Urea N46: Prilled vs Granular
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Urea (46% Nitrogen) is the world’s most concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer. It is the primary engine for green growth (chlorophyll synthesis) in...
Urea (46% Nitrogen) is the world’s most concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer. It is the primary engine for green growth (chlorophyll synthesis) in global agriculture. WorldwideTradeX provides high-purity Urea N46, treated for maritime stability and optimized for high-yield arable farming and industrial resin production.
Table of Contents
- Prilled vs. Granular Selection
- The Biuret Factor: Crop Safety
- Anti-Caking & Long-Haul Storage
- Technical Specifications Table
1. Urea Formats: Prilled vs. Granular
Choosing the correct format depends on your application method.
- Prilled Urea (1-2.4mm): Smaller diameter, produced via prilling towers. Rapidly soluble—preferred for fertigation, pasture surface dressing, and industrial AdBlue production.
- Granular Urea (2-4mm): Larger, harder granules produced by accretion. Ideal for bulk blending with DAP/MOP, mechanically spreaders, and controlled release in broadacre cereals.
2. Technical Purity: The Biuret Constraint
Biuret is a byproduct of heating urea and can be phytotoxic (toxic to plants).
- Standard Grade: Biuret content < 1.0%. Suitable for soil application in most field crops.
- Low-Biuret Grade: Biuret < 0.5%. Mandatory for foliar sprays and sensitive horticulture (citrus, pineapple).
3. Moisture Protection & Logistics
Urea is highly hygroscopic (absorbs water).
- Anti-Caking Agent: All WTX urea is treated with formaldehyde-based surface conditioning to ensure free-flowing properties after 30+ days in sea transit.
- Packaging: 50kg PE/PP bags or 1,000kg Jumbo Bags. Bulk vessel options (Handymax) available for port-to-port supply.
4. Technical Specifications: Fertilizer Hub
| Parameter | Agricultural Standard | WTX Premium Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 46.0% Min | 46.2% |
| Biuret | 1.0% Max | 0.8% - 1.0% |
| Moisture | 0.5% Max | 0.3% |
| Granulation | 2.0 - 4.0 mm | 90% Uniformity |
| Color | Pure White | Pure White |
Chemicals Knowledge Hub
- DAP (18-46-0): High-Phosphate Feedstock
- Rock Phosphate: Mineral Purity & BPL
- Agro: Animal Feed & Corn Grades
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Urea N46 and why is it the most traded nitrogen fertilizer?
Urea N46 contains 46% nitrogen by weight — the highest nitrogen concentration of any solid fertilizer. This makes it the most cost-efficient nitrogen source per unit of nutrient delivered. It is produced from ammonia and CO2, and is traded in prilled or granular form.What is the difference between prilled and granular urea?
Prilled urea has smaller, rounder particles (1–2.5mm) and is produced by spraying molten urea from a prilling tower. Granular urea has larger, harder particles (2–4mm) and better storage/handling properties. Granular is preferred for bulk blending and mechanical spreading; prilled is cheaper to produce.How is urea priced in international trade?
Urea is priced against the Middle East FOB (Yuzhne/Nopef) or Black Sea FOB benchmarks, published by Argus and Platts. Prices are highly seasonal — demand peaks before planting seasons (spring in Northern Hemisphere). China's export policy significantly influences global price levels.What are standard quality specs for export-grade Urea N46?
Minimum nitrogen: 46.0%, biuret maximum 1.0% (biuret damages crops at high levels), moisture maximum 0.5%, free ammonia maximum 160 ppm. Granular urea additionally requires crush strength above 3 kg/granule for handling durability.More Frequently Asked Questions
What MOQ applies to chemical products?Often container-scale (big bags, 50 kg sacks or bulk). Confirm per product in your RFQ.
Do you provide analysis certificates?
Yes — CoA per lot is standard; third-party inspection available on request.
How is moisture/fouling controlled in transit?
Proper packing, dry holds/containers and handling guidelines are specified per product.
Are private label packs available?
Retail and distributor branding is possible on selected lines subject to MOQ.
How is pricing determined?
Market-based with volume, packing and Incoterm factors — issued via RFQ.
Field Application Rates (Typical)
Correct rate planning determines how much volume a distributor should contract per season:
| Crop | Typical N rate | Urea equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat / barley | 100-180 kg N/ha | 215-390 kg urea/ha |
| Maize | 140-220 kg N/ha | 300-475 kg urea/ha |
| Rice (irrigated) | 90-150 kg N/ha | 195-325 kg urea/ha |
| Sugarcane | 150-250 kg N/ha | 325-540 kg urea/ha |
| Pasture top-dress | 50-100 kg N/ha | 110-215 kg urea/ha |
Split applications (basal plus top-dress) improve nitrogen use efficiency by 15-25% versus a single heavy pass. Buyers planning seasonal import programs should map regional hectarage by crop before committing vessel quantities in the RFQ.
Industrial & Automotive (AdBlue) Grades
Not all N46 is destined for fields. Two non-fertilizer uses matter to importers:
- Technical-grade urea for resin and melamine production requires low biuret and tight metal limits; specify biuret under 0.9% and ash below 0.05% when quoting resin plants.
- Automotive urea (AUS32) dissolved to a 32.5% solution becomes AdBlue/DEF for SCR-equipped trucks. ISO 22241 governs the finished solution, and feedstock prills must be aldehyde-free — automotive-grade urea skips the formaldehyde anti-caking treatment applied to fertilizer grades.
Pre-Purchase Checklist for Buyers
Before signing a urea contract, confirm:
- Nitrogen, biuret, moisture and crush strength on a current lot CoA — not a generic product sheet.
- Granulometry (SGN) if the urea will be physically blended with DAP/MOP.
- Packaging: 50 kg PP inner-lined bags for humid routes; jumbo bags for industrial receivers with tipping hoppers.
- Anti-caking treatment type — critical if any volume might feed industrial or automotive uses.
- Loading port restrictions (some ports restrict bulk urea handling during the rain season).
- Vessel laycan versus your inland storage capacity — urea demurrage erodes margin quickly.
For project-specific terms, contact WorldwideTradeX via RFQ.