Urea Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Urea Prices Worldwide
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See monthly Urea prices in 5 locations: United States, South America, Europe, South Asia & Oceania, China, Middle East, Africa. Also check Urea price history since 2007 and forecasts. The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices - subscribe now and gain access to current prices of 237 commodities, including Urea.
Data Legend. The Urea price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 7 locations, as follows:
- US: Urea, gran, United States, spot, fob, US Gulf
- SAM: Urea, gran, South America, spot, cfr, Brazil
- EUR: Urea, Europe, transaction, cif, France
- SEA: Urea, South Asia & Oceania, transaction, cif, India
- CN: Urea, China, spot, exw
- MDE: Urea, gran, Middle East, spot, fob, Arab Gulf
- AFR: Urea, Africa, transaction, cif, South Africa
Data Use. Urea prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 237 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Intratec Primary Commodity Prices
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Current Monthly Prices
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Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Price Dynamics. The Urea price in United States increased during November 2018 to 333 USD per metric ton, which represents a slight rise of 1% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Urea prices in United States increased significantly by 29%. Meanwhile, in France, the average price of Urea amounted to 309 USD per metric ton, from 245 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Urea price in France is 4% higher than the price one month before.
The price of Urea in China declined throughout November 2018, reaching 296 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 4% lower than the average price in the previous month and 12% higher than the average price one year before. In contrast, Urea prices in India decreased significantly during November 2018, reaching 290 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 9% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 12% from the previous year’s price.
The Urea prices in Saudi Arabia experienced a modest decline of 2 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 305 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Saudi Arabia meant a decrease of 0.7% on a monthly basis and a rise of 20% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in November 2018, the Urea price in Brazil witnessed a rise of 12 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 293 USD per metric ton. The November 2018 price in Brazil is 27% higher than the price one year before.
In South Africa, the average price of Urea was 334 USD per metric ton on November 2018 – a little increase of 10 USD per metric ton, or 3%, compared with the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, the Urea price in South Africa is 19% higher than the price one year before.
About Urea. Urea (a.k.a. Carbamide) is a nitrogenous organic compound composed of a carbonyl group attached to two amine groups, which plays an important role in many biological processes, being a product of the decomposition of proteins. Carbamide is found as a white and odorless solid, soluble in water, with very low toxicity. Urea has the highest nitrogen content among all solid nitrogen-based fertilizers, and for that, it is mostly used as a nitrogen-release fertilizer.
On an industrial scale, Urea is produced almost exclusively by the dehydration of ammonium carbamate, derived in turn from the reaction between ammonia and carbon dioxide. Usually, both reactions are carried out simultaneously, in a high-pressure reactor. It is worth noting that both ammonia and carbon dioxide reactants are supplied by ammonia-synthesis plants.
Commercial manufacturing processes generate aqueous solutions containing 70–87% urea, which may be directly used as fertilizer or, most commonly, further processed into granules, prills, flakes, etc. These urea solids can be coated in less-soluble chemicals such as sulfur and polymer, in order to mitigate negative aspects of urea fertilization. In fact, the majority of new commercial plants produce granules, in light of higher product quality when compared with prills.
Urea should be stored in a designated area that maintains optimal conditions of coolness, dryness, and ventilation, ensuring protection against moisture and direct exposure to sunlight. When it comes to the transportation of Urea prills and granules in large quantities, various modes are employed, including trucks, ships, and rail cars. However, it is worth noting that prilled product is generally deemed less ideal for bulk transportation due to its relatively lower crushing strength, diminished shock resistance, and heightened tendency to cake compared to granules. Conversely, smaller quantities of the product can be conveniently conveyed using bags and drums.
Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Urea are listed below.
- Ammonia + carbon dioxide (condensation)
The uses and applications of Urea may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Urea are coated grade (white prills or granules) and uncoated grade (white prills or granules).
Urea is also employed in the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde resins and urea-melamine-formaldehyde, used in a range of applications such as adhesives, laminates, molding compounds, coatings, and textile finishes.
