OCP targets 4.5 million metric tons of new phosphate capacity by end of 2026 under SP2M plan
Morocco’s OCP Group is on track to add approximately 4.5 million metric tons per year of phosphate fertilizer capacity by the end of 2026, the first phase of its SP2M expansion plan that ultimately aims to bring 9 million metric tons of annual capacity online by 2028, according to an SMM analysis of the company’s production infrastructure. OCP is investing $5.25 billion in 2026 alone as part of a broader $14 billion capital program spanning 2025–2027.
The OCP phosphate expansion is centered on its two main chemical hubs — Jorf Lasfar and Safi — and includes a new large-scale complex called the Mzinda Phosphate Hub. OCP recently commissioned three 1 million metric ton per year granulation units at Jorf Lasfar, currently producing triple superphosphate (TSP). The company aims to raise overall fertilizer production from around 12 million metric tons in 2024 to 20 million metric tons by the end of 2027.
The aggressive buildout comes as China’s phosphate export restrictions, in effect through at least August 2026, have removed an estimated 30% of global supply and pushed import-dependent buyers in India, Brazil, and the United States toward Moroccan product. OCP’s expansion is reshaping global phosphate trade flows at a time when the U.S. has temporarily suspended countervailing duties on Moroccan imports.
Source: SMM / Metal.com
What to know about OCP’s phosphate expansion
Approximately 4.5 million metric tons per year by end of 2026, rising to 9 million metric tons of new capacity by 2028 under the SP2M plan. The company targets total fertilizer production of 20 million metric tons annually by 2027.
The company is spending $5.25 billion in 2026 and $14 billion total from 2025 to 2027 on capacity expansion, sustainability, and logistics infrastructure.
China’s phosphate export restrictions have removed roughly 30% of global supply, creating a gap that OCP is positioned to fill. The U.S. has also temporarily suspended duties on Moroccan phosphate imports.
OCP’s fertilizer output includes DAP, MAP, TSP, and phosphoric acid. New capacity is initially focused on TSP production, with flexible plants that can switch to DAP and MAP as market conditions warrant.
Expanding production in an arid region requires massive water and energy resources. OCP is addressing this through desalination and renewable energy integration, but competition from other phosphate producers and potential Chinese export resumptions could pressure margins.
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