US Phosphorus Acid prices moved higher in January 2026, driven by early restocking and tighter East Asian import availability. Early buying ahead of spring agro-chemical campaigns boosted demand, while maintenance at downstream yellow-phosphorus plants in China trimmed export allocation and delayed loadings. Vietnam shipments slipped, keeping Gulf Coast inventories thin. Freight was flat and the currency steady, so the gain reflected a supply-demand rebalancing rather than logistics or FX shifts. The market tone remained constructive as buyers covered near-term needs rather than stockpiling. Demand was strongest in the agrochemical and fertilizer complex, with glyphosate blenders and distributors accelerating purchases, while polymers showed modest uptake and automotive/durable end users remained steady. Fewer January spot parcels from China and tighter Vietnamese container availability tightened Gulf Coast supply. Near-term outlook is mixed but tilted toward upside before normalization, with forecasts signaling modest fluctuations through spring.
