🏭 Egypt’s fertilizer market has seen a sharp 30% drop in prices in recent months, driven by stable factory output and improved gas supplies — a welcome break that’s filtering through to both farmers and exporters. But the relief comes with a warning — global energy volatility and local distribution challenges continue to weigh on the sector’s stability and competitiveness.

Prices ease, but risks remain: Prices on the freemarket have fallen thanks to smoother factory operations and more supply, coupled with a dip in global gas prices, Chemicals and Fertilizers Export Council Chairman Khaled Abou El Makarem told EnterpriseAM. Still, “the market remains sensitive to any shifts in energy prices or supply disruptions,” he said, urging producers and farmers to monitor developments closely. Subsidized fertilizer prices remain set administratively — leaving a clear gap with freemarket prices. This risks leakage of subsidized stock to the black market, an issue the Agriculture Ministry continues to battle.

Gas supplies top the production challenge list: Natural gas accounts for around 70% of nitrogen fertilizer production costs, leaving the industry acutely exposed to supply changes, Abou El Makarem said. “Even an hours-long supply cut halts production immediately,” he noted, though efficiency upgrades are helping to limit the impact. Producers also face rising maintenance and equipment costs to meet global quality standards, plus stiff competition from Gulf and North African rivals benefiting from cheaper gas — giving them a pricing edge abroad, he added.

Any hike in gas prices would hit the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries — including glass, petrochemicals, and fertilizers — in export markets, Federation of Egyptian Industries board member Mohamed El Bahy told EnterpriseAM. He noted that the government hasn’t yet moved to raise prices, and called for a freeze on energy rates, particularly gas, alongside targeted subsidies for the most vulnerable sectors to maintain industrial growth momentum.

Fertilizer firms may soon face higher gas supply costs, which will be followed with permission to raise subsidized fertilizer prices by at least 33% to around EGP 6k/ton, up from today’s EGP 4.5k, a government source told EnterpriseAM. The state is also weighing alternatives, such as holding gas prices steady to keep subsidized fertilizer affordable for farmers. Fertilizer is among the most gas-intensive industries and even marginal increases would weigh heavily on industrial players, the source said. Producers are currently required to supply 55% of their output to Agriculture Ministry cooperatives at the subsidized EGP 4.5k/ton rate.

Exports are a vital FX earner: Fertilizers are among Egypt’s top export industries, with major markets in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Sector exports rose 13% y-o-y to USD 4.6 bn in 1H 2025, with fertilizers contributing USD 1.5 bn of that, according to the Exports Council. But falling global prices could pressure revenues in the near term.

Temporary margin pressure despite strong fundamentals: Fertilizer producers are unlikely to operate at full capacity during the summer energy peak, which could weigh on 3Q volumes, according to CI Capital Research. Abu Qir Fertilizers’ margins came under pressure in 2Q 2025, hit by weaker export prices, more export-heavy sales mix, and temporary gas supply cuts.

Nevertheless, fundamentals remain intact: Global urea prices averaged USD 478/ton in July, up 20% q-o-q, buoyed by Indian tenders and reduced supply from Egypt and Iran. Abu Qir is expected to run at 70-80% capacity this summer — squeezing near-term volumes, but with firm prices offsetting some of the impact. Egypt Kuwait Holding, which owns AlexFert, pointed to resilient operations and the potential for improved results if current pricing trends hold above USD 470/ton.

Positive outlook for fertilizer stocks: Analysts expect listed fertilizer names to remain attractive into year-end, backed by the liberalized exchange rate, rising global prices, and strong state support for exports. Abu Qir Fertilizers carries buy recommendations with an average target price of EGP 74.3 (+45%), while Mopco is seen climbing 14% to EGP 32.4, supported by expansion plans. Gas cost risks remain, but analysts see export mix flexibility and production balancing as cushioning the sector — leaving decent growth prospects despite policy and energy uncertainties.

Securing local supply is an ongoing battle: The Agriculture Ministry, in tandem with producers, is working to ensure subsidized allocations reach farmers at official rates, particularly during key planting seasons like wheat and corn. Farmers complain of delays and shortfalls, forcing them at times to buy from the freemarket at higher rates. “Sometimes we’re forced to buy on the freemarket to meet our needs, which raises production costs,” one farmer told EnterpriseAM. To prevent leakage and shortages, the government is tightening oversight of distribution chains and weighing digital tracking systems from plant to farmer.

Revamping state-owned Chemical Industries Holding Company’s (CIHC) fertilizer plants, starting with Delta Fertilizers, is a top priority to boost exports and ensure self-sufficiency in nitrogen-based fertilizers, CIHC CEO Emad El Din Mostafa told EnterpriseAM. The modernization drive aims to enhance efficiency and quality to global standards, underpin food security, generate hard currency, and reinforce the sector’s role as a growth driver. Abou El Makarem added that producers are increasingly turning to energy efficiency upgrades, renewable power, and less gas-intensive technologies to stay competitive.

Fertilizer prices are expected to stabilize in the near term as long as gas supplies remain steady and production levels high. Over the longer run, green ammonia projects powered by renewables stand out as a strategic solution to reduce gas reliance. With abundant solar and wind resources, plus existing fertilizer infrastructure, Egypt has the chance to become a regional hub for low-carbon fertilizers. Doing so, however, will require significant R&D and partnerships with international specialists.

Bottom line: Despite the recent drop in local fertilizer prices, the industry faces deep-seated challenges — energy dependence, competitiveness, and distribution headaches — as global trade and environmental pressures mount. Balancing local needs with export ambitions will define the sector’s future, while global green transitions could offer Egypt a powerful lever to cement its position in this strategic industry.

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