Nitrogen (ammonia): Movement

Gas-rich Gulf states ship urea to Brazil and India

What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

In 2024 world urea imports (HS 310210) were worth $18.2 billion and ammonia imports (HS 281410) $8.4 billion (Comtrade). Urea exports came from gas-rich Saudi Arabia (14.5%), Egypt (12.6%), Oman (9.8%) and Algeria (8.4%); Brazil (16.2%), India (11.9%) and the US (10.2%) imported most. Ammonia is harder to ship, chilled or pressurised. Trinidad and Tobago led its exports (21.4%), and Morocco bought 21.0% to make phosphate fertiliser. Gulf cargoes pass the Strait of Hormuz. Russia is absent from these reported figures. China has restricted urea exports since 2021.

Main trade routes, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.

Anhydrous ammonia · HS 281410

World exports 2024 $5.86 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $8.44 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Trinidad and Tobago 21.4% Saudi Arabia 14.1% Canada 12.6% Indonesia 10.4% Algeria 7.4% United States 5.6% Top importers, share of value Morocco 21% United States 14.5% India 11.6% South Korea 5.8% Belgium 4.4% Turkey 4.3%

Urea · HS 310210

World exports 2024 $11.2 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $18.2 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Saudi Arabia 14.5% Egypt 12.6% Oman 9.8% Algeria 8.4% Nigeria 7.6% Malaysia 6.1% Top importers, share of value Brazil 16.2% India 11.9% United States 10.2% Australia 8% Thailand 5.3% Turkey 4.9% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.