| 2001 | 223 |
| 2000 | 221 |
| 1999 | 220 |
| 1998 | 218 |
| 1997 | 225 |
| 1996 | 256 |
| 1995 | 256 |
Latest 10 years shown. for the full history since 1995, every view and the table.
FertRadar, from FAO and national statistics. Dashed: FertRadar estimates, grades C and DAbout this data
Indicators, 2024
Import dependence and growth are part of Pro.
| Consumption per hectare of cropland | 35.6B | kg P₂O₅ |
| Consumption per capita | 7.7B | kg P₂O₅ |
| Share of world demand | 1.1B | % |
| Import dependence, net imports / consumption PRO | ••• | % |
| Growth of consumption, 5-year compound PRO | ••• | % a year |
Trade
products containing P₂O₅, 2025, tonnes of productProducts containing P₂O₅
Imports and exports in tonnes of product, with the grade used to count the nutrient and the main partner. Select a product for its page.
| Product | P₂O₅ content | Imports | Main supplier | Exports | Main destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphate rock | 30% | 0.1 kt | China, 38% | 1.2 Mt | Netherlands, 44% |
| Monoammonium phosphate | 52% | 389 kt | Russia, 81% | 87 kt | United States, 58% |
| Phosphoric acid | 54% | 14 kt | China, 65% | 234 kt | India, 32% |
| NPK compound fertilisers | 15% | 9 kt | 51 kt | ||
| Other phosphatic fertilisers | 20% | 1 kt | 40 kt | ||
| Single superphosphate | 16% | 13 kt | 2 kt | ||
| PK fertilisers | 20% | 2 kt | 4 kt | ||
| Other NP (incl. NPS, APS) | 20% | 2 kt | 2 kt | ||
| Diammonium phosphate | 46% | 4 kt | 0.1 kt | ||
| Triple superphosphate | 47% | 3 kt | 0.3 kt | ||
| Nitrophosphates | 20% | 0.2 kt | 2 kt |
Phosphate trade in nutrient tonnes
Imports, exports and balance in tonnes of P₂O₅, by product family. Raw materials and intermediates shown apart.
CompoundsIntermediatesPhosphateRaw materials2025 estimated
kt P₂O₅, imports. Latest 26 years shown; the download has the full series.
| Year | Compounds | Intermediates | Phosphate | Raw materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (estimate) | 207 | 7.60 | 3.80 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 187 | 11.2 | 4.60 | 10.9 |
| 2023 | 137 | 5.90 | 4.90 | 6.60 |
| 2022 | 144 | 16.5 | 7.00 | 0.10 |
| 2021 | 158 | 16.1 | 5.20 | 0.20 |
| 2020 | 110 | 20.8 | 4.40 | 0.20 |
| 2019 | 153 | 12.2 | 3.70 | 0.10 |
| 2018 | 108 | 9.30 | 5.90 | 3.80 |
| 2017 | 89.7 | 7.20 | 4.90 | 1.20 |
| 2016 | 83.8 | 8.80 | 8.40 | 2.40 |
| 2015 | 135 | 25.0 | 7.30 | 0.00 |
| 2014 | 104 | 6.60 | 9.40 | 0.10 |
| 2013 | 60.8 | 6.90 | 8.10 | 3.10 |
| 2012 | 92.7 | 6.40 | 12.3 | 0.20 |
| 2011 | 81.0 | 10.5 | 8.70 | 28.0 |
| 2010 | 14.3 | 20.4 | 8.70 | 38.3 |
| 2009 | 27.8 | 5.00 | 4.80 | 15.1 |
| 2008 | 65.6 | 6.30 | 25.8 | 77.9 |
| 2007 | 64.5 | 4.10 | 7.20 | 36.2 |
| 2006 | 75.8 | 3.10 | 14.1 | 55.0 |
| 2005 | 29.0 | 1.00 | 8.90 | 10.2 |
| 2004 | 76.4 | 4.50 | 3.40 | 44.2 |
| 2003 | 18.8 | 7.80 | 6.50 | 42.8 |
| 2002 | 68.8 | 7.40 | 0.20 | 69.0 |
| 2001 | 19.3 | 2.50 | 0.30 | 51.7 |
| 2000 | 29.7 | 0.90 | 2.00 | 102 |
Latest 10 years shown. for the full history since 1995, every view and the table.
