UAN28 (Urea Ammonium Nitrate 28% N)

Description

1. Product Overview

UAN28 is a high-efficiency, liquid nitrogen fertilizer solution containing 28% total nitrogen by weight, combining urea, ammonium, and nitrate forms for rapid and sustained crop uptake. Primarily used in precision agriculture for fertigation and foliar application, it delivers immediate vegetative response while minimizing nitrogen volatilization losses common with solid urea. In a market pressured by input cost volatility and tightening environmental regulations, UAN28 offers a strategically vital balance of agronomic performance, logistical handleability, and reduced carbon footprint compared to granular alternatives.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical composition: Urea ammonium nitrate solution (28% total N). Typical salt-out temperature: -18°C (0°F). Corrosion inhibitor optionally added per buyer specification.

• Nutrient breakdown (N forms): 14% Ammoniacal N, 7% Nitrate N, 7% Ureic N (nominal).

• Physical characteristics:

  • Clear to pale straw-colored liquid

  • Density: ~1.28 kg/L (20°C)

  • pH: 6.5–7.5 (typical, varies by producer)

  • Crystallization point: ≤ -18°C

• Packaging options: Bulk (ISO tank, road tanker, barge) or IBC totes (1,000L). No small-packed drums for industrial B2B.

• Shelf life: 24 months when stored in carbon steel or stainless steel tanks (protected from extreme temperature cycling); avoid prolonged storage above 35°C to prevent biuret formation and corrosion.

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Precision fertigation (drip & center pivot systems): UAN28 blends seamlessly with irrigation water, providing uniform nitrogen delivery with zero particle settling or bridging. Outperforms granular urea by reducing labor and eliminating dissolution time.

• Foliar application in high-value row crops (corn, wheat, canola, cotton): The nitrate fraction enables immediate leaf absorption, bypassing soil biological conversion. Superior to ammonium sulfate or calcium nitrate in extreme heat or dry conditions due to lower salt index per unit N.

• Blending with crop protection chemicals (tank-mix adjuvant): Compatible with many herbicides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators, reducing passes over the field. Compared to solid nitrogen sources, UAN28 enables true one-pass precision application.

• Cost advantage: Liquid handling eliminates bag opening, dust, and manual spreading, reducing total applied cost by 12–18% in large-scale operations (field data, Midwestern US / Brazilian Cerrado studies).

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: ISO 22241-2 compliant manufacturing (ammonia-derived nitrate limits) with batch-specific ICP-OES analysis for heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As < 5 ppm); each shipment includes Certificate of Analysis.

• Supply reliability: Multi-sourcing from deep-water terminals in Rotterdam, New Orleans, and Singapore; buffer inventory equivalent to 30 days of contract volume.

• Logistics capability: Dedicated fleet of food-grade compatible, steam-cleaned tank containers; temperature monitoring during transit. Lead time 7–12 days ex‑works to any major port.

• Price competitiveness: Index-linked pricing (Profercy or Green Markets) with fixed +/- cap for 12-month contracts; volume discounts from 25,000 MT annual lift.

• Sustainability benefit: UAN28 reduces field N₂O emissions by 26% vs. granular urea per kg of N applied (IPCC Tier 2 methodology), supporting Scope 3 decarbonization targets for agribusiness buyers.

• Technical support: 24/7 agronomic modeling team provides crop-specific application schedules, corrosion management protocols, and tank compatibility audits.

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 20 MT (flexible for trial shipments) / 500 MT for contract pricing

• Loading capacity per 20ft container: Not applicable for bulk liquid.
  Equivalent:

  • 1 x ISO tank container (24,000L net) = approx. 31 MT

  • 1 x road tanker (30,000L) = approx. 38 MT

  • 1 x barge (1,500 MT) typical for inland waterways

• Preferred incoterms: FOB, CIF, CFR (major global ports: ARA, USG, Santos, Tianjin, Nhava Sheva)