Africa’s phosphate future set to take centre stage at African Mining Week 2026 amid rising fertiliser prices

CAPE TOWN, April 19, 2026— Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz – a critical artery for global trade that handles about 30 percent  of the world’s fertiliser shipments – are sending shockwaves through fertiliser markets, driving prices up and raising serious questions about food security. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [FAO] warns that if these supply chain disruptions persist, global fertiliser prices could climb 15–20 percent in the first half of 2026 alone.

The impact is already being felt, with granular urea prices in the Middle East jumping 19 percent, while in Egypt, March 2026 saw urea costs soar by 28 percent. For African countries that rely heavily on imports, these hikes represent a real threat to agricultural productivity and food security. With about 54% of Sudan’s fertiliser imports, 30 percent of Somalia’s and 26 percent of Kenya’s passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the message suggests that Africa needs to diversify its supply sources while investing in domestic production.

While the disruptions pose challenges, they also present an opportunity for Africa to strengthen regional supply while diversifying global fertilizer markets. The continent accounts for roughly 20 percent of global phosphate production and holds some of the world’s largest untapped reserves of the mineral – a key input in fertiliser manufacturing.

Morocco alone boasts 50 billion tonnes of phosphate reserves, equivalent to about 70 percent of the world’s total, while Egypt holds 2.8bln tonnes, Tunisia 2.5bln tonnes and Algeria 2.2bln tonnes.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming African Mining Week [AMW] 2026, scheduled for October 14-16 in Cape Town, will spotlight investment opportunities across Africa’s phosphate mining and fertilizer production value chain, positioning the continent as a key player in strengthening global supply resilience.

Under the theme Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value Chain, AMW 2026 will feature high-level panel discussions, exhibitions, networking sessions and project showcases, highlighting Africa’s growing pipeline of phosphate mining and fertiliser production projects.

As fertilizer demand grows, projects including the European Investment Bank-backed Gafsa phosphate project in Tunisia, Minbos Resources’ Cabinda Phosphate Fertiliser Project in Angola and Algeria’s US$ 7bln Bled El Hadba development are accelerating Africa’s phosphate value chain, boosting local beneficiation. These projects demonstrate Africa’s commitment to strengthening food security and reducing reliance on volatile global markets while creating opportunities for global investors seeking to participate in the continent’s resource-driven industrial growth.

As geopolitical shocks continue to disrupt global fertiliser markets, AMW 2026 will provide a timely platform for stakeholders to explore how Africa can leverage its vast phosphate resources to strengthen fertiliser supply security.

https://thecooperator.news/govt-signs-fertiliser-deal-to-boost-crop-yields-across-country/

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