Riyadh—Ma’aden Phosphate Co. (MPC), majority-owned by Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Ma’aden), produced 669,000 mt of ammonium phosphate at its Ras Al-Khair complex in the second quarter, largely in line with first-quarter output. But output was 7 percent below the year-ago’s 716,000 mt due to a planned reduction in phosphoric acid production, the company said. Second-quarter sales of ammonium phosphate, mostly as DAP, rose 18 percent to 705,000 mt, compared with 599,000 mt in the first quarter, largely reflecting increased seasonal demand. Second-quarter 2015 sales were 709,000 mt. Six-month production was 4 percent higher than a year ago at 1,328 million mt, and sales were 3 percent higher at 1,304 million mt. Ma’aden said the MPC ammonia plant continues to operate above its design capacity, producing 300,000 mt in the second quarter. But second-quarter external sales were 25 percent lower at 154,000 mt than the first quarter’s 204,000 mt due to increased consumption at the ammonium phosphate fertilizer plant. Ma’aden sold 140,000 mt of ammonia externally in second quarter 2015. First-half external sales almost doubled, to 358,000 mt, up from 186,000 mt a year ago.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain