Phosphate Rock
Statistical Compendium
This publication includes data through 1990.
For recent statistics, please go the the Phosphate Rock Statistics and Information page.
The principal commercial deposits of phosphate rock exist in
Florida, North Carolina, and Idaho, and to a lesser degree in
Montana and Utah. Production of phosphate rock in Tennessee
ended in 1991. Phosphate rock is mined, beneficiated, and either
solubilized to produce wet-process phosphoric acid or smelted to
produce elemental phosphoric acid or smelted to produce elemental
phosphorous. Phosphoric acid is reacted with phosphate rock to
produce the fertilizer triple superphosphate or with anhydrous
ammonia to produce the ammonium phosphate fertilizers. Elemental
phosphorus is the base for furnace-grade phosphoric acid,
phosphorus pentasulfide, phosphorus pentoxide, and phosphorus
trichloride. Approximately 90% of phosphate rock production is
used for fertilizers and animal feed supplements and the balance
for industrial chemicals.
U.S. phosphate rock production increased from 18 million
metric tons in 1960 to 35 million metric tons in 1970 and peaked
at 54 million metric tons in 1980. Consumption in 1990 was 44
million metric tons. Increasing tonnage of phosphate rock is
used to produce higher value phosphatic fertilizers for the
export market. Phosphate rock exports peaked in 1980 at 14
million metric tons and has declined to 6 million metric tons in
1990. Phosphate rock imports have historically been a minor
factor in supply; however, in addition to small quantities of
low-fluorine materials, phosphate rock imports in recent years
increased to the .5-million-metric-ton level.
Phosphate rock prices in the 1960's were in the $5 to $6 per
metric ton range, f.o.b. mine, and increased to the $20 to $25
per metric ton range, f.o.b. mine, in the 1980's.
The demand for phosphate rock as a nutrient for food
production will vary throughout the world. The overall demand is
forecast to increase in the 1%-to-2%-per-year range; however, in
the agriculturally mature countries, the increase in demand will
be closer to 1% per year.
The supply of phosphate rock is forecast to decline in the
United States as existing mines in Florida are mined out and
unfavorable economics discourage new mine development. World
supply will be maintained from quality deposits in North Africa.
- Table 1 (TXT) -- U.S. phosphate rock historical data
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U.S. Geological Survey
Minerals Information
983 National Center
Reston, VA 20192 USA
Commodity Specialist: Joyce A. Ober (jober@usgs.gov)
URL:
http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/phosphate/stat/
Maintained by: jgambogi@usgs.gov
Last modification: 10/16/00
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