All fact sheets · The Strata Memo
Phosphate
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Photo James St. John. “Peloidal phosphorite Phosphoria Formation Simplot Mine Idaho.jpg.” CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons. File page
What it is
Fluorapatite, the usual phosphate mineral in phosphate rock.
“The phosphate is present as fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F”
Source: Wikipedia contributors, Phosphorite (composition line) (text as saved)
USGS 2025 critical mineral. Figures: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (public domain); sources are in the source register.
Where it is made: six stages
bottleneck made in the U.S. partly no U.S. activity no source yet
Where the sites are
MiningConcentratering = place only known to county or district
Most pins mark the centre of the place the source names for the site (a town, county or district), not the exact mine; U.S. sites from MSHA use MSHA's own coordinates for the mine. Hover for operator and outputs. Map outlines: Natural Earth (public domain); place lookup: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Overview
How much does the U.S. import?
of U.S. phosphate use was met by imports in 2025 (USGS net import reliance).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Phosphate Rock (February 2026)
Did you know?
Phosphate rock has a link to bones and teeth: the mineral in vertebrate bones and teeth is apatite, and some of the phosphate in the rock is often dissolved from them.
Two sources; the second is less authoritative or covers it loosely. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · Arkansas Geological Survey (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
How concentrated is supply?
66% of world production comes from three countries (China, Morocco, United States). Highly concentrated.
Thirds of the bar: under 33%, 33 to 65%, 66% and over. Our own rule of thumb, not a USGS rating.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Phosphate Rock (February 2026)
Supply
Who has it, and who digs it?
Where it is produced, 2025
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 44% |
| Morocco | 14% |
| United States | 8% |
| Russia | 6% |
| Jordan | 5% |
| Saudi Arabia | 4% |
Where the reserves are
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Morocco | 68% |
| China | 5% |
| Egypt | 4% |
| Tunisia | 3% |
| Russia | 3% |
| Algeria | 3% |
Share of the world total as printed by USGS (rounded). Production and reserves are different things: reserves are what is economic to mine. Hover or focus a bar for its value, or switch to the table view.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Phosphate Rock (February 2026)
Where U.S. imports come from
Choose a data set, then a view. A country keeps the same color in every chart on this page. Grey means other countries, or a country beyond the seven colors (always labeled). Hover or focus a mark for its value, or use the table view.
- Peru100% · $303.4M
- United Kingdom0% · $603K
- Canada0% · $480K
- Spain0% · $141K
- Pakistan0% · $82K
- Germany0% · $70K
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Peru | 100% · $303.4M | 99.5% |
| United Kingdom | 0% · $603K | 0.2% |
| Canada | 0% · $480K | 0.2% |
| Spain | 0% · $141K | 0.0% |
| Pakistan | 0% · $82K | 0.0% |
| Germany | 0% · $70K | 0.0% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2510; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Price
Price, average value, f.o.b. mine, dollars per metric ton
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Phosphate Rock (February 2026)
Trade and tariffs
Trade codes and tariffs
| HTS code | What it covers | Normal rate | Column 2 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2510 | Natural calcium phosphates, natural aluminum calcium phosphates and phosphatic chalk | Free | Free |
Rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC, saved 2026-10-26). The normal rate is column 1 general; column 2 applies to countries without normal trade relations. A range means different products under the code have different rates. Section 232, Section 301, emergency tariffs and antidumping or countervailing duties are set in separate notices and are not shown. Look up any code at hts.usitc.gov. These are the main codes for this mineral, not a complete list.
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, general and column 2 rates (edition current when saved)
U.S. trade by country
U.S. imports in 2025 by source country, code 2510
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Peru | 100% · $303.4M |
| United Kingdom | 0% · $603K |
| Canada | 0% · $480K |
| Spain | 0% · $141K |
| Pakistan | 0% · $82K |
| Germany | 0% · $70K |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 2510
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Canada | 56% · $1.3M |
| United Kingdom | 13% · $308K |
| Brazil | 8% · $183K |
| Germany | 4% · $104K |
| India | 3% · $68K |
| Chile | 3% · $68K |
2510 Natural calcium (inc alum cal) phosp & phosp chalk
Top import sources Peru 100%, United Kingdom 0%, Canada 0%
Top export destinations Canada 56%, United Kingdom 13%, Brazil 8%
U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API, saved 2026-10-26. Imports are general imports (customs value) and exports are total exports, in U.S. dollars. Duty collected is Census's calculated duty on imports for consumption. Figures cover every 10-digit product under the code, so they can include goods beyond this mineral, and the duty shown is not split into Section 232, Section 301 or antidumping duties. Bars show the largest code for each direction. Group rows such as the EU or OECD are left out so no country is counted twice.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports and exports by HS code and country (calendar 2025, and January to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Value chain and risk
Value chain: where the bottlenecks are
Mining
Five companies mined phosphate rock at 10 mines in four States in 2025 (Florida, Idaho, North Carolina and Utah); in October 2025 the Bureau of Land Management approved a new mine in Caribou County, Idaho. (U.S. activity)
The source says
“phosphate rock ore was mined by five companies at 10 mines in four States”
“Phosphate rock was produced in Florida, Idaho, North Carolina, and Utah.”
