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Clear goals set for the transformation and development of phosphate fertilizers during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Author/Source: Sinochem New Network. Date: June 29, 2020. Clicks: 19. The first forum of the 27th National Phosphate Fertilizer Industry Conference, organized by the China Phosphate Fertilizer Industry Association – namely the Forum on the Development of the Phosphate Fertilizer Industry – was held online recently. The forum focused on the direction of industry transformation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, analyzed the current situation of China’s phosphate fertilizer industry, and put forward suggestions regarding the development goals for this industry during that period as well as technical and policy measures to support such development. Gao Yongfeng, deputy secretary-general of the China Phosphorus Fertilizer Industry Association, said that since the 13th Five-Year Plan period, China’s phosphorus fertilizer industry has achieved remarkable results, but it also faces unprecedented challenges. In 2019, the national phosphate fertilizer production capacity was 22.4 million tons, the production volume was 16.1 million tons, and the apparent consumption volume was 10.97 million tons – all of these figures have been declining for 7 consecutive years. Throughout the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the national phosphate fertilizer production capacity declined by 5%, production volume dropped by 12%, and apparent consumption fell by 12%. The satisfaction rate for domestic phosphate fertilizers has remained at 140%~144%, with severe overcapacity persisting. The industry should pay close attention during the 14th Five-Year Plan period to the phosphorus pollution and resource sustainability issues arising from the huge scale of production and the single product structure. Gao Yongfeng introduced the development goals for the phosphorus compound fertilizer industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. By 2025, the production capacity for phosphate fertilizers shall be kept below 20 million tons per year in terms of P2O5. Among these, the production capacity of ammonium phosphate shall not exceed 15 million tons per year in terms of P2O5; the reliance on external sulfur resources will decrease by 10 percentage points; the grade of phosphorus ore required for use will drop by 2 percentage points; the share of new types of phosphatic fertilizers will increase by 10 percentage points; the phosphorus yield in phosphate production will rise by 1 percentage point; the overall energy consumption in phosphatic fertilizer production will decrease by 5%–10%; the emission intensity of key pollutants will fall by 30%; the proportion of R&D investment in revenue will reach over 3%; and the comprehensive utilization rate of phosphogypsum will increase by 20 percentage points. Gao Yongfeng emphasized that China’s phosphate fertilizer industry urgently needs to undergo in-depth structural adjustments and optimizations, gradually reducing its overall scale in order to ensure the sustainability of resources, the environment, the industry, and the market. Therefore, the development strategy for the industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan period will be to enhance the overall level of technical equipment through technological upgrades and innovation, in order to achieve energy savings, reduced consumption, and lower emissions; to optimize the industrial structure and upgrade the product portfolio by developing high-end products; to expand the scope of recycling associated resources and improve the efficiency of resource utilization; and to optimize the organizational structure by fostering large enterprise groups, thereby bringing about innovations in management systems, corporate policies, employment practices, and marketing methods. Furthermore, the industry needs to strengthen policy support, including increasing assistance for scientific research and innovation, technological upgrades, and the sustainable utilization of phosphogypsum resources. At the forum, Wang Xinlong, a professor at Sichuan University, focused on introducing the application technologies for medium- and low-grade phosphate ores, as well as the technologies for developing new types of phosphate fertilizers for modern ecological agriculture. He believes that the key to developing new types of phosphate fertilizers lies in addressing the relationship between phosphorus and other medium and trace elements. Li Zhigang, deputy chief engineer of China Five Rings Engineering Co., Ltd., proposed establishing a diversified industrial structure, developing the fine phosphorus chemical industry and new energy electrode materials, in order to improve economic efficiency and achieve comprehensive utilization of resources. Jiang Jijun, head of the Strategic Development Department at Yunnan Yuntianhua Co., Ltd., believes that the structure of phosphorus-based fertilizer products should evolve toward higher quality, greater precision, and greater specialization. It is necessary to improve resource utilization and pursue sustainable development, as well as increase the company’s involvement in modern agriculture and agrochemical services.