Urea contains 46% nitrogen, the highest nitrogen content of the common solid fertilizers.
It is made from ammonia and carbon dioxide and sold as granular or prilled product.
The bulk price per ton depends on gas costs, season, origin, freight, packaging and trade rules.
Urea is a solid nitrogen fertilizer with the chemical formula CO(NH₂)₂. It is used worldwide in agriculture because it supplies a high amount of nitrogen per tonne transported.
In the soil, urea is converted into ammonium and then nitrate, which plants take up. Besides agriculture, urea is also used industrially, for example in resins and, as a high-purity solution, in exhaust treatment for diesel engines (sold under names such as AdBlue®).
The figure means that urea contains at least 46% nitrogen by weight. In specifications this is usually written as “nitrogen min. 46%”.
A typical commercial specification for fertilizer-grade urea also covers biuret, moisture and particle size, for example:
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen | min. 46% |
| Biuret | max. 1.0% |
| Moisture | max. 0.5% |
| Form | Granular or prilled, size range stated in the contract |
The binding values are those in the contract and confirmed by the independent certificate of quality.
Because it delivers a lot of nitrogen per tonne, is easy to store and transport when kept dry, and can be applied directly or blended with other fertilizers.
Nitrogen is the nutrient crops need in the largest quantity. The high nitrogen content keeps freight and handling costs per unit of nutrient low. On the field, urea that stays on the surface can lose nitrogen to the air as ammonia, which is why it is often incorporated into the soil or used with urease inhibitors.
Both have the same nitrogen content. Granular urea has larger, harder particles and less dust, while prilled urea has smaller, rounder particles formed in a prilling tower.
The particle size range should be stated in the contract and confirmed by the inspection.
Urea is made by reacting ammonia with carbon dioxide under high pressure. The ammonia itself is produced from nitrogen and hydrogen, the hydrogen usually coming from natural gas.
Because natural gas is the main input, urea is mostly produced in regions with access to gas.
Urea is delivered in bulk vessels, in big bags or in smaller bags on pallets, by sea, rail or truck. The choice depends on volume, port facilities and how the buyer distributes the product.
| Form | Suits |
|---|---|
| Bulk vessel | Large volumes, ports with bulk handling and storage |
| Big bags | Medium volumes, distributors, ports without bulk storage |
| Small bags | Retail distribution and direct sale to farms |
| Containers | Smaller lots and destinations without bulk terminals |
Urea absorbs moisture from the air, so dry storage and careful handling are essential to prevent caking.
Bulk urea is bought from producers or trading houses, usually by contract per cargo or under a term agreement. Large producers are concentrated in regions with natural gas, such as the Middle East and North Africa.
Importers in Europe usually buy CFR or CIF to a European port, or FOB when they charter vessels themselves. Before any offer, both sides should be verified, the origin checked against sanctions and trade measures, and inspection and payment agreed. Urea is not bought in bulk through a webshop: cargo trade works through contracts between verified companies.
The main drivers are natural gas costs, seasonal demand in the large consuming regions, export policies of producing countries, freight and the trade rules of the destination, such as duties and CBAM.
We do not publish prices; a price is quoted for a specific, verified transaction.
Last updated: October 2026This page provides general information about trade practice. It is not legal, tax or investment advice.
Small bags are sold online for gardens and farms, but bulk urea is traded by contract between verified companies, with inspection and bank-secured payment.
Mainly natural gas, nitrogen from the air and carbon dioxide. Gas supplies the hydrogen for ammonia, which then reacts with carbon dioxide to form urea.
Dry, covered and protected from humidity, because urea absorbs moisture and can cake. Storage conditions should also follow local safety and environmental rules.
No. AdBlue® is a solution of high-purity urea in demineralised water used for exhaust treatment in diesel engines; fertilizer-grade urea is a solid product with a different specification.
Typically commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, certificates of quality and quantity from an independent inspector and, for EU imports, the documents needed for customs and CBAM reporting.
Yes. Nitrogen fertilizers such as urea are within the scope of the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism; importers should check the current obligations for their imports.
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