“In October 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved a new phosphate rock mine in Caribou County, ID.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Phosphate Rock (PDF page 146) (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery
No sourced data yet.
Refining and separation
No sourced data yet.
Metal, alloy and chemical
More than 95% of U.S. phosphate rock becomes phosphoric acid for fertilizers and animal feed; about 25% of the acid is exported as upgraded fertilizer; U.S. rock imports came more than 99% from Peru in 2021-24. (U.S. activity)
The source says
“More than 95% of the phosphate rock mined in the United States was used to manufacture wet-process phosphoric acid and superphosphoric acid”
“About 25% of the wet-process phosphoric acid produced was exported in the form of upgraded granular diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizer”
“Peru, >99%; other <1%.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Phosphate Rock (PDF page 146) (2026-02)
Components and end use
The rest of the rock goes to elemental phosphorus for industrial phosphorus compounds, mainly the herbicide glyphosate. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“The balance of phosphate rock mined was for the manufacture of elemental phosphorus, which was used to produce phosphorus compounds for industrial applications, primarily glyphosate herbicide.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Phosphate Rock (PDF page 146) (2026-02)
Recycling
USGS lists phosphate rock recycling as none. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Recycling: None.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Phosphate Rock (PDF page 146) (2026-02)
Bottleneck = one country dominates the stage, or the U.S. relies on imports for it, as the quote shows. “No sourced data yet” is not “no problem”.
Who operates it, where, and what comes out
10 operators, 13 named sites.
MiningOre processing and primary recovery
Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC
4 sites · United States
Sources
Four Corners
“Mine name: Four Corners | Operator: Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC | State: FL | County: Polk | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 11/18/1988 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 27.763056 | Longitude: -81.971667 | Mine ID: 0801117”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
South Fort Meade Mine
“Mine name: South Fort Meade Mine | Operator: Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC | State: FL | County: Polk | Mine type: Surface | Status: NonProducing | Status date: 10/06/2026 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 27.647778 | Longitude: -81.756389 | Mine ID: 0801183”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
South Pasture Mine
“Mine name: South Pasture Mine | Operator: Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC | State: FL | County: Hardee | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 03/02/1998 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 27.644722 | Longitude: -81.948611 | Mine ID: 0800903”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Wingate Creek Mine
“Mine name: Wingate Creek Mine | Operator: Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC | State: FL | County: Manatee | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 05/30/2007 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 27.4975 | Longitude: -82.124167 | Mine ID: 0800981”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
ITAFOS Conda LLC
1 site · United States
Sources
Husky 1, North Dry Ridge
“Mine name: Husky 1, North Dry Ridge | Operator: ITAFOS Conda LLC | State: ID | County: Caribou | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 08/10/2026 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 42.654444 | Longitude: -111.604722 | Mine ID: 1001938”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
J R Simplot Company
1 site · United States
Sources
Smoky Canyon Mine
“Mine name: Smoky Canyon Mine | Operator: J R Simplot Company | State: ID | County: Caribou | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 09/07/1982 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 42.762778 | Longitude: -111.071389 | Mine ID: 1001590”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Lyons Pit
1 site · United States
Sources
Lyons Pit
“Mine name: Lyons Pit | Operator: Lyons Pit | State: CO | County: Custer | Mine type: Surface | Status: Intermittent | Status date: 04/01/2025 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 38.376111 | Longitude: -105.583611 | Mine ID: 0505179”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Manko Company
1 site · United States
Sources
Manko Co Sec 5 Mine/Phos
“Mine name: Manko Co Sec 5 Mine/Phos | Operator: Manko Company | State: FL | County: Citrus | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 08/11/2008 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 28.944167 | Longitude: -82.403056 | Mine ID: 0800222”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Mineral Grow
