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Europe

8 April 2026

K+S And Elixir launch European tMAP production

Written by Natalie Noor-Drugan

A new technical monoammonium phosphate (tMAP 12-61) plant at Industrial ChemPark Prahovo in Serbia has entered production, with first deliveries already dispatched to customers across Europe.

The €35 million ($38 million) plant is a strategic partnership between Germany’s K+S and Serbia’s Elixir Group. Originally announced in 2023, the plant was commissioned in March following an 18-month construction phase and has a tMAP production capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum (t/a). K+S will market the product under its soluMAP® brand, expanding its existing portfolio of potash and magnesium products.

“The production of high-quality tMAP is flowing — first trucks are loaded and left our site towards clients in Europe,” said Matthias Predojevic, Vice President Corporate Development at Elixir Group, on LinkedIn on 11 March 2026.

Breaking Europe’s dependence on China

Global tMAP production stands at approximately 1.5 million t/a, with the majority originating in China. China’s share of global tMAP demand reached 70% in 2024, according to CRU, up from 50% in 2019. Domestic consumption of tMAP has surged in China thanks to its use as a phosphate source for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production.

tMAP is an important input for iron phosphate — a key cathode component of the LFP batteries widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage. Around half of Chinese tMAP output now goes into battery production rather than agriculture, according to K+S, a trend that has contributed to tight tMAP availability for European fertigation customers, an issue compounded by volatile export restrictions and long delivery times.

Dr Josef Wiebel, Head of Customer Segment Agriculture at K+S, said: “The European market for fertigation is highly dependent on Chinese imports of tMAP. With product from Europe, we will be able to offer our customers a lucrative and reliable alternative”.

An integrated production advantage

The direct integration of the Prahovo tMAP plant with the site’s existing phosphoric acid production unit is beneficial in terms of product quality and cost efficiency. The plant is also said to be the first in Europe to use the most modern energy-efficient tMAP production technology.

K+S will distribute soluMAP® through its global network, with a primary focus on Europe, Eastern Europe, and India, and secondary markets in Turkey and the Middle East.

Natalie Noor-Drugan

Read more from Natalie Noor-Drugan

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