--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260624-nola-urea-prices-drop-55-from-april-peak-as-hormuz-ceasefire-and-renewed-chinese-exports-reshape-the-market/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # NOLA urea prices drop 55% from April peak as Hormuz ceasefire and renewed Chinese exports reshape the market Publication Date: 2026-06-24T13:00:00-04:00 Last Updated: 2026-06-24T05:20:02-04:00 Author: Kim Clarksen (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/kimclarksen/) Categories: [Markets](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/), [Nitrogen](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/nitrogen/), [Trade & Policy](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/trade-and-policy/) ![Barge going up the 'Big 'Mo"](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/barge-going-up-the-big-mo-stockpack-istock.jpg) New Orleans urea barge prices have dropped by over 50% since April, driven by renewed Middle East supply and resumed Chinese exports, shifting the global nitrogen market from shortage to surplus. On June 22, urea barge prices at New Orleans (NOLA) fell to USD 350 per tonne, a decline of over 55% from the USD 782 peak during the U.S.-Iran conflict in April. The ceasefire reopened the Strait of Hormuz, reversing the global nitrogen market trend. Prices also dropped below the USD 455-470 per tonne range recorded on February 27, before hostilities began. The decline followed a 60-day ceasefire that restored commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Middle Eastern fertilizer exports. Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX, noted that about 200,000 metric tonnes of urea have moved through the waterway since the agreement began. “It’s a step in the right direction that has got any long position running for the hills trying to get rid of their stuff,” Linville said. The selloff has accelerated with China’s return to the export market, increasing supply as seasonal demand in the Northern Hemisphere reaches its lowest point. Urea futures tracked by Trading Economics fell to USD 359 per tonne on June 18, down 37% from the previous month and nearly 17% below last year’s level. This decline reverses the rally that pushed fertilizer prices to multi-year highs in early 2026. As the Middle East supplies about one-third of the global urea trade, resumed exports have significantly improved availability. Market participants are now monitoring the timing and volume of India’s next urea import tender, which is expected to set a price floor before the Northern Hemisphere fall application season. Source: [The Western Producer](https://www.producer.com/news/urea-fertilizer-prices-tumble-as-strait-reopens/) Tags: [China](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/china/), [fertilizer prices](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/fertilizer-prices/), [Iran](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/iran/), [Middle East](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/middle-east/), [nitrogen fertilizer](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/nitrogen-fertilizer/), [spot market](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/spot-market/), [Strait of Hormuz](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/strait-of-hormuz/), [trade flows](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/trade-flows/), [United States](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/united-states/), [urea](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/urea/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.