Who imports urea into South Africa?

Fertiliser importers and blenders with plants at the ports and inland. Omnia and Kynoch, which is owned by ETG and has import and blending facilities at the major southern African ports, are the largest published names; smaller blenders buy from them or share cargoes. Importers have spread their buying over more origins since March 2026.

Does urea need to be registered in South Africa?

Yes. Every fertiliser sold must be registered with the Registrar under Act 36 of 1947, with its guaranteed analysis. The importer or blender holds the registration, and the cargo's certificate of analysis has to match it.

Which origins are loading for South Africa now?

Oman at Sur and Sohar, which is the shortest haul and already supplied 18% in 2025; Nigeria, which supplied 6%; Egypt and Algeria in the Mediterranean; and Southeast Asia. Each offer names the producer and load port before the price.

Granular for blending with MAP and potash and for spreading on maize and wheat, which is most of the market. Prilled urea goes to industrial users and to liquid fertiliser makers. State which you need; the two are priced and sourced separately.

Can CBIL also fix the ship?

Yes. Our chartering desk, LaycanDesk, prices Handysize tonnage into Durban and Richards Bay, so a CFR and an FOB figure can be shown side by side.

Southern Africa · South Africa

Urea Suppliers CFR Durban and Richards Bay, South Africa

A market that imports every tonne of its urea, ahead of summer-crop planting from mid-October

South Africa declared 859,200 t of urea imports in 2025 at a landed value of USD 391 million, about USD 455 per tonne, after 934,600 t in 2024. Saudi Arabia supplied 29%, Oman 18%, Qatar 12%, China 10%, Nigeria 6%, the UAE 5% and Bahrain 3%, so 49% came from inside the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz has been severely restricted since 28 February 2026: loadings inside the Gulf move irregularly and are confirmed cargo by cargo. The country produces nitrates and limestone ammonium nitrate at home but no urea, and more than 80% of its fertiliser raw materials are imported; total fertiliser imports were 1.92 million t in 2025. Farm-gate prices followed the international market up: urea rose 59% in a single month in April 2026 and stood at about R21,009 per tonne in June, some 91% above June 2025. Summer-crop planting starts in mid-October, after a record maize crop of 17.4 million t, and importers buy for it from July.

Durban is the main fertiliser port for southern Africa, with blending and bagging plants around the harbour and at Richards Bay; cargoes typically arrive on ships of 25,000 to 35,000 DWT. Every fertiliser sold in South Africa must be registered under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (Act 36 of 1947), and the registration holder is the importer or blender. CBIL brokers granular urea (46% N min, biuret 1% max, moisture 0.5% max, 2-4 mm 90% min) in 20,000 to 35,000 t lots CFR Durban and Richards Bay, loading Sur and Sohar in Oman, the Egyptian Mediterranean ports, Arzew in Algeria and Nigeria, with SGS or Intertek certification at load and the producer named on the certificate of origin. An importer that states its tonnage, laycan, discharge port and LC-opening bank gets a firm answer; one without them gets a question first.

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices Handysize bulk freight on LaycanDesk.

The market in figures

Declared imports: 2025: 859,200 t, USD 391 million, USD 455/t · 2024: 934,600 t
Origins, 2025: Saudi Arabia 29% · Oman 18% · Qatar 12% · China 10% · Nigeria 6% · UAE 5% · Bahrain 3%
Share from inside the Gulf: 49% (about 35,000 t a month to replace)
2026 market: Urea about R21,009/t in June 2026, some 91% above June 2025
Discharge and parcel: Durban and Richards Bay · 20,000-35,000 t Handysize lots
Season: Summer-crop planting from mid-October; buying from July

Landed values are the importing country's declared CIF, not CBIL prices.

Questions buyers ask

Who imports urea into South Africa?: Fertiliser importers and blenders with plants at the ports and inland. Omnia and Kynoch, which is owned by ETG and has import and blending facilities at the major southern African ports, are the largest published names; smaller blenders buy from them or share cargoes. Importers have spread their buying over more origins since March 2026.
Does urea need to be registered in South Africa?: Yes. Every fertiliser sold must be registered with the Registrar under Act 36 of 1947, with its guaranteed analysis. The importer or blender holds the registration, and the cargo's certificate of analysis has to match it.
Which origins are loading for South Africa now?: Oman at Sur and Sohar, which is the shortest haul and already supplied 18% in 2025; Nigeria, which supplied 6%; Egypt and Algeria in the Mediterranean; and Southeast Asia. Each offer names the producer and load port before the price.
Granular or prilled?: Granular for blending with MAP and potash and for spreading on maize and wheat, which is most of the market. Prilled urea goes to industrial users and to liquid fertiliser makers. State which you need; the two are priced and sourced separately.
Can CBIL also fix the ship?: Yes. Our chartering desk, LaycanDesk, prices Handysize tonnage into Durban and Richards Bay, so a CFR and an FOB figure can be shown side by side.