Egypt Raises MOPCO Gas Cuts to 33%, Putting Fertilizer Output at Risk
The fertilizer producer says operations continue, but it has not quantified the production impact of the expanded restriction.
Key takeaways
- MOPCO was notified that its natural gas deliveries would be cut by 33%.
- The company says it has adjusted operations and continues to produce.
- Egypt’s fertilizer exports reached $2.53 billion in the first nine months of 2026.
MOPCO, one of Egypt’s major nitrogen fertilizer producers, said it was notified that natural gas deliveries to its plants would be cut by 33%. The reduction follows a 20% cut introduced at the start of November.
The company told the Egyptian Exchange on Nov. 8 that it had adjusted production and operations to the available gas supply and that activities were continuing. It did not estimate how much the new restriction might affect output.
Egypt’s Abu Qir Fertilizers and KIMA had also confirmed 20% cuts earlier in the month. MOPCO was the company to confirm the new 33% level in an exchange filing, according to the report.
The country’s gas squeeze reflects declining domestic production and higher costs for imported liquefied natural gas. Asian LNG benchmark prices rose from about $25 per million British thermal units at the end of September to more than $34 at the end of October. Egypt is prioritizing gas for power generation, leaving industrial users including fertilizer and petrochemical plants more exposed to restrictions.
MOPCO has annual urea production capacity of about 2 million tonnes across three plants. Egypt’s fertilizer exports totaled $2.53 billion in the first nine months of 2026, while November-delivery granular urea was reported at about $535 per tonne. The gas cut does not mean output will fall by the same percentage; the impact will depend on operating conditions, stocks and alternative supply.
This article was produced with the help of AI technology. Based on reporting by the outlets listed above.
