Egyptian urea at USD 535 a ton as gas cuts hit plants

Egyptian granular urea is fetching about USD 535 a ton FOB in November contracts, up about 17% from roughly USD 457 in September, according to Khaled Abu Al Makarem, head of the Chemicals and Fertilizers Export Council. That makes Egypt the priciest origin among comparable regions, ahead of China, the rest of the Middle East, Nigeria and Algeria, according to CommodityScope data.

The price rise comes as gas supplies to fertilizer plants are rationed. Kima told the Egyptian Exchange that its gas supply was cut 20% from noon on November 1, and that it has implemented the cut while its urea plant runs normally. Mopco said operations continue and that it is adjusting production to the gas available, without confirming whether the 20% cut applies to its plants.

Egypt can produce about 6.5 million tons of urea a year and uses about 2.9 million tons at home, according to the petroleum minister. That leaves roughly 3.6 million tons for export, based on EnterpriseAM’s calculation. Chemical and fertilizer exports reached USD 9.54 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 34%, with fertilizers accounting for USD 2.53 billion.

Abu Al Makarem said producers are still meeting local demand and export commitments. How large the hit becomes depends on how long the cut lasts and on each plant’s operating rates.

Egyptian urea has been volatile for months, and earlier price reporting showed a rebound in the FOB market while ammonium sulfate stayed comparatively weak.

Source: EnterpriseAM