FertRadar, from customs statistics reconciled by CEPII (BACI)About this data
Supply
production of P₂O₅ and mining capacityProduction of P₂O₅estimate (grade C or D)2025 estimated
kt P₂O₅, production.
| Year | Production of P₂O₅ |
|---|---|
| 2025 (estimate) | 445 |
| 2024 | 449 |
| 2023 | 394 |
| 2022 | 405 |
| 2021 | 371 |
| 2020 | 372 |
| 2019 | 285 |
| 2018 | 395 |
| 2017 | 420 |
| 2016 | 401 |
| 2015 | 324 |
| 2014 | 438 |
| 2013 | 503 |
| 2012 | 519 |
| 2011 | 563 |
| 2010 | 552 |
| 2009 | 646 |
| 2008 | 674 |
| 2007 | 638 |
| 2006 | 584 |
| 2005 | 713 |
| 2004 | 601 |
| 2003 | 627 |
| 2002 | 572 |
| 2001 | 670 |
| 2000 | 699 |
| 1999 | 778 |
| 1998 | 606 |
| 1997 | 727 |
| 1996 | 758 |
| 1995 | 614 |
Latest 10 years shown. for the full history since 1995, every view and the table.
FertRadar, from FAO and national statisticsAbout this data
Mining sites
Identified 1.3 Mt P₂O₅ (partly identified). Capacity by site and its source are part of Pro.
| Company | Site | P₂O₅, kt a year PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Foskor (Pty) Ltd | Phalaborwa mine and concentrator (Mining Division)operating, not in the total | |
| Kropz plc / Kropz Elandsfontein | Elandsfontein mine, West Coast (Western Cape) | ••• |
| Foskor (Pty) Ltd | Phalaborwa mine and concentrator (Mining Division) | ••• |
Producers in South Africa
with published figuresPrice benchmarks for phosphate
World Bank monthly averages, September 2026; price per tonne of P₂O₅ with standard grades.
P₂O₅ via TSP Formula: TSP / 0.47. Source: World Bank commodity price data (CC BY 4.0) 2025 average 1,229
P₂O₅ via DAP Formula: (DAP - 0.18 x urea / 0.46) / 0.46. Source: World Bank commodity price data (CC BY 4.0) 2025 average 1,130
Data pack: South Africa phosphate fertiliser market (P₂O₅)
South Africa, products containing P₂O₅: demand and supply 1995-2025, trade 1995-2025, partners of the latest year, prices.
- DemandAgricultural consumption of P₂O₅, kt of nutrient, with data quality grade.31 rows
- SupplyProduction of P₂O₅ fertiliser nutrients, kt of nutrient, with grade.31 rows
- IndicatorsIndicators of 2024: total demand, consumption per hectare and per capita, share of world, self-sufficiency, net imports, import dependence, growth.7 rows
- Imports volumeImports by product, kt product, 1995-2025 (2025 estimated).11 rows
- Imports valueImports by product, USD million, FOB, 1995-2025 (2025 estimated).11 rows
- Imports unit valueImports by product, USD per tonne of product, 1995-2025 (2025 estimated).11 rows
- Exports volumeExports by product, kt product, 1995-2025 (2025 estimated).11 rows
- Exports valueExports by product, USD million, FOB, 1995-2025 (2025 estimated).11 rows
- Exports unit valueExports by product, USD per tonne of product, 1995-2025 (2025 estimated).10 rows
- Nutrient balanceExports, imports and balance in kt of nutrient, by nutrient and product family. Raw materials and intermediates shown apart.12 rows
- SuppliersSuppliers by product in the latest year: volume, value, unit value and share.16 rows
- DestinationsDestinations by product in the latest year: volume, value, unit value and share.21 rows
- Mining capacityMining sites at end-2024: operator, status, capacity as published, nutrient capacity and source.3 rows
- ProducersProducers with published figures in this country (sites or group figures).1 rows
- PricesWorld Bank benchmarks, monthly averages, nominal US dollars per tonne of product (gas per MMBtu).321 rows
- AdjustmentsCorrections FertRadar applied to the customs data behind this file, with their evidence.7 rows
Also in the file: a Read me sheet (contents, units, how to cite, terms of use), the Sources sheet with every source, its licence and address, and the Definitions sheet with grades and notes.
