Agriculture & Fertilizers

Phosphate Rock

Name: Phosphate Rock
Brand: CBIL
Availability: InStock

Beneficiated rock 28–34% P₂O₅ for acid & SSP plants

Phosphate rock is the raw material behind every phosphate fertilizer, and it is bought on P₂O₅ content expressed either directly (28–34% for commercial grades) or as BPL, bone phosphate of lime, where 70 BPL equals about 32% P₂O₅. The grade sets the price, but the numbers that decide whether a plant can use it are the impurities: the calcium-to-phosphate ratio, which governs acid consumption; magnesium oxide, which above about 1% makes filtration and ammoniation difficult; iron and aluminium oxides, which lock up phosphate as insoluble compounds; chloride, which corrodes plant; silica and organic carbon; and cadmium, which passes into the acid and the finished fertilizer and is now regulated. Particle size and moisture follow, with rock shipped either as dried concentrate below 1% moisture or as wet rock at 8–12%, priced accordingly. Igneous rock (Russia, South Africa, Brazil) runs low in cadmium and high in grade; sedimentary rock (Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Togo) is the bulk of the trade.

Buy phosphate rock when you run a phosphoric acid, SSP or TSP plant, or when you make direct-application rock phosphate for acid tropical soils, a small but real market for reactive rock ground to below 100 mesh. The trade is a bulk one, in Supramax and Panamax parcels from Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Togo, Peru and Algeria into India, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia and the acid producers of Europe, and it is contracted on long-term supply more than on spot. CBIL brokers commercial-grade and reactive phosphate rock against independent certification of P₂O₅ or BPL, CaO, MgO, Fe₂O₃ + Al₂O₃, chloride, cadmium, moisture and size at load, in bulk parcels and, for ground rock, in jumbo bags, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms.

Indicative reference

$85–175 USD / MT

as at September 2026

IncotermsFOB · CFR · CIF

OriginsMorocco, Jordan, Egypt, Togo, Peru, Algeria

PackagingBulk vessel (Supramax / Panamax) · 1 MT jumbo bags (ground rock)

HS Code2510.20

Reference level only — not an offer, and reviewed quarterly. Levels shown are as at September 2026. Firm pricing is quoted per RFQ, subject to volume, terms and inspection.

Typical Specification

P₂O₅28–34% (62–75 BPL)

CaO / P₂O₅ ratio1.5–1.7

MgO≤ 1.0%

Fe₂O₃ + Al₂O₃≤ 3%

Chloride≤ 0.05%

CadmiumDeclared, mg/kg P₂O₅

Moisture≤ 1% dried / 8–12% wet

Specifications are indicative and adjusted to the agreed contract and destination requirements. Final spec confirmed on COA / SGS.

Available Grades

68–70 BPL (31–32% P₂O₅)72–75 BPL (33–34% P₂O₅)62–65 BPL (28–30% P₂O₅)Reactive ground rock phosphate (direct application)Dried concentrate vs wet rock

Applications

Phosphoric acid manufacture
SSP & TSP plants
Direct application on acid soils
Animal feed phosphate (DCP) feedstock

Phosphate Rock — buyer questions

What does BPL mean and how does it relate to P₂O₅?

Bone phosphate of lime, an old trade measure of tricalcium phosphate content. Multiply P₂O₅ by 2.185 to get BPL: 32% P₂O₅ is 70 BPL, 34% is about 74 BPL. Contracts use one or the other; make sure the certificate reports the same basis as the contract, on a dry basis, or the numbers will not reconcile.

Why is grade not the whole story?

Because a high-grade rock with 2% magnesium or high iron and aluminium can cost more to process than a lower grade clean rock. MgO gums up filtration in a phosphoric acid plant; Fe and Al lock up phosphate; chloride corrodes; cadmium follows the phosphate into the product and is regulated. A plant qualifies a rock on a full analysis and usually on a trial cargo, not on P₂O₅ alone.

Dried concentrate or wet rock?

Wet rock at 8–12% moisture is cheaper per tonne but you ship and pay freight on the water, and it can be difficult to discharge in cold weather. Dried concentrate below 1% moisture costs more at the mine and less to move. Compare on delivered cost per tonne of P₂O₅, which is the only honest basis.

Is direct-application rock phosphate a real product?

Yes, for acid soils in the tropics and for organic agriculture, where a reactive sedimentary rock ground to below 100 mesh releases phosphate slowly. It does nothing on neutral or alkaline soils. Reactivity is specific to the deposit (citrate solubility is the test), so buy on a certified reactivity figure and not on P₂O₅.

Ready to source Rock Phosphate?

Send your quantity, specification, preferred Incoterms and destination port. We'll verify supply and respond with a workable offer — usually within one business day.

Have Rock Phosphate to sell? Submit an offer — we'll match it against live buyer demand.