17.10.2026 Regulation #China #Import #Quotas

China keeps 2027 fertilizer import quotas flat at 13.65 Mt

China's Ministry of Commerce has set the 2027 tariff quotas for fertilizer imports in Announcement No. 47 of 2026, dated October 10 and published on October 14, 2026. The total is 13.65 million tonnes: urea 3.3 Mt, diammonium phosphate 6.9 Mt and compound fertilizers 3.45 Mt. Applications and certificate issuance open on December 15, 2026.

The volume is unchanged: the 2026 quota was the same 13.65 Mt, split the same way by product.

How the quota is split between trade channels

The volume is divided between state and non-state trading (Announcement No. 47):

state trading: urea 2.97 Mt, diammonium phosphate 3.52 Mt, compound fertilizers 1.76 Mt; the applicants are Sinochem (中国中化集团公司) and China National Agricultural Means of Production Group (中国农业生产资料集团公司);
non-state trading: urea 0.33 Mt, diammonium phosphate 3.38 Mt, compound fertilizers 1.69 Mt.

The in-quota rate is 1% for headings 3102 (tariff line 3102 10 00, urea) and 3105 (tariff lines 3105 20 00 and 3105 30 00: fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and diammonium phosphate).

Starting volumes and quota utilization discipline

The quota is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis: any registered company may apply within its line of business until the total is used up, but each company has a starting volume based on its past use of the quota; certificates are issued in parts, and after importing or returning unused quota a company may apply again within its starting volume.

Starting volumes for 2027 are calculated from the 2026 volumes, adjusted by the 2026 write-off rate:

80% or higher — an increase of 40%;
50–79% — an increase of 20%;
25–49% — unchanged;
below 25% — a cut of 50%.

Companies that were active before 2026 but did not apply in 2026 keep their previous volume. New applicants start at 2,000 t. The cap on a starting volume is 500,000 t.

Monitoring runs through the year. A company whose cumulative rate is below 25% receives a reminder to return quota after Q1 and a warning after Q2. After Q3 its starting volume is cut by 50% and issuance of new certificates is suspended. The annual rate becomes the basis for the following year.

What this means for exporters and importers

Market access terms for 2027 are known in advance, and the volume stays the same. A company's starting volume grows with a high write-off rate and shrinks with a low one. This also affects foreign suppliers: the volume shipped under the quota is capped by the Chinese buyer's starting volume, which depends on its 2026 write-off rate.

Since September 29, 2022, certificate data has been cross-checked electronically against customs declarations under a nationwide pilot. Forging or trading certificates carries criminal liability, and applications from violators are not accepted for 3 years.

How certificates are issued and written off

from December 15, 2026 — regional authorities accept applications and issue certificates, within 5 working days if the documents are complete;
a certificate is valid for 3 months, but no later than December 31, 2027;
preliminary write-off is due within 10 working days of customs declaration, and final write-off within 3 months of customs clearance;
unused quota must be returned within 15 working days after the certificate expires;
once the remainder falls below 20% of the annual volume, it will be published twice a month.

Primary sources

Mentioned codes

3102 3105

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.