LaycanDeskUrea freight to South Africa - Sur, Sohar, Lekki, Onne and Bontang to Durban and Richards Bay
Granular and prilled urea for the blenders of KwaZulu-Natal and the Highveld, into the shallow bulk berths at Durban or the deep ones at Richards Bay, on Handysize to Supramax tonnage. South Africa imported 859,200 tonnes of urea in 2025 and took 49 percent of it from inside the Gulf (UN Comtrade); the Strait of Hormuz has been severely restricted since 28 February 2026, leaving about 35,000 tonnes a month to replace. Oman and Nigeria are the open origins already in the trade. The desk works the lane on the choice of port: about 9 to 10 metres at Durban's bulk berths against 14 metres and more at Richards Bay.
South Africa imports more than 80 percent of the roughly 2 million tonnes of fertilizer it uses a year, and urea is the largest single line: 934,600 tonnes in 2024 and 859,200 in 2025, when Saudi Arabia supplied 247,700 tonnes, Oman 156,000, Qatar 106,800, China 84,400, Nigeria 52,100, the UAE 42,900 and Bahrain 22,000 (UN Comtrade). The Saudi, Qatari, UAE and Bahraini tonnes load inside the Strait of Hormuz. When transit collapsed, the largest importer cancelled orders held in the Gulf and bought elsewhere, and the urea price rose 59 percent in the single month of April 2026. The open origins are the ones already shipping: Oman from Sur and Sohar, Nigeria from Lekki and Onne, round the Cape without a canal, and Indonesia and China in smaller lots; importers also name North Africa, Southeast Asia and the Americas among their new sources.
The port decides the ship. Durban's bulk berths are shallow: the port's berth table gives permissible draughts of 8.3 to 9.9 metres at Maydon Wharf, on berths of 152 to 244 metres, and 8.6 to 10.0 metres at the Bluff, although the entrance channel has 16.5 metres; some Maydon Wharf berths have been rebuilt deeper, so the draught for the nominated berth is confirmed for the laycan. That is a Handysize, or a Supramax arriving part-laden. Richards Bay's dry bulk terminal allows 14 metres at berths 609 and 701 and 17.5 metres beyond, so a full Supramax discharges there by conveyor. Urea is an IMSBC Group C cargo that takes up moisture and cakes, so hatches stay shut in rain and holds are clean and dry. Charterers send the producer and load terminal, quantity and tolerance, the discharge port and berth with its draught, rates and laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name.
Load ports
- Sur and Sohar, Oman: 156,000 t to South Africa in 2025 (UN Comtrade)
- Lekki and Onne, Nigeria: 52,100 t in 2025, 97,700 t in 2024 (UN Comtrade)
- Bontang, Indonesia, and China in smaller lots
- All outside the Strait of Hormuz
Discharge ports
- Durban, Maydon Wharf: permissible draught 8.3–9.9 m on the port's berth table, berths 152–244 m; rebuilt berths deeper, confirm for the laycan
- Durban, Bluff: 8.6–10.0 m; entrance channel 16.5 m
- Richards Bay dry bulk terminal: 14.0 m at berths 609 and 701, 17.5 m at 702–804
- Berth named in the stem
Typical parcels
- Handysize 25,000–35,000 t for Durban
- Supramax in full to Richards Bay, part-laden to Durban
- South Africa 2025: 859,200 t imported, 49% from inside the Gulf (UN Comtrade)
- IMSBC Group C; hatches shut in rain, holds clean and dry
Ships that carry it
The cargo itself, on Commbril
The cargo from the freight side
Questions charterers and owners ask
Durban or Richards Bay?
Durban is closer to the blenders but shallow: the port's berth table gives 8.3 to 9.9 metres at Maydon Wharf and 8.6 to 10.0 metres at the Bluff, so a Handysize fits and a Supramax arrives part-laden. Richards Bay allows 14 metres and more at its dry bulk berths and takes a full Supramax. The receiver's store decides, and the berth and its draught go in the stem.
Where does urea for South Africa load now?
Oman supplied 156,000 tonnes in 2025 and Nigeria 52,100, after 97,700 in 2024 (UN Comtrade); both are outside the Strait of Hormuz, and a Nigerian cargo reaches Durban round the Cape without a canal. Indonesia and China ship smaller lots. Name the producer and the load terminal and the stem goes to owners.
What should I check on the Durban draught?
The berth. Maydon Wharf's older berths and its rebuilt ones differ, and the port sets permissible draught from the latest soundings. Ask the terminal for the figure on your laycan and send it with the stem, because it decides how much the ship lifts.
What must I send to get a named ship?
Producer and load terminal, quantity and tolerance, the discharge port and berth with its draught, load and discharge rates with laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name. Handysize and Supramax owners opening in the Arabian Sea, West Africa, the Indian Ocean or the South Atlantic send name, IMO number, dwt, draft, gear, open port and dates to desk-a005f1@in.laycandesk.com.