From January to November 2025, China’s total phosphate rock imports reached 1.5686 million tonnes. Imports for November alone stood at 191,900 tonnes, with an average price of $86 per tonne, marking a $2 per tonne increase from October. This shift reflects ongoing adjustments in the global phosphate rock market, driven by factors such as international price fluctuations, stricter domestic environmental policies, and growing demand from the new energy industry.
Hotspot Focus: January-November imports fell 11% year-on-year.
Imports in November totaled 191,900 tonnes, down 3.07% month-on-month. The breakdown shows 191,900 tonnes of unground phosphate rock and 0.3 tonnes of ground phosphate rock. By value, the average import price for November was $86 per tonne, up $2 per tonne from October’s average.
In November 2025, China’s primary sources for unground phosphate rock imports were Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan. Imports from Egypt amounted to 168,500 tonnes, followed by Jordan with 14,500 tonnes, and Pakistan with 8,855 tonnes.
Hotspot Focus: January-November imports fell 11% year-on-year.
China’s phosphate rock imports in November 2025 displayed significant regional concentration, with Guangxi, Beijing, and Fujian being the main entry points. Guangxi recorded the highest import volume at 67,000 tonnes, followed by Fujian with 48,900 tonnes. Beijing had the smallest volume at just 5.5 tonnes. In terms of material flow, phosphate rock entering through Beijing was primarily directed to Shandong, while shipments through Fujian mainly supplied Jiangsu. This pattern highlights the close inter-regional industrial collaboration and resource allocation.
As the year ends, the GaoShan phosphate mines in Hubei have entered their off-season production halt earlier than usual due to the approaching conventional resting period and the depletion of mining quotas in some areas, leading to a continued contraction in domestic supply. Concurrently, the relatively late timing of the Spring Festival this year has extended the stockpiling cycle for downstream phosphate chemical enterprises, supporting raw material procurement demand. Against this backdrop, the phosphate rock market entered December in a state of tight supply-demand balance. Import volumes are expected to maintain a growth trend in the coming period to help fill the domestic supply gap.
