Phosphate rock exporters

The reduction in U.S. marketable production of phosphate rock has been accompanied by a reduction in exported phosphate rock. During the 1980s, U.S. phosphate rock exports declined from 14.3 to 7.8 million metric tons per year. As shown in Table 23.4, the decline in U.S. phosphate rock exports continued throughout the 1990s. Currently the United States is an importer of phosphate rock. Morocco has now replaced the United States as the major exporter of phosphate rock. 

Production of nitric phosphates is not expected to expand rapidly ia the near future because the primary phosphate exporters, especially ia North Africa and the United States, have moved to ship upgraded materials, wet-process acid, and ammonium phosphates, ia preference to phosphate rock. The abundant supply of these materials should keep suppHers ia a strong competitive position for at least the short-range future. Moreover, the developiag countries, where nitric phosphates would seem to be appealing for most crops except rice, have already strongly committed to production of urea, a material that blends compatibly with sulfur-based phosphates but not with nitrates. 

TABLE 23.4 Major Exporters of Phosphate Rock (Million Metric Tons Exported)... 

P. The USA is the principal producer, having produced one-third of the total world output in 1985, and Morocco is the largest exporter, mainly to the UK and continental Europe. World production is a staggering 151 million tonnes of phosphate rock per annum (1985), equivalent to some 20 million tonnes of contained phosphorus (p. 480). 

Most of the phosphate rock produced in Florida is used in Florida to produce fertilizer. Phosphate rock concentrate is moved mainly by railroads. Some rock is exported through terminals in the Tampa area. 

World phosphate rock production capacity has been estimated as 195.5 million tpy [49]. At 150 million tpy, world capacity utilization is about 77%. At 130 million tpy, world capacity utilization is about 66%. Perhaps most significant in this scenario are the production capacities of the two primary players in the export market the United States (55 million tpy) and Morocco and Western Sahara (32 million tpy). Competition, together with the overcapacity of the major players and of the world as a whole, is one of the prime reasons that world phosphate rock prices have not increased over the past 15-20 years. 

China is not foreseen to become a significaiit factor with respect to phosphate exports in the future. China is presently a net importer of phosphate products Reserves of phosphate rock in China, although widespread, are very limited according to USBM sources [47]. The quality of the phosphate rock from these deposits is low by world standards. Chinese phosphate rocks may contain high levels of MgO, CO2, and/or cate impurities, and the concentrates produced from these depo are not generally suitable for export. China s status as a net importer is not expected to charge. 

Establishment of the phosphate, mining and benefh elation operations only for one medium-size plant may not prove competitive with imported phosphate raw materials. Therefore, countries with large phosphate rock deposits have developed national industries that export phosphate rock, phosphoric acid, and fertilizers. These industries would supply the world market with stable volumes of raw materials at comparatively stable prices. A similar situation exists with beneficiation of potash and potash muriate. 

The estimated value of domestic (nonfuel) mineral raw materials mined in the United States is 40 biUion (net imports into the United States amount to 29 billion) Nine of these minerals have an annual production value of over 1 billion at the present time. These are mainly commodity construction materials such as sand and gravel but also include key metals such as gold, copper, iron, as well as phosphate rock. For some important minerals the United States depends entirely on exports and conscientious exploitation of the ore resources in foreign countries will be crucial to domestic economic development. Ores of precious and rare-earth metals, for instance, cannot be replenished in a practical time scale and their applications typically do not allow these to be recycled effectively. An energy-rich material-poor world is as bleak a prospect as one with no future energy options. 

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, limited amounts of phosphate rock have been exported from various parts of the Pacific, particularly from Nauru, Ocean Island and Christmas Island (1906) (output from the last of these is usually now included with that from Australia). Most of these sources are now almost exhausted, however, and their contribution to world output is very small (see below). 

Comparative statistics for the six leading exporters of phosphate rock are given in Table 10.3. 

Thermal drying to reduce the moisture to about 3 percent, or less, frequently is necessary to prepare phosphate rock for export sales. Rotary dryers, fluid bed dryers, and, to a lesser... 

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