Phosphate
EU import reliance for phosphate rock is 82%. Morocco holds about two thirds of the world’s reserves.
Figures
Phosphate in four figures
EU import reliance
82%
net imports of phosphate rock as a share of EU apparent consumption
Source: European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
World mining
44%
China’s share of world phosphate rock mining, 2025
Source: USGS 2026
Main EU source
27%
Morocco. Next is Russia with 24%.
Source: European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
EU demand
2Mt
of phosphate rock a year, as P₂O₅, 2016 to 2020
Source: SCRREEN, phosphate rock factsheet
Data as of 27 October 2026
Supply in Europe
Europe’s own supply
EU capacity as a share of EU phosphate demand, 2016 to 2020.
- EU demand100%
- EU extraction capacityAbout 17%
- EU processing capacityNo figure
- EU recycling capacityAbout 17%
One grain is 1% of EU phosphate demand. Sources: SCRREEN, phosphate rock factsheet; European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
Outlook
What comes next
- Known resources
- More than 500 years of EU demand
- EU duties
- On Russian and Belarusian fertilisers since July 2025. For DAP, MAP and NPK the extra duty rose from €45 to €70 a tonne in July 2026, and rises to €95 in July 2027 and €430 in July 2028.
- EU imports
- €669m of phosphate rock from outside the EU in 2025. Russia supplied 31%.
Sources: SCRREEN; EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2025/1227; Eurostat Comext. Resources are not reserves.
Origin
Where phosphate comes from
Use
Where phosphate is used
Fertiliser
0.85Mt
of phosphorus spread as mineral fertiliser on EU farms in 2023
Source: Eurostat
Batteries
Over
50%
of electric-car batteries worldwide were LFP (lithium iron phosphate) in 2025
Source: IEA 2026
Events
Events and measures
- Jan 2026
- European Union
The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) enters its definitive regime. It covers fertilisers that contain nitrogen, including DAP and MAP, but not phosphate rock.
Source: European Commission
- Dec 2025
- China
Suspends phosphate fertiliser exports until August 2026.
Source: IEA 2026
- Jul 2025
- European Union
Duties on Russian and Belarusian fertilisers take effect.
Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2025/1227
- European Commission, Study on the critical raw materials for the EU (2023)
- USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
- SCRREEN, phosphate rock factsheet
- IEA, Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026
- Eurostat, consumption of inorganic fertilisers 2023
- EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2025/1227
- Eurostat Comext, extra-EU imports 2025
- European Commission, CBAM
