Phosphate rock: Movement
Why India is the world's biggest rock buyer
Why India is the world's biggest rock buyer 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.World imports of natural calcium phosphates (HS 2510) were worth $4.4 billion in 2024 (Comtrade). Morocco led exports with 26.5% of value, then Jordan 21.2%, Peru 14.0% and Egypt 10.2%. India took 40.4% of imports, the US 9.9% and Belgium 4.7%. China mines the most rock but uses it at home and exports little. Much rock is processed near the mine, so trade in DAP and acid outweighs trade in rock. China has curbed phosphate fertiliser exports since 2021. US rock imports come almost entirely from Peru (USGS).
Main trade routes, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.