Rabat, Morocco – (African Boulevard News) – Morocco’s OCP (Office Chérifien des Phosphates) is eyeing the US market once again thanks to the US Department of Commerce’s relaxation of conditions on Moroccan fertiliser imports. The new policy has reopened the market to OCP, while dealing a blow to local phosphate producer The Mosaic Co, the US competitor of OCP, as it has not had its anti-dumping and countervailing duties lifted like OCP.
The OCP is jumping at the chance to get back into the United States market, which they had previously been locked out of. “The US is a key market for our phosphate products, and we are working to restart sales there as soon as possible,” said an OCP spokesman.
This news is being heralded as a significant breakthrough for OCP. For the past few years, US import tariffs on OCP have been in place due to anti-dumping and countervailing duties, thereby locking the phosphate giant out of the US market. The change opens up new markets for OCP as, for the first time since duties were imposed, the company can sell its fertiliser products in the US market.
This shift marks a significant victory for OCP, which has been lobbying for the change in policy with US authorities. The easing of tariffs allows OCP to become more competitive, given that The Mosaic Co will now have to deal with a real threat to their market share.
“The Mosaic Co has been enjoying a monopoly in the US market for a few years due to the duties imposed on OCP,” said Ali Houdaifa, an analyst with Rabat-based investment bank CFG Bank. “Now that the tariffs have been lifted on OCP, The Mosaic Co will have to think twice about its pricing strategy.”
The US represents a significant market for OCP, which has been experiencing a sharp slowdown in sales across Europe, Africa and Asia for the past few quarters.
However, with this news, OCP is optimistic about the prospects of regaining its former position as a leading fertiliser producer in the United States.
In conclusion, the US Department of Commerce relaxing conditions on Moroccan fertiliser imports has breathed new life into the phosphate market, giving OCP a chance to compete with The Mosaic Co in the US market. With the move now opening up new markets for OCP, the Moroccan company is looking forward to regaining its former position as a leading fertiliser producer in the US.
