UREA Export Policy: Prilled Granular, Peptide, Slow Release, Polymer Coated Urea, Formaldehyde

I. China’s Urea Export Policy

Restriction (2025.6.30)

• Export Suspension: Customs inspections (“法检”) halted since June 7, 2024, reducing exports to 259.6k MT (Jan-Nov 2024 vs. 3.91M MT in 2023).

• Rationale: Prioritize domestic agricultural/industrial demand and stabilize prices amid rising capacity (67.23M MT production in 2024).

2025 Outlook

• Likely Deregulation: Predicted due to:

  1. Overcapacity: 70M MT annual output vs. 60M MT CHINA domestic demand (1,000k MT surplus).

  2. Price Arbitrage: International prices $100-150/t above CHINA domestic levels.

  3. Food Security Buffer: Increased grain imports reduce urea export constraints.

II. Urea Classification & Technical Specifications

Basic Properties

• Chemical Formula: CO(NH₂)₂

• Nitrogen Content: 46% (Minimum 46.0% for standard grade)

• Solubility: 105g/100mL at 20°C (neutral pH)

• GHS Classification:

  • H302: Harmful if swallowed

  • H319: Causes serious eye irritation

Production Process

1. Feedstock Preparation:

   • Coal-based: Gasification → H₂ + N₂ → NH₃ (70% of China’s production)

   • Gas-based: Steam reforming → NH₃ (Dominant in Russia/US)

2. Synthesis: NH₃ + CO₂ → Ammonium carbamate (140 bar, 180°C)

3. Purification: Dehydration to 99.7% molten urea

4. Granulation: Prilling (1-2mm) or granulation (2-4mm)

III. Global Urea Production (2024)

Key Notes:

• China’s CR10=30% (fragmented market)

• Coal price volatility directly impacts urea production costs (+$10/ton coal → +$30/ton urea)

IV. Urea Product Variants & Applications

V. Urea Application Guidelines

Critical Practices

1. Avoid:

   • Mixing with alkaline fertilizers (e.g., CaCO₃ → NH₃ volatilization)

   • Surface broadcasting (30% N loss vs. 15% with deep placement)

   • Seed contact (biuret >2% causes phytotoxicity)

2. Recommend:

   • Apply 4-7 days earlier than ammonium fertilizers

   • Band placement (10-15cm depth, soil moisture >60%)

   • Combine with organic/P/K fertilizers (balanced nutrition)

Efficiency Metrics

• NUE (Nitrogen Use Efficiency): 25-35% for conventional urea vs. 50-65% for polymer-coated urea

• Temperature Effects:

  • 10°C: 7-10 days for NH₄⁺ conversion

  • 30°C: 2-3 days for NH₄⁺ conversion

VI. Future Trends

• Green Urea: Coal-to-ammonia CCS projects (e.g., Sinopec’s 1M MT/year facility)

• Export Liberalization: Expected Q3 2025 for surplus volumes

• Circular Economy: Struvite recovery from wastewater (potential 5% urea substitution)