Phosphates Market in March       

Triple superphosphate      

The domestic triple superphosphate price decreased a little in March 2009. The ex-factory price of 46% granular triple superphosphate was quoted at about RMB2 200/t in early March. Because there is little demand for triple superphosphate, many producers suspend their production for overhaul in succession and put their hope on the market in May. In late March, most enterprises have shutdown the production lines or shifted to produce ordinary superphosphate. As of April 2nd, Anning Huaya Phosphate Fertilizer Co., Ltd.'s quoted price of 46% granular triple superphosphate at RMB1 800/t - RMB2 000/t.

Sodium hexametaphosphate    

The price of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) in domestic market was relatively stable in March. Although the price of raw materials phosphorus dropped, the operating rate of SHMP producers was still decreasing continuously, leading to a price downturn in the market. In March, the price of industrial grade SHMP was maintained at RMB6 000-6 500/t in southern China, and the price of food grade SHMP was at RMB7 000 - 8 000/t.
    The bulk price of SHMP was quoted at RMB5 900 - 6 300/t in the northern and eastern China. The price of industrial grade SHMP was maintained at RMB5 800-6 000/t and its FOB price was about US$850/t in southwestern China, but the FOB price of food grade SHMP was US$ 1 000/t.
    Due to the tense supply in some enterprises in late March, the quoted price rose by RMB100/t in some areas, but the supply shortage will be eased in mid or late April.
    The price of SHMP will probably not go up in a short term.

Calcium hydrogen phosphate     

In early March, the operating rate of domestic calcium hydrogen phosphate producers was relatively high with a stable sales volume. The price of food grade calcium hydrogen phosphate was stable in northern China, with bulk trading price of RMB1 850/t. The price for granular food grade calcium hydrogen phosphate was RMB2 500/t in eastern China and for calcium biphosphate was RMB3 500/t, with a large export volume. The ex-factory price of food grade calcium hydrogen phosphate in Sichuan province, southern China, was basically at RMB1 850/t.
    In mid March, the price of raw material phosphate ore increased slightly, some producers discontinued production. Therefore the bulk trading price of calcium hydrogen phosphate went up again, rising RMB50/t to RMB1 850-1 900/t.   
    The calcium hydrogen phosphate price is expected to go up stably in a short term. Such price rise, however, is pushed by feedstock increase rather than the demand increase in downstream sectors.  

Sodium phosphates   

In March, the prices of mono-, di- and trisodium phosphate were relatively stable because the output of such kind of products was small and the price is not easy to be affected by demand changes. The price of industrial trisodium phosphate (TSP) went up at the end of March, leading to tense supply in the market. In northern China, the price of industrial dihydrate monosodium phosphate was maintained at RMB5 000/t; and the price of industrial grade dodecahydrate trisodium phosphate was decreased to RMB2 200-2 400/t. In southwestern China, the quoted price of industrial grade dihydrate monosodium phosphate was maintained at RMB4 200/t; and the bulk price of industrial grade dodecahydrate disodium hydrogen phosphate was RMB2 300/t.
   In a word, the demand for these phosphates in domestic market will be relatively stable.