Data Module 052 — Industrial Intelligence
The Phosphate
Kingdom
Morocco sits on 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves — 50 billion tonnes buried in four basins. One state-owned company, OCP Group, controls the entire chain from mine to fertilizer to port. This is the geology that feeds the planet.
001 — Global Position
Morocco vs. The World
Share of global reserves
70%
50 billion tonnes. Enough for several centuries at current extraction rates. No other country comes close.
Production rank
#2
30 Mt in 2024. Behind China (110 Mt) but China's reserves are ~3.7 Bt — Morocco's are 50 Bt. The long game favors Morocco.
Phosphoric acid market share
49%
Nearly half the world's phosphoric acid. The most profitable segment of the value chain.
Phosphate rock trade share
~34%
Largest exporter. Competes with Jordan, which briefly passed Morocco in 2022 when OCP shifted to domestic processing.
Fertilizer market share
23%
Over 100 grades of fertilizer. Customized blends for different soil types and climates worldwide.
Revenue (2024)
$9.76B
EBITDA margin of 40%. ~20% of Morocco's total export revenues. 21,000 employees worldwide.
002 — The Infrastructure
Mines & Processing Plants
003 — Five Mining Operations
From Khouribga to Boucraa
Khouribga
Ouled Abdoun Basin
Reserves
43%
Output
70%
Since
1921
OCP's first mine and the richest phosphate deposit on Earth. 26+ billion tonnes of reserves. Connected to Jorf Lasfar processing plant by a 235 km gravity-powered slurry pipeline — one of the world's longest. Produces 70% of all OCP output.
Benguerir
Gantour Basin
Reserves
37% (shared with Youssoufia)
Output
~15%
Since
1980
70 km north of Marrakech. Also hosts Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) Living Lab — an open research site for mining innovation. Phosphate transported by rail to Safi for processing.
Youssoufia
Gantour Basin
Reserves
37% (shared with Benguerir)
Output
~8%
Since
1931
Morocco's second mine, third largest phosphate producer worldwide. Also operates the Bouchane mine 40 km away since 1998. Phosphate processed at Safi.
Boucraa
Southern Provinces
Reserves
2%
Output
~2%
Since
1976
Operated by Phosboucraa (100% OCP subsidiary). Located in Western Sahara. Connected to Laayoune port by the world's longest conveyor belt — 102 km. 100% of profits reinvested in the Southern Provinces. Politically sensitive due to sovereignty dispute.
Mzinda (Under Construction)
Meskala Basin
Reserves
18% (Meskala basin)
Output
Ramping up
Since
2025
OCP's newest integrated mining and processing site. Represents the next generation of phosphate infrastructure — built from scratch with green technology. Will exclusively produce Triple Super Phosphate (TSP).
China produces more phosphate. But China’s reserves are 3.7 billion tonnes. Morocco’s are 50 billion. The short game belongs to Beijing. The long game belongs to Rabat.
004 — The Value Chain
From Rock to Fertilizer to Port
OCP doesn’t just mine phosphate. It extracts, processes, customizes, and ships. The integrated model is the competitive advantage.
Extraction
Khouribga, Benguerir, Youssoufia, Boucraa
Open-pit and underground mining. Raw phosphate rock extracted from sedimentary deposits. 30 Mt produced in 2024.
Beneficiation
Mine sites
Washing, screening, flotation. Raw rock is cleaned and concentrated to increase P₂O₅ content for processing or direct export.
Transport
Slurry pipeline (235 km) + rail + conveyor (102 km)
Khouribga to Jorf Lasfar by gravity pipeline. Gantour to Safi by rail. Boucraa to Laayoune by the world's longest conveyor belt.
Chemical processing
Jorf Lasfar, Safi
Phosphate rock + sulfuric acid → phosphoric acid. Then: phosphoric acid + ammonia → DAP/MAP/TSP fertilizers. Also: purified phosphoric acid for food, cosmetics, electronics.
Customization
Jorf Lasfar
Over 100 fertilizer grades. Blends tailored to specific soil types, climates, and crop requirements. This is where the margin lives.
Export
Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Safi, Laayoune ports
Shipped to 160+ countries. Africa, India, Brazil, Europe are primary destinations. Both bulk and bagged products.
005 — Global Fertilizer Flows
Where the Phosphate Goes
~35%
Africa
Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire
OCP's fastest-growing market. Dedicated African Fertilizer Complex at Jorf Lasfar. 17 subsidiaries across Africa. Customized blends for African soil types.
