# DAP and MAP: Feedstocks

Rock, sulphur and ammonia: three bills in one bag

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

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

A tonne of DAP needs about 1.7 t of phosphate rock, 0.4 t of sulphur and 0.22 t of ammonia. Rock gives the phosphorus, sulphur makes the acid, and ammonia supplies the nitrogen. Producers who own rock and buy sulphur and ammonia cheaply win; non-integrated granulators, like many in India, pay world prices for all three.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [P Phosphate rock](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/phosphate/) | about 1.7 t per t DAP | phosphorus source | about 35-40% of raw material cost at September 2026 prices (indicative) | phosphate tile; World Bank rock $170/t (Sep 2026) |
| [S Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sulfur/) | about 0.4 t per t DAP | makes sulphuric acid to dissolve the rock | about 35-40% at Q3 2026 Tampa sulphur of $705/long t (indicative) | sulphur tile (Tampa contract Q3 2026); stoichiometry |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | about 0.22 t NH3 per t DAP; 0.13 t per t MAP | nitrogen and neutralising base | about 15-20% (indicative, basis: US Gulf ammonia $450/short t average in 2025, USGS) | USGS MCS 2026, Nitrogen; stoichiometry |
| **Energy for drying and granulation** | small; sulphur burning exports surplus steam | drying, acid concentration | under 5% (indicative) | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Morocco (OCP) and Saudi Arabia (Ma'aden) sit at the bottom with captive rock and low-cost sulphur and ammonia. US producers are mid-curve on rock costs of about $56-80/t. Non-integrated Indian and Brazilian plants buying acid, sulphur and ammonia sit at the top and cut output when sulphur spikes (CRU, 2025).

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[P Phosphate rock](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/phosphate/)[S Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sulfur/)[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [H3PO4 Phosphoric acid](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/) | the intermediate from which DAP and MAP are made |
| [CAM Battery cathode materials](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/cathode_materials/) | technical MAP and purified acid feed some LFP routes |

## 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)
- [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)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dap_map/links/index.md)