Despite persistently high prices across all key nutrients, fertilizer demand remained resilient throughout 2025, while new logistics opportunities continued to emerge across Eastern and Southern Africa. This was one of the key conclusions shared by participants from across the fertilizer value chain at the Argus Fertilizer Africa Conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 10-11 February 2026. FertiStream’s Senior Manager for Trading & Business Development, MEA, Houda Ait-Idder shares key takeaways from the major regional event:
• Steady Regional Fertilizer Demand Despite High Prices: According to Argus, the organizer and a leading provider of commodity market news and analysis, the East African fertilizer market remained “upbeat” in 2025, although affordability remained a key concern.
• Port Developments and Logistics: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s main port, is a key entry point for sulfur and a trade corridor for landlocked Eastern African countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi. The port continues its expansion plans, with volumes handled increasing year on year. Major logistics providers, including DP World, Steinweg, and AGL, are expanding warehouse capacities along established corridors in Southern Africa, such as the Beira corridor. The Beira corridor, connecting Mozambique’s Beira port to landlocked countries Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, remains the most cost-effective route. Providers are also investing in developing routes, including Walvis Bay in Namibia. Despite these investments, fertilizer flows continue to face seasonal challenges, including port congestion and additional demurrage costs.
• Expanding Local Fertilizer Production in Southern Africa: One of the most anticipated developments in Southern Africa is the new urea plant in Zambia, which is expected to affect the existing urea import trade through Mozambique’s Beira corridor. The plant, owned by United Capital Fertilizer (UCF), was commissioned in October 2025, but commercial production has not yet been fully reflected in trade data. UCF’s NPK plant has already been operating for some time, contributing to increased demand for raw materials and reduced imports of finished NPK products. Market participants expect the additional urea capacity to gradually reshape regional trade flows.
• Affordability of Fertilizers and Financing: Fertilizer prices remain a major driver of demand, and affordability has been constrained in recent years due to price spikes. One factor supporting resilient demand is the combined effort of governments and the private sector to maintain supply at the farmer level. Government programs, including subsidies and procurement initiatives, help sustain demand, while financing provided by importers and distributors has been an important tool in ensuring continued supply and access to fertilizers.
