OCP: Koch Aims to Acquire 50% of Jorf Fertilizers Company I
The American group Koch is preparing to acquire a 50% stake in Jorf Fertilizers Company I (JFC1), a company specializing in the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in Morocco. The proposed operation would be carried out through KAES Phosphate Holdings, a company controlled by Koch, Inc., which would subsequently share control of JFC1 with OCP Nutricrops.
The project was announced in a notification published by the Competition Council on October 8, 2026. Interested parties can submit their observations until October 19. The completion of the transaction still depends on fulfilling the required regulatory procedures. No financial figures have been disclosed at this stage.
Koch and OCP Strengthen Their Industrial Partnership
This move continues the cooperation between OCP and Koch, which announced a new agreement on July 17, 2026. This agreement involves the entry of KAES Phosphate Holdings into the capital of JFC1, which is currently wholly owned by OCP Nutricrops, a subsidiary fully controlled by OCP SA.
After the transaction, both partners would hold a 50% stake in the company. This partnership would thus strengthen their joint presence in the phosphate fertilizer production sector while consolidating the industrial and commercial ties that have been established over several years.
Jorf Lasfar: A Strategic Site for Fertilizer Production
Located within the industrial platform of Jorf Lasfar, Jorf Fertilizers Company I has three facilities dedicated to different stages of the production chain. These facilities are responsible for the transformation of phosphoric acid, the manufacturing of phosphate fertilizers, and the production of sulfuric acid.
The site has an annual production capacity of approximately 1.2 million tons of phosphate fertilizers. Its production includes monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), and triple superphosphate (TSP), fertilizers intended for agricultural markets.
These activities are part of OCP’s industrial chain, which encompasses phosphate extraction, conversion into phosphoric acid, and the production of fertilizers for various international markets. The group also markets phosphoric acid to third-party clients.
Two Joint Ventures with a Capacity of 2.5 Million Tons
Koch’s entry into JFC1 would extend an industrial partnership that began in 2022, when the American group invested in Jorf Fertilizers Company III, now known as Kofert.
With the anticipated integration of JFC1 into this cooperation, the two groups would have combined production capacities of approximately 2.5 million tons of fertilizers per year through their two joint ventures.
The investment would be facilitated by KAES Phosphate Holdings, a limited liability company incorporated in the state of Delaware and affiliated with Koch, Inc. The American group operates across various sectors, including refining, chemicals, fertilizers, minerals, and raw material trading. Its activities also encompass industrial equipment, process control technologies, materials, software, and services.
Enhanced Access to International Markets
Beyond the industrial aspect, the partnership could lead to better alignment between OCP’s production capabilities and Koch’s commercial and distribution networks, particularly in North America.
The North American market is of particular interest to both partners, especially given the temporary suspension of U.S. countervailing duties applied to certain Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, as reported in connection with this operation.
Koch’s entry into JFC1 would thus alter the shareholding structure of this strategic company in Jorf Lasfar, which has been entirely owned by OCP Nutricrops until now. If finalized, the transaction would grant the American group a 50% stake in the capital and voting rights of the company, marking a new phase in industrial and commercial cooperation between the two groups.
