# DAP and MAP: Emissions

Ammonia's carbon and five tonnes of gypsum

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/emissions/

Ammonia's carbon and five tonnes of gypsum What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 0.70 t CO2e per t range 0.5-1.0 · cradle-to-gate; embedded ammonia (0.22 t at about 2.4 t CO2/t) plus rock mining and acid processing Global emissions per year 42.0 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · about 60 Mt DAP/MAP x 0.7 t CO2e/t; MAP carries less ammonia, so an upper estimate

Per t of DAP (18-46-0), cradle-to-gate. Intensity: phosphate tile, derived from IEA Ammonia Technology Roadmap 2021 and stoichiometry (indicative). Global total: derived (indicative).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 85% Production / process 10% Movement 5%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 0.6 t CO2e/t DAP | 85% | embedded ammonia (about 0.53 t CO2) and rock mining (0.05-0.15 t) | coal-based ammonia in China roughly doubles the ammonia part | IEA (2021); phosphate tile (indicative) |
| **Production / process** | about 0.07 t CO2e/t DAP | 10% | acid concentration, granulation and drying | sulphur burning emits no CO2 and exports steam, a small credit | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.03-0.05 t CO2/t for Morocco to India | 5% | bulk carriers at 3-10 g CO2 per tonne-km | India imports most of the chain | IMO Fourth GHG Study 2020 (indicative) |
| **Use** | N2O from the 18% N in DAP; none from phosphorus | – | soil nitrification and denitrification | about 0.8 t CO2e per t DAP at the IPCC 1% default emission factor (indicative, derived: 0.18 t N x 1% x 44/28 x 273) | IPCC 2019 Refinement (indicative) |
| **End of life** | not applicable | – | nutrients are consumed in soil | phosphorus runoff causes eutrophication; no recycling | EU CRM 2023 |

#### Other environmental impacts

About 5 t of phosphogypsum per t of P2O5 in stacks containing fluoride and radium; cadmium accumulation in soils; phosphorus runoff and algal blooms.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Low-carbon ammonia for the 0.22 t NH3 per t DAP, the largest share of the footprint
- Use sulphuric acid plant steam for power
- Shift part of demand to MAP, SSP and better-placed NPK where crops need less N
- Phosphogypsum reuse in cement and roads
- Precision placement to cut P overuse

#### India

India imported about two-thirds of its 9.40 Mt of DAP in FY2026, so most emissions sit in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Russia and China; domestic DAP uses imported ammonia, so its footprint is similar (Chambal MD&A; derived).
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **DAP made with blue or green ammonia** | about 0.2-0.3 t CO2e/t DAP (indicative, derived) | adds roughly $50-150/t DAP at green ammonia premiums of $250-700/t NH3 (indicative) | OCP plans green ammonia in Morocco (not verified); no commercial low-carbon DAP brand at scale | derived (indicative) |
| **Struvite recovered from wastewater** | low; small volumes | niche | municipal pilots in Europe | phosphate tile |

 For a climate investor The decarbonisation lever is the ammonia inside DAP, so low-carbon ammonia offtake at Indian granulators (Paradeep, Coromandel, IFFCO) is the natural route. Better nutrient-use efficiency and balanced NPK cut both imports and subsidy, which also matters to the state. What has to be true: the NBS subsidy pays for nutrients, not forms, so a cleaner product needs a carbon or procurement premium to compete.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/links/index.md)