Phosphates: Japan secures its supplies in Jorf Lasfar

OCP received the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Norikazu Suzuki, and an official delegation in Jorf Lasfar on Saturday, June 20. At first glance, the visit celebrates a long-standing relationship: OCP and Japan have been partners since 1961.

Japan is not the only country knocking at Jorf Lasfar’s door. As concerns over fertilizer security grow, Morocco has found itself at the center of a global courtship. Brazil even coined a term for this phenomenon: fertilizer diplomacy. Its Minister of Agriculture has been touring major producing countries in search of reliable supplies.

Japan, for its part, had signaled its intentions well in advance. As early as 2022, its Vice Minister of Agriculture stated in Rabat the country’s plan to import "a considerable amount" of Moroccan fertilizers and phosphates. He described the Kingdom as a "global phosphate power" — a remark that was far from mere courtesy.

The June 20 visit fits squarely into this context — and comes at a time well known to our readers. The global sulfur crisis, triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, has brought the fertilizer industry to its knees. Half of the world’s sulfur supply was suddenly cut off. OCP’s competitors have slowed or halted production. Food security has become a matter of state. In this landscape, Morocco stands as a reassuring anchor — a supplier that holds firm when others falter.

The question now is why Japan — and why now. The answer lies partly in market geography. Asia drives global demand. In the first half of 2025, East Asia was already one of OCP’s growth engines, just behind Brazil. The group has invested heavily in upgrading its production lines, with TSP as its flagship product — a fertilizer whose volumes surged by 48% in a single year. Exactly the kind of product sought by discerning markets such as Japan.

For Tokyo, the equation is clear: an overcrowded archipelago, almost devoid of mineral resources, which must import to feed its population and sustain its agriculture. There is no room for supply disruption. Securing privileged access to Moroccan phosphates means safeguarding a share of its food sovereignty — and not only its own. Japan also positions itself as an agricultural partner in the ASEAN region, whose interests it seeks to defend.

Ultimately, what is unfolding in Jorf Lasfar goes far beyond the signing of a contract. It is OCP’s very status that is being reshaped. The group is no longer merely a fertilizer supplier — it has become a cornerstone of global food security. With 70 % of the planet’s phosphate reserves, Morocco holds an irreplaceable lever. When a Japanese minister personally visits, it is not to tour a factory — it is to seek a lasting alliance.

OCP, for its part, speaks of a shared ambition: more sustainable agriculture, more responsible nutrient management, more innovation. It emphasizes that the group no longer sells just a bag of fertilizer, but expertise — and a comprehensive vision that includes precision agriculture. 

Below is the text of the press release issued by OCP:

Jorf Lasfar, June 20, 2026 — The OCP Group had the honor of welcoming to Jorf Lasfar His Excellency Mr. Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, accompanied by an official delegation. The visit illustrated the strength of the historical partnership between the OCP Group and its Japanese partners, as well as the role of both OCP and Morocco as trusted strategic allies supporting Japan’s and the ASEAN region’s agricultural ambitions.

The relationship between the OCP Group and its Japanese partners dates back to 1961 and has been built over decades on shared interests and long‑term cooperation.

The OCP Group supports Japan’s agricultural development ambitions and contributes to strengthening food security in Japan and across the ASEAN region. In a context where supply‑chain resilience has become increasingly critical, this visit reaffirms the continuity of a long‑standing partnership dedicated to more efficient and sustainable agriculture.

This visit also reflects a shared ambition: to promote more sustainable agriculture through cooperation, responsible nutrient management, and innovation — addressing the food challenges of future generations.

The OCP Group looks forward to continuing and deepening this collaboration, building on more than six decades of partnership in service of farmers, communities, and food systems across the region.