LaycanDeskRock phosphate freight to Pakistan - Morocco, Algeria, Jordan and Egypt to Karachi and Port Qasim
Phosphate rock from Jorf Lasfar, Casablanca, Annaba, Aqaba and Safaga to the Karachi and Port Qasim bulk berths on geared Handysize to Supramax tonnage. Pakistan imported 453,700 tonnes of phosphate rock in 2025, 79 percent from Morocco and 21 percent from Algeria (UN Comtrade), for the nitrophosphate and single superphosphate plants of Punjab. The desk works the lane on the discharge berth and its draft at Karachi or Port Qasim, the Suez and Red Sea passage, and the loader at the origin port.
Pakistan makes its nitrophosphate and single superphosphate from imported rock: 576,700 tonnes in 2024 and 453,700 tonnes in 2025, with Morocco supplying 357,600 tonnes and Algeria 96,100 tonnes of the 2025 total (UN Comtrade). The largest single user is the nitrophosphate plant at Multan, rated at 330,000 tonnes of NP a year; the DAP plant at Port Qasim runs on imported phosphoric acid, not rock. Rock and phosphoric acid enter free of import duty and sales tax under the Fertilizer Policy 2001. Morocco loads at Jorf Lasfar, Casablanca and Safi and Algeria at Annaba, both a Suez Canal voyage. Jordan and Egypt load closer and south of the canal: Aqaba's phosphate port has a 250 metre pier for ships of 5,000 to 100,000 tonnes with shiploaders rated at 2,200 tonnes an hour and 240,000 tonnes of storage, and Safaga's mining berth works 14 metres of draught for ships up to 65,000 tonnes at 1,500 tonnes an hour; Hamrawein loads at 10.5 metres and 4,500 to 7,000 tonnes a day. Neither country appears in Pakistan's 2024 or 2025 import figures, which is what makes them the lane to open.
The discharge berth decides the ship. At Karachi Port the East Wharf bulk terminal, berths 11 to 17 with 13 metres alongside, discharged 20,300 tonnes of rock phosphate in 24 hours in June 2024. At Port Qasim the grain and fertilizer terminal has 13 metres of draught and 250 metres length, and the Marginal Wharf berths 10 metres, so a laden Supramax goes to the deeper berths and a Handysize anywhere; both ports publish their permissible draughts by season, and the figure for the laycan goes in the stem. Every origin passes Bab el-Mandeb. Suez counted 1,232 transits in August 2026, its busiest month since December 2023, while Bab el-Mandeb traffic was still about 70 percent below its level before the crisis, so owners price the Red Sea passage by the ship and her war-risk cover, and some quote the Cape from Morocco. Uncalcined phosphate rock is an IMSBC Group C cargo, dry and dusty, stowing at about 0.70 to 0.80 cubic metres a tonne. Charterers send the mine or shipper and load port, the grade in BPL, quantity and tolerance, the discharge port and berth, rates and laytime terms, the routing accepted, laycan, commission and the charterer's name.
Load ports
- Jorf Lasfar, Casablanca and Safi (Morocco): 357,600 t to Pakistan in 2025 (UN Comtrade)
- Annaba (Algeria): 96,100 t to Pakistan in 2025 (UN Comtrade)
- Aqaba phosphate port: 250 m pier, ships 5,000–100,000 t, loaders 2,200 t/h, storage 240,000 t
- Safaga mining berth: 14 m, ships to 65,000 t, 1,500 t/h; Hamrawein 10.5 m, 4,500–7,000 t/day
Discharge ports
- Karachi Port East Wharf, berths 11–17: 13 m alongside; 20,300 t of rock discharged in 24 hours (June 2024)
- Port Qasim grain and fertilizer terminal: 13 m, LOA 250 m
- Port Qasim Marginal Wharf: 10 m, LOA 225 m
- Permissible draughts are published by season; state the berth in the stem
Typical parcels
- Handysize and Handymax 25,000–40,000 t
- Supramax 45,000–55,000 t to the 13 m berths
- Pakistan imported 576,700 t in 2024 and 453,700 t in 2025 (UN Comtrade)
- IMSBC Group C, stowage about 0.70–0.80 m3/t; grade stated in BPL
Ships that carry it
The cargo itself, on Commbril
The cargo from the freight side
Questions charterers and owners ask
Karachi or Port Qasim for rock phosphate?
Both receive it. Karachi's East Wharf bulk terminal has 13 metres alongside at berths 11 to 17 and discharged 20,300 tonnes of rock in 24 hours in June 2024. At Port Qasim the grain and fertilizer terminal has 13 metres, and the Marginal Wharf 10 metres. The receiver nominates the berth; send it with the stem, because the draft decides how much the ship lifts.
Which origins ship rock to Pakistan?
Morocco supplied 79 percent and Algeria 21 percent of Pakistan's 453,700 tonnes in 2025 (UN Comtrade). Jordan loads at Aqaba and Egypt at Safaga and Hamrawein, both closer and south of the Suez Canal, and neither appears in the 2024 or 2025 figures. We take a stem from any of them once the mine or shipper is named.
How does the Red Sea affect the freight?
Every origin on this lane passes Bab el-Mandeb, and cargo from Morocco and Algeria passes Suez as well. Suez counted 1,232 transits in August 2026, the most since December 2023, but Bab el-Mandeb traffic was still about 70 percent below its level before the crisis. Owners price the passage by the ship and her war-risk cover, so we ask them to quote the routing they accept.
What must I send to get a named ship?
The mine or shipper and load port, grade in BPL, quantity and tolerance, the discharge port and berth with its draft, load and discharge rates with laytime terms, the routing you accept, laycan, commission and the charterer's name. Geared Handysize and Supramax owners opening in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea or the Arabian Sea send name, IMO number, dwt, draft, gear, open port and dates to desk-a005f1@in.laycandesk.com.