~25%
South Asia
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
India is one of OCP's largest single-country markets. Phosphate rock + phosphoric acid exports. Critical for food security in the world's most populous region.
~15%
Europe
Spain, France, Turkey, Poland
Traditional market. Proximity advantage. Increasingly high-value specialty fertilizers rather than bulk rock.
~15%
Latin America
Brazil, Argentina, Colombia
Brazil is one of the world's largest fertilizer importers. OCP expanding aggressively. Customized products for tropical soils.
~10%
Rest of World
USA, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia
Diversified export base. Boucraa exports historically served Oceania markets.
When China restricted phosphate fertilizer exports in 2024 to secure domestic food supply, the world turned to Morocco. There is no Plan B for phosphate. There is only OCP.
006 — Timeline
105 Years of Phosphate
1920
Office Chérifien des Phosphates founded
Created by Royal Decree under the French Protectorate. State monopoly on phosphate extraction established.
1921
First mine opens at Khouribga
Mining and export begin simultaneously. Phosphate shipped to Casablanca port by rail.
1931
Youssoufia mine opens
Second mining center established. Morocco begins scaling production.
1965
Safi processing plant opens
First downstream chemical processing. Morocco moves beyond raw rock export into phosphoric acid.
1975
Phosphate sector nationalized
Morocco takes full sovereign control. OCP becomes sole operator with exclusive extraction, processing, and export rights.
1976
Boucraa mine opens
Southern Provinces mining begins. World's longest conveyor belt (102 km) built to Laayoune port.
1980
Benguerir mine opens
Third major mining site. Gantour basin brought online.
1986
Jorf Lasfar complex opens
World's largest phosphate fertilizer processing hub begins operations. The game-changer for value-added exports.
2008
OCP becomes a corporate entity
Transitions from state agency to OCP Group S.A. Launches major modernization investments. 95% state-owned, 5% Banque Centrale Populaire.
2014
Khouribga slurry pipeline launches
235 km gravity-powered pipeline to Jorf Lasfar. Saves 3 million m³ of water per year. Engineering landmark.
2016
African Fertilizer Complex opens
Dedicated production plant for African markets at Jorf Lasfar. OCP positions itself as Africa's fertilizer supplier.
2024
Revenue reaches $9.76 billion
Fertilizers now 69% of revenue (up from 54% in 2019). Strategic shift from raw rock to high-value products.
2025
Mzinda hub construction + green hydrogen JV
New integrated mine-to-fertilizer site. Fortescue Energy partnership for green hydrogen and ammonia. Target: 100% renewable energy by 2027.
007 — Key Numbers
The Scale of the Kingdom
50 billion
Tonnes of phosphate reserves
Enough for several centuries. No imminent shortage.
30 Mt
Production (2024)
World's 2nd largest producer after China
21,000
OCP employees worldwide
17,000 in Morocco + international subsidiaries
235 km
Slurry pipeline
Khouribga to Jorf Lasfar. Gravity-powered. Saves 3M m³ water/year
102 km
Conveyor belt
Boucraa to Laayoune. World's longest.
2,000 ha
Jorf Lasfar complex
World's largest integrated fertilizer production hub
100+
Fertilizer grades
Customized for soil types across 160+ countries
40%
EBITDA margin
$3.93B EBITDA on $9.76B revenue (2024)
Sources
USGS — Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: phosphate rock reserves and production
OCP Group — Industrial Operations (ocpgroup.ma): mine sites, processing platforms, pipeline
OCP Group — Wikipedia: corporate history, revenue, timeline, Khouribga, Jorf Lasfar
Deloitte — Phosphates and the Future of Energy Transition (2025): revenue breakdown, market share, TSP expansion
African Development Bank — Phosphate Critical Mineral Insights (2025): HHI concentration, value chain, employment
BC Insight — Phosphate Production in North Africa (2025): production volumes, Jordan comparison, TSP capacity
USGS — The Mineral Industry of Morocco 2020–2021: reserves 70%, world ranking, mining centers
Frontiers in Environmental Science — Phosphate Mined Lands Restoration (2025): basin reserve distribution
Bus Ex — Phosphate Forward: Khouribga Mine (2024): 26 Bt Ouled Abdoun, slurry pipeline, Fortescue JV
Investing News — Top 10 Phosphate Countries by Production (2025): 30 Mt production, 50 Bt reserves
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This visualization may not be reproduced without visible attribution.
Sources: OCP Group, USGS, World Bank