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About this data
MethodologyDefinitions6
- Demand
- Demand: agricultural consumption of fertiliser nutrients (N, P₂O₅, K₂O), in tonnes of nutrient. Industrial uses of nitrogen are not included. Official statistics where reported, otherwise graded FertRadar estimates (grades A to D).
- Production
- Production of fertiliser nutrients (N, P₂O₅, K₂O), in tonnes of nutrient, as reported by countries; gaps filled with graded FertRadar estimates. Not mine output: mine production and capacity are shown separately.
- Trade in nutrient tonnes
- Tonnes of product converted with the FertRadar nutrient contents (see Methodology, products table).
- Net imports (D10)
- Imports minus exports of fertilisers in nutrient tonnes, from the FertRadar trade matrix (indicator D10). Raw materials and intermediates excluded.
- Grades
- A official or provisional, B FAO estimate or imputation, C FertRadar estimate anchored on independent data, D FertRadar statistical estimate.
- Mining capacity
- Identified capacity at the end of 2024: sum of site capacities from producers' documents or authorities, converted to nutrient. Compared with the USGS country reference.
Sources and reliability8
Official statistics and the producers' own documents only, cleaned and reconciled by FertRadar. Every figure keeps a reference to its document, and every correction to the customs data is documented one by one.
- CEPII, BACI (Etalab Open Licence 2.0)
- United Nations Statistics Division, UN Comtrade
- FAO, FAOSTAT (CC BY 4.0)
- U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Minerals Yearbook (Public domain)
- United Nations Statistics Division, Standard country or area codes for statistical use
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries (Public domain)
- Producers and authorities, Annual reports
- Documents cited by the adjustments: CEPII; EuroChem; Interfax; Metals & Mining Intelligence via Vedomosti; OCP Group; Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Uralkali; USGS; Various companies and regulators
The document, page and date behind each figure are listed in the Pro data files. Sources and licences
Adjustments to the customs data7
FertRadar corrects, reclassifies or annotates customs flows only on documented evidence. Those touching this page: 7 context notes.
PROEach adjustment, with its explanation, years and sources Unlock with Pro
Notes7
- Exports, imports and balance (exports minus imports) by nutrient and product family. Raw materials and intermediates are shown apart from fertilisers so as not to mix them.
- Trade figures: CEPII BACI with the FertRadar adjustments listed on this page. Tonnes of product unless stated; kt = thousand tonnes, Mt = million tonnes.
- 2025 is a FertRadar estimate from the monthly customs declarations (UN Comtrade), hatched in the charts. Replaced by the annual data when published.
- Values exclude freight and insurance (FOB equivalent). Unit values are customs averages over shipments under different contracts, not market prices.
- Fertiliser use and production: FertRadar best estimate (FAOSTAT values as reported, gaps filled with graded FertRadar estimates). Grades: A official or provisional, B FAO estimate or imputation, C FertRadar estimate anchored on independent data, D FertRadar statistical estimate.
- Years as reported to FAO (some countries report fiscal or fertiliser years). No forecasts.
- Two kinds of production. Nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P₂O₅): fertiliser production, the nutrient contained in the fertiliser products made in the country. Potash (K₂O): mine output, all uses included. Production of raw materials for all uses (phosphate rock, ammonia, sulphur) is shown on the product and capacity pages.
How to cite
FertRadar (2026), "South Africa: phosphate fertiliser market", fertradar.com, https://fertradar.com/countries/south-africa/phosphate/, Release 2026.10.