The Chinese government has announced its 2019 import and export policy for fertilizers, making significant changes to the export tax rates for all fertilizer products.

The export tax for phosphate rock has been revised down to zero percent from 10pc in 2018.

The tax on all other fertilizer products — including MOP, SOP, NOP, NPKs and the nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers — has also been revised down to zero.

The export tax on MOP and SOP in 2018 was levied at a flat rate of 600 yuan/t ($87/t). NOP and PK fertilizers attracted a 5pc price-based export tax, while a 30pc tax was levied on other fertilizers containing potassium.

Export of NPKs was taxed at a flat rate of Yn100/t.

Import taxes have remained more or less stable.

Imports of urea, DAP and NPK within the import quota will attract a 1pc tax, unchanged from 2018. The import tax for sulphur remains stable at 1pc. Imports of rock phosphate and ammonia will also attract a zero percent import tax, unchanged from 2018.

But the value-added tax (VAT) on the import of sulphur and ammonia has been reduced by a percentage point to 16pc. The VAT on the import of other fertilizers has been reduced by a similar margin to 10pc for 2019.