Rabat – A 54,000-ton shipment from Morocco is putting OCP back on the US agricultural map, reopening a supply route that had been largely closed for more than five years.
The arrival of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer at the Port of New Orleans comes as American farmers prepare for the fall application season and as the US market looks to diversify its sources of phosphate fertilizer.
OCP North America, a subsidiary of Morocco’s OCP Group, said the Moroccan-made fertilizer will be distributed to American farmers, adding to available supplies at a time when the US agricultural sector is facing a more limited pool of phosphate fertilizer suppliers.
The return follows the US administration’s decision to grant temporary relief from countervailing duties (CVD) on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports. The measure has opened the way for OCP to resume shipments to the US while giving American farmers access to an additional source of phosphate fertilizer.
In the proclamation, US President Donald Trump cited concerns over disruptions to global fertilizer supply chains and insufficient domestic production, saying the US needed to “procure phosphate fertilizer from diversified foreign sources” to reduce risks to agricultural production.
OCP said the latest shipment will help supplement existing supplies ahead of a key application period, when farmers typically make important decisions about fertilizer use.
The US administration said the measure was driven by concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the fall application season, when American farmers are expected to use more than half of their annual phosphate fertilizer consumption between fall and early spring.
“Persistent threats to the global fertilizer supply chain … require the United States to procure phosphate fertilizer from diversified foreign sources,” Trump said in the June 29 proclamation.
Morocco-US supply link
The shipment highlights the strategic role of OCP’s integrated supply chain in connecting Morocco’s phosphate production capacity with the US agricultural market.
The US administration specifically identified Morocco as a reliable source of phosphate fertilizer, saying producers in the country could supply the US “without disruption at this time.”
Trump said facilitating imports from Morocco was “imperative” to mitigate risks to US agricultural production, safeguard economic and national security, and maintain a stable domestic food supply.
From production in Morocco to maritime transport and distribution in the US, the shipment reflects OCP’s ability to mobilize its operations in response to market demand.
Following the US administration’s June 29 announcement of temporary CVD relief, OCP said it worked with the US Department of Commerce and other relevant authorities to clarify the requirements governing shipments.
With the relevant guidance now finalized, OCP said shipments can proceed during the temporary suspension of CVD tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers.
“This shipment reflects our commitment to supply the U.S. market,” said Kevin Kimm, CEO of OCP North America. “The temporary relief has enabled Moroccan phosphate fertilizer to return to the U.S. market. We are now focused on helping supplement available supply and ensuring American farmers have access to the fertilizer they need, when they need it.”
The development also comes as US domestic phosphate production has declined significantly. OCP said US phosphate mining has fallen by more than 50% since 1995, contributing to a shrinking pool of domestic suppliers.
For US farmers, the return of Moroccan fertilizer therefore adds another source to the market at a time when supply availability has become an important consideration for agricultural planning.
A broader supply role
The latest shipment is not only about meeting immediate fertilizer demand. It also reflects a broader US effort to diversify international fertilizer supply chains amid disruptions in global markets.
OCP said more than five years of restricted access to Moroccan phosphate fertilizers have left US farmers exposed to a smaller supplier base. Current market conditions have also led some farmers to delay fertilizer application decisions this season.
By resuming shipments, OCP can contribute to expanding the range of phosphate fertilizer available to US farmers while responding to customer demand.
TSP is a phosphate fertilizer that provides phosphorus separately from other major nutrients. This allows farmers to adjust nutrient applications to the specific needs of their crops and soils.
OCP said the product supports the “4R” principles of nutrient management, as it applies the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.
The fertilizer giant said the shipment also demonstrates its ability to respond to market needs while providing fertilizer solutions adapted to local agricultural conditions.
However, the current arrangement remains temporary. OCP said the CVD relief provides short-term support for US fertilizer availability, while greater long-term certainty would help the company plan investments in its US-facing capabilities and contribute to more stable fertilizer supplies over time.
