In May 2026, China imported 131,000 mt of phosphate ore, down 36.4% from April, with the average price easing 2.6% to $93/mt.

According to customs data released on May 20, 2026, China’s phosphate ore imports stood at 207,000 mt in April 2026, rising 13.5% month-on-month from 182,000 mt in March. April total import value hit US$19.741 million, a MoM increase of 35.7% versus US$14.552 million in March. The average import unit price was US$95.5 per mt, up 19.6% from US$79.9 per mt in March.

2025 annual reports show that companies with captive phosphate rock (BATIAN, Chuanjinnuo, Xingfa) posted profit growth of 122%-158%, while those relying on purchased raw materials (LiuGuo Chemical lost RMB 456 million, Lubei Chemical profit fell 85%) struggled. The pattern of "who owns mines, owns profits" is entrenched.

Recycling Industry Events This Week (August. 18-22)

【900,000 t/a Phosphate Rock Project Enters Trial Production】 A certain company announced that its subsidiary, a mining company, has passed the safety facility completion acceptance inspection by an expert panel for its "900,000 t/a Dingjia Phosphate Rock (Phase II) Mining Project" (referred to as the "Phosphate Rock Project"), which is now in trial production. Looking back to 2022, the company announced that it would invest in the 900,000 t/a Dingjia Phosphate Rock (Phase II) Mining Project through its subsidiary to provide resource support for the integrated lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material project. The total investment for the project is RMB 179 million, with a construction period of 30 months. According to profit estimates, the project is expected to generate an annual net profit of RMB 30.6095 million.