China MKP Export Market in 2026: Strong Early Shipments, Higher Costs and a More Selective Global Market
In the first four months of 2026, China’s Mono potassium Phosphate (MKP) exports moved faster than usual.
According to customs data, China exported 84,018 metric tons of MKP from January to April 2026, with a total export value of around RMB 780 million. This volume already accounted for about 38.2% of China’s historical annual export volume.
One important reason behind the strong early shipments was the sharp rise in upstream raw material prices. As costs for sulfur, yellow phosphorus, phosphoric acid and potassium-based raw materials continued to increase, many overseas buyers placed orders earlier than usual to secure supply. This helped support early export volume, but it also released part of the market demand in advance.
Key export figures, January-April 2026
|
Export volume |
Export value |
Share of historical annual volume |
|
84,018 MT |
Approx. RMB 780 million |
Approx. 38.2% |
China Remains a Key Global MKP Supplier
China continues to be one of the most important MKP production and export bases in the world.
Major production areas are concentrated in Sichuan, Hubei, Yunnan and Guizhou, where phosphate resources, chemical industry infrastructure and supporting supply chains are relatively mature. These industrial clusters allow Chinese manufacturers to provide stable supply for agricultural-grade and industrial-grade MKP.
Chinese producers are experienced in both Hot process and wet process production routes. Mainstream MKP products can generally reach 99% purity or above, and many manufacturers are able to provide standard export documents such as COA, ISO certificates, REACH-related documents and other compliance files required by different markets.
For many international buyers, Chinese MKP remains attractive because of stable quality, reliable supply capacity and relatively complete export service support.
Cost Pressure Is Still the Main Challenge
Although export volume was strong in early 2026, the market is not easy for producers or buyers.
The biggest pressure comes from raw materials. Prices of sulfur, yellow phosphorus, phosphoric acid and potash-related materials have all remained high. These increases have pushed up MKP production costs directly.
At the same time, international logistics costs and delivery uncertainty are still affecting export business. In some regions, port congestion, shipping schedule changes and geopolitical risks have increased the difficulty of arranging stable delivery.
Another issue is that product price increases have not fully matched cost increases. As a result, the profit margin of many producers has been squeezed. Buyers also face more difficult decisions: whether to purchase early at higher prices, or wait and risk tighter supply later.
Overseas Demand Is Becoming More Selective
The global demand for MKP is still supported by high-efficiency agriculture, fertigation, foliar application and specialty fertilizer development.
However, demand is becoming more selective. Buyers are paying more attention to purity, solubility, heavy metal control, certification documents, delivery stability and supplier reliability.
In Europe and North America, compliance requirements remain strict. In Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other emerging markets, demand is still growing, but buyers are also becoming more cautious about price and payment terms.
This means that MKP export competition is no longer only about price. Product quality, documentation, technical communication and long-term supply stability are becoming more important.
Market Outlook
In the short term, part of the overseas demand has already been brought forward by early purchasing in the first four months of 2026. Therefore, export volume in the following months may gradually return to a more normal pace.
At the same time, high raw material costs are still likely to support MKP prices. If upstream prices remain firm, the room for a sharp price decline may be limited.
Looking further ahead, China’s MKP industry is expected to move toward higher purity, better solubility, greener production and more customized fertilizer solutions. The export model will also continue to shift from simple product supply to a more complete service model, including product, documentation, technical support and market communication.
For global buyers, the key point is clear: in a volatile market, choosing a stable and experienced MKP supplier is becoming more important than ever.
About Sichuan Luobu
Sichuan Luobu New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. is a China-based manufacturer focused on crystalline MKP, drone-grade MKP, water-soluble fertilizers and related phosphate fertilizer solutions. The company serves domestic and international agricultural markets with stable production, quality control and export service support.
Website: www.luobufertilizers.com