Urea prices jump 18% since the start of the year

Published Feb 12, 2026

Tridge summary

The global urea market has started the year with strong price gains, with Middle East spot quotations exceeding $480/t FOB — up 18% compared to early January levels. During the latest Qatari tender for shipment in the second half of March, traders’ bids were submitted above $470/t FOB, with the final deal concluded at $480/t

Original content

FOB. Just ten days earlier, prices stood at $460/t FOB. Prices have also increased in North Africa, where spot levels surpassed $500/t FOB for the first time since early November 2025. Egyptian granular urea rose by $52/t, or 12%, since mid-month. In Europe, warehouse quotations are also moving higher: prices in La Pallice (France) are approaching €500/t FCA, while March shipments from North Africa exceeded $500/t FOB — the first time since the first half of November last year. According to analysts, prices are reacting to tight supply. China is largely absent from the global market due to export quotas, Indonesia has shipped only one export cargo so far, and production in Trinidad remains offline. Seasonal gas reallocations in Iran are removing up to 450,000 tons per month from the market. Additional pressure comes from supply disruptions in Venezuela and the halt of one Black Sea supplier in February. January and February cargo sales from Nigeria and Algeria have also reduced ...

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