Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
DAP 18-46-0 granular from China — the world's most traded phosphate fertilizer, supplying 18% ammoniacal nitrogen and 46% available P2O5 for direct application and blending.
18-46-0 (NH4)2HPO4 CAS 7783-28-0 Granule
Available on enquiry — supply confirmed per order
Diammonium phosphate is the benchmark phosphate fertilizer: more of it crosses borders than any other phosphatic product, and its price is the reference against which TSP, MAP and SSP are discussed. The standard grade is 18-46-0 — 18% nitrogen, 46% available P2O5.
DAP is agronomically versatile. It is alkaline at the granule surface, which suits acidic soils, and it delivers nitrogen and phosphate in a single pass. That combination is why it is applied directly in cereals and sugarcane as well as being used as a blending component.
The handling characteristics are the part buyers underestimate. DAP is more hygroscopic than MAP and, blended with urea, it loses ammonia and can cake in store. In a humid climate or a long storage period, the choice between DAP and MAP is a handling decision as much as a nutritional one.
Specification
The table below gives the nominal analysis and the parameters that a buyer should write into the contract. Values that depend on the production lot are not printed as numbers here, because a number on a website is not a guarantee — the lot COA is.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total nitrogen (N) | 18% min |
| Ammoniacal nitrogen | 18% min |
| Available P2O5 | 46% min |
| Water-soluble P2O5 | 88% min of available P2O5 Typical; confirmed per lot |
| Moisture | Confirmed per lot — see TDS / COA |
| Granule size 2–4 mm | Confirmed per lot — see TDS / COA |
| Crushing strength | Confirmed per lot — see TDS / COA |
| Bulk density | Confirmed per lot — see TDS / COA |
Typical values describe the grade as it is normally traded. The guaranteed analysis for your order is the one stated on the certificate of analysis issued for the production lot, and it is confirmed in the sales contract before shipment.
Applications
- Direct basal application in cereals, sugarcane and oilseeds
- Compound and blend manufacturing
- Plantation crops and perennial establishment
- Rice and wheat programmes where a combined N-P2O5 starter is used
Why this product, and not the one next to it
The most liquid market
DAP is quoted daily and traded in tender volumes, so it is the easiest phosphate to price, hedge against and resell.
Two nutrients in one pass
18% nitrogen arrives with the phosphate, which reduces the number of passes a grower has to make at planting.
Suited to acidic soils
The alkaline reaction at the granule surface is an advantage where soil pH is low, and it is one of the reasons DAP holds its position against MAP in those markets.
Packaging options
- 50 kg PP woven bags with PE liner
- 1000 kg / 1250 kg jumbo bags (FIBC)
- Bulk in vessel, for full cargoes
Loading quantity depends on packaging, container type and the weight limit of the destination country. It is confirmed per order. The bag type, bag weight, liner and marks are stated on the quotation so that two offers can be compared on the same basis.
Quality documentation
- Certificate of analysis for the production lot
- Technical data sheet
- Material safety data sheet
- Packing list and commercial invoice
- Certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate where the destination requires it
Documents are issued on a per-shipment basis. Certification availability is confirmed for each order before contract.
Export considerations
DAP is fertilizer grade, not dangerous goods. It is carried as general cargo.
Do not blend DAP with urea for long storage or for a humid destination: the pair releases ammonia and the blend cakes. If a compound has to contain both, granulated NP compounds are the correct route rather than a mechanical blend.
Chinese export inspection and licensing requirements are confirmed per order at the time of shipment.
Export regulations and import requirements can change. This is a general overview written for buyers, not a substitute for confirming current requirements with your customs broker and with our export team before you commit to a shipment.
Questions buyers ask about DAP
Should I buy DAP or MAP?
On nutrient content alone the two are close. MAP carries more P2O5 per tonne and is stable in storage and in blends; DAP carries more nitrogen and is alkaline, which suits acidic soils. In a humid climate, or if the material will be blended with urea, MAP is the safer specification. In a dry market buying on price against a tender, DAP is usually the more liquid reference.
Is DAP suitable for all crops?
It is widely used on cereals, sugarcane, oilseeds and plantation crops. The limitation is agronomic rather than chemical: on high-pH calcareous soils the ammonia component can be lost to volatilisation if the material is not incorporated, so application practice matters more than the product choice.
What documentation comes with a DAP shipment?
Every shipment carries a lot certificate of analysis, a technical data sheet, an MSDS, the packing list and invoice, and a certificate of origin. Phytosanitary certification and any destination-specific declaration are added when the importing country requires them, and are confirmed before the contract rather than assumed.
Compared with
Request a quotation for DAP
Tell us the quantity, the discharge port and the trade term, and the quotation comes back on that basis with the grade and packaging stated.
Comparing two offers on the same cargo?
Send both specifications and we will tell you where they genuinely differ — basis of analysis, granule size, packaging, loaded quantity — and where the difference is only presentation.