According to the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. marketable phosphate rock production in May 2023 was estimated to be 1.86 million metric tons (Mt), which was 15% higher than that in April and 4% lower than that in May 2022.
Total phosphate rock production in January through May was estimated to be 8.16 Mt, which was slightly higher than the revised amount in the same period of 2022.
Phosphate rock sold or used in the United States in May 2023 was estimated to be 1.62 Mt, which was 7% lower than that in April and 11% lower than that in May 2022. Total phosphate rock sold or used in January through May was estimated to be 8.86 Mt, which was 3% higher than the revised amount in the same period of 2022.
U.S. producer stocks were estimated to be 8% higher than those in April and 5% higher than the revised amount in May 2022. Imports of phosphate rock in May 2023 were 203,000 metric tons, which was slightly lower than those in April and 2.1 times greater than those in May 2022. Total imports for January through May were 1.12 Mt, which was 29% higher than those in same period in 2022.
Imports of phosphate rock can vary substantially from month to month based on sales contracts and production schedules of the phosphate plants. Estimated apparent consumption for 2023, based on annualized data, was 24.1 Mt compared with 21.9 Mt in 2022.