Market trends in production and consumption of raw phosphate and phosphate fertilizers . Gornyi Zhurnal Issue 7, 2013, Pages 41-44

The article analyzes conditions, occurrence, production and consumption of phosphate rocks and phosphate fertilizers in Russia and abroad. Major demonstrated phosphate rock reserves occur in 15 countries of the world, Russia holds 8% of the reserves (the fourth position after China, USA and Morocco). Agriculture uses over 85 % of phosphate rock to produce chemical fertilizers and feed additives. It is the demand for phosphate fertilizers that defines the dynamics of phosphate rock market. The Russian phosphate raw material supply features predomination of apatite ore that mainly occurs on the Kola Peninsula. The Kola apatite ore is suitable to producing any phosphate and compound fertilizers. Russia is among the five worlds top suppliers of phosphate rock and phosphorus fertilizers on the world market. In long-term perspective, boosters of the world demand for phosphate fertilizers will be the population upsurge and social welfare in high growth countries, the use of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel as energy source alternatives, as well as the governmental support of production and utilization of the fertilizers. Under the circumstances, Russian producers of phosphate raw materials and phosphate fertilizers have reasonably good competitive ability and hold the field by expanding production capacity and assortment.



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Author keywords

Apatite; Apatite concentrate; Foreign and domestic market; Phosphate fertilizers; Phosphate rock