Misr Phosphate, a leading Egyptian phosphate rock producer, has announced the successful shipment of its newly developed low-dust phosphate rock to European and Latin American markets. This development marks a significant step forward for the company and the Egyptian phosphate industry, opening doors to previously inaccessible markets due to stringent environmental regulations.

Misr Phosphate has invested in a state-of-the-art “de-dusting” facility at its Abu Tartour phosphate mine in southwestern Egypt. This facility employs a specialized process to remove fine particles measuring less than 80 micrometers from the crushed phosphate rock. The result is a substantial reduction in dust content, by approximately 80%, while simultaneously increasing the P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide) content by 1.0-1.5% and lowering the heavy metal content.

The Abu Tartour facility is currently operating at around 1,000 tonnes per day (t/d) and is expected to reach its full capacity of 2,000 t/d in the second quarter of this year. This increased production capacity will allow Misr Phosphate to meet the growing demand for its low-dust product.

Since the end of 2024, Misr Phosphate has been actively marketing this improved phosphate rock. To date, 15,000 tonnes of the processed rock, with a P2O5 content ranging from 27-29%, have been shipped to southern Europe. A further 7,000 tonnes, containing 26-27% P2O5, are currently being loaded at Damietta port for shipment to Brazil. Looking ahead, the company has scheduled further shipments, including 15,000 tonnes to Brazil in March and 20,000 tonnes to Spain in April.

While the exact pricing for these shipments remains undisclosed, it is anticipated that the processed rock will command a premium price due to the added processing costs and improved quality. Misr Phosphate has confirmed the successful unloading of its low-dust cargoes at European ports.

Misr Phosphate holds the sole license for mining phosphate rock in Abu Tartour, and also operates mines in El Sabaia and the Red Sea region. Last year, the company produced approximately 6.7 million tonnes of phosphate rock of all grades, exporting around 3.7 million tonnes. For the current year, Misr Phosphate has set ambitious targets, aiming for 7 million tonnes of production and 4 million tonnes of exports.

According to the Egyptian marketing company for phosphate and fertilizers (EMPHCO), total Egyptian phosphate rock exports reached 5.2 million tonnes last year and are projected to climb to as high as 6 million tonnes this year. In January alone, Egypt exported 680,000 tonnes of phosphate rock, including 273,000 tonnes shipped to India. EMPHCO forecasts total phosphate rock exports of 1.2 million tonnes for the first quarter of this year.