1 site · United States
Sources
Mineral Grow
“Mine name: Mineral Grow | Operator: Mineral Grow | State: FL | County: Polk | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 05/22/2026 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 27.843889 | Longitude: -81.860556 | Mine ID: 0801474”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
PCS Phosphate Company Inc
1 site · United States
Sources
Lee Creek Mine
“Mine name: Lee Creek Mine | Operator: PCS Phosphate Company Inc | State: NC | County: Beaufort | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 05/01/2008 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 35.305556 | Longitude: -76.788611 | Mine ID: 3100212”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Ruveon LLC
1 site · United States
Sources
BFB & Ballard Mines
“Mine name: BFB & Ballard Mines | Operator: Ruveon LLC | State: ID | County: Caribou | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 11/05/2012 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 42.826667 | Longitude: -111.505556 | Mine ID: 1001854”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Simplot Phosphates LLC
1 site · United States
Sources
Vernal Pit & Mill
“Mine name: Vernal Pit & Mill | Operator: Simplot Phosphates LLC | State: UT | County: Uintah | Mine type: Facility | Status: Active | Status date: 04/02/1992 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 40.455556 | Longitude: -109.528611 | Mine ID: 4200998”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
White Springs Ag Chems Inc dba Nutrien
1 site · United States
Sources
Swift Creek Mine
“Mine name: Swift Creek Mine | Operator: White Springs Ag Chems Inc dba Nutrien | State: FL | County: Hamilton | Mine type: Surface | Status: Active | Status date: 10/28/1985 | Primary commodity: Phosphate Rock | Latitude: 30.483056 | Longitude: -83.089167 | Mine ID: 0800798”
Source: MSHA Open Government Data, Mines (2026-10-30)
Not a complete register: a missing name means not yet sourced. Outputs are products named in the checked quote; the source page may list more.
Policy and funding
Policy timeline
Tagged by AI from federal sources; each links to the original. How we label.
Source: U.S. federal sources (Federal Register, Grants.gov, DOE, Regulations.gov, DFC), Policy items tagged for Phosphate (dates per item)
Federal awards already made
Li Industries, Inc. · Department of Energy · $55.2M obligated · started 2025-01-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Georgia Tech Research Corp · Department of Energy · $7.5M obligated · started 2026-10-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
University of Texas at Austin · Department of Energy · $2M obligated · started 2026-03-12
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution · National Science Foundation · $1.4M obligated · started 2026-09-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Spearstone Solutions, LLC · National Science Foundation · $305K obligated · started 2025-03-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The 5 largest of 5 AI-tagged awards from USAspending (last 12 months, found by keyword; some are only loosely about this mineral). See all awards for Phosphate.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, USAspending.gov: spending by award (contracts and grants, last 12 months) (award start dates per item)
Data tables
Phosphate Rock: USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption | percent | 18 | 16 |
| Production, marketable | thousand metric tons | 19,400 | 20,000 |
| Sold or used by producers | thousand metric tons | 19,100 | 18,000 |
| Imports for consumption | thousand metric tons | 3,390 | 3,400 |
| Consumption, apparent | thousand metric tons | 22,500 | 21,000 |
| Price, average value, f.o.b. mine, dollars per metric ton | dollars per metric ton | 96 | 100 |
| Stocks, producer, yearend | thousand metric tons | 8,740 | 8,400 |
| Employment, mine and beneficiation plant, number | number | 2,000 | 1,900 |
World production (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 24, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 105,000 | 110,000 | 44% |
| Morocco | 35,300 | 36,000 | 14% |
| United States | 19,400 | 20,000 | 8% |
| Russia | 14,400 | 14,000 | 6% |
| Jordan | 11,500 | 12,000 | 5% |
| Saudi Arabia | 10,000 | 10,000 | 4% |
| Other countries | 769 | 770 | 0% |
World total 2025: 250,000 thousand metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
World reserves (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 24, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 50,000,000 | 68% |
| China | 3,400,000 | 5% |
| Egypt | 2,800,000 | 4% |
| Tunisia | 2,500,000 | 3% |
| Russia | 2,400,000 | 3% |
| Algeria | 2,200,000 | 3% |
| Other countries | 800,000 | 1% |
World total 2025: 73,000,000 thousand metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
U.S. import sources: All (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Peru | >99 |
| Other countries | <1 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Phosphate Rock (February 2026)