Phosphate compound fertilizer "going out" expecting full

The ever-increasing excess production capacity and the stockpiles of phosphogypsum have become two major “confidants” in the phosphate and compound fertilizer industry, highlighting the industry's siege. At the National Phosphate and Compound Fertilizer Industry Conference held in Hefei on May 7-8, the representative suggested that powerful corporate groups “go to the sea” to explore new paths for solving the domestic industrial dilemma.

The rapid expansion of production capacity and the resulting pressure of phosphogypsum treatment are a problem that has arisen in China since the rapid development of the phosphorus and compound fertilizer industry. According to statistics from the China Phosphate Fertilizer Industry Association, by the end of 2013, the total production capacity of phosphorus and compound fertilizer in China has reached 23.5 million tons (refined), of which the excess rates of diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate have exceeded 100%. At the same time, the new investment will continue unabated. In 2013, the production capacity of ammonium phosphate under construction was 1.86 million tons, and the newly planned production capacity exceeded 3 million tons. The overcapacity brought about a dip in industry efficiency. In 2013, most of the phosphate fertilizer production enterprises were in a loss state, and the main business profit margin was only 2.5%.

The expansion of production capacity also brings difficulties in the utilization of phosphogypsum, a byproduct of the production of phosphate fertilizers. The director of Energy Saving and Comprehensive Utilization Division Lei Wen of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, who attended the meeting, said that “phosphogypsum has been related to the survival of enterprises”. It is understood that currently, the total amount of phosphogypsum in the phosphate fertilizer industry is 300 million tons, and the annual new volume is about 70 million tons. Although China ranks among the top in the world in the comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum, its potential environmental risks are in view of the huge historical inventory. The difficulty of handling can be imagined.