Rabat – Morocco’s OCP Group plans to take full ownership of EMAPHOS, a producer of purified phosphoric acid based at Jorf Lasfar, by acquiring the shares held by German company Chemische Fabrik Budenheim KG and Belgian company Prayon S.A.
OCP said on Wednesday the proposed transaction would strengthen its specialty phosphate business and expand its position in high-value industrial products.
The acquisition will be carried out through OCP Specialty Products & Solutions (SPS), a wholly owned subsidiary focused on specialty products. Once the transaction is completed, EMAPHOS will become a fully owned subsidiary of OCP Group.
OCP expects to complete the deal in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
The group did not disclose the financial value of the proposed transaction.
EMAPHOS expands production capacity
Established in 1996 at Jorf Lasfar, on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, EMAPHOS specializes in purified phosphoric acid, a chemical used in several industrial sectors.
The product serves markets including specialty fertilizers, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. It also has applications in technologies linked to the energy transition and batteries.
EMAPHOS initially had an annual production capacity of 140,000 tonnes. The company expanded this capacity to approximately 300,000 tonnes in 2023.
OCP said the proposed acquisition would allow it to improve the integration of its operations while preserving EMAPHOS’s existing commercial relationships and access to international markets.
Despite the planned change in ownership, Prayon and Budenheim will remain strategic commercial partners and maintain their existing supply relationships with EMAPHOS.
OCP already holds a 50% stake in Prayon, a Belgian producer of phosphate-based products.
OCP expands its specialty products business
The planned acquisition comes as OCP seeks to expand beyond traditional phosphate fertilizers and strengthen its presence in products used in more specialized industrial applications.
OCP is a major global producer of phosphate rock and phosphate-based fertilizers. Its products support agricultural production in markets across the world.
The group is also investing in renewable energy, water infrastructure, and new industrial products as part of its broader development strategy.
Under its $13 billion green investment program for 2023-2027, OCP aims to increase fertilizer production capacity, expand the use of clean energy, and develop new products, including phosphate-based materials for energy-related applications.
In May 2026, the African Development Bank announced a €450 million partial credit guarantee to support a €530 million green financing facility for OCP. The funding is intended to help advance investments in lower-carbon production, renewable energy, and sustainable water management.
The EMAPHOS acquisition would complement these efforts by strengthening OCP’s position in specialty chemicals and products with uses beyond conventional agriculture.
Purified phosphoric acid is an important industrial input, and demand comes from several sectors with different requirements. Greater control over EMAPHOS could help OCP coordinate production and develop its specialty products business.
However, the company has not disclosed specific production targets or additional investment plans linked to the acquisition.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval, with completion expected in early 2027.
