Urea CAS 57-13-6 Guide: Market Dynamics, Grades, and Industrial Applications
Release time: 2026-09-13
Table of Contents
Urea (identifiable globally by CAS 57-13-6) is a foundational commodity chemical that bridges the gap between the energy sector, global agriculture, and industrial manufacturing. As a highly soluble, solid, organic compound, it serves as the world’s premier nitrogen delivery mechanism. For enterprise procurement managers, supply chain directors, and industrial buyers, understanding the commercial nuances of this product—ranging from grade specifications and bulk logistics to the macroeconomic drivers of its pricing—is critical for securing supply chain resilience and optimizing operational costs.
1. Introduction to Commercial Urea (CAS 57-13-6)
In the commercial landscape, Urea is the highest-volume solid nitrogen fertilizer produced globally, but its utility extends far beyond agribusiness. The compound is synthesized via the reaction of ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure and temperature. Because its primary feedstock (ammonia) is inextricably linked to natural gas or coal gasification, the global market for this chemical is highly sensitive to energy sector volatility.
The standardization provided by the CAS Registry Number (57-13-6) ensures seamless global trade, regulatory compliance, and precise technical specification across international borders. For procurement purposes, it is generally traded in bulk dry forms, specifically as prills or granules, each tailored to specific industrial or agricultural end-uses.
2. Physical Properties and Bulk Handling Specifications
For logistics and warehousing stakeholders, the physical properties of this chemical dictate facility requirements, shipping methods, and shelf-life management. The compound is profoundly hygroscopic, meaning it aggressively absorbs moisture from the ambient environment, a property that dictates strict storage protocols.
Key Commercial Properties Table
| Property | Value |
| Chemical Name | Urea, Carbamide |
| CAS Registry Number | 57-13-6 |
| Standard Appearance | White solid (Commercially traded as spherical prills or larger granules) |
| Bulk Density | Varies by form (Granular: typically heavier; Prilled: slightly lighter). Critical for calculating freight volume and storage silo capacity. |
| Solubility in Water | Highly soluble. Advantageous for liquid fertilizer blends and industrial solutions, but necessitates strict moisture control during dry storage. |
| Melting Point | 133 to 135 degrees Celsius. (Decomposes upon heating beyond this point, releasing toxic ammonia and nitrogen oxide gases—a critical safety parameter for high-heat manufacturing). |
| Hygroscopicity | High. Requires climate-controlled warehousing or specialized protective coatings/anti-caking agents for bulk maritime or rail transport. |
3. Commercial Grades and Product Specifications
Procurement strategies must strictly differentiate between commercial grades. Utilizing an incorrect grade can lead to manufacturing defects, regulatory non-compliance, or catastrophic equipment failure.
3.1. Agricultural Grade (Granular and Prilled)
This is the highest volume grade, optimized for broad-acre farming.
- Granular: Larger, harder particles designed for mechanical spreading over large distances. They resist crushing during bulk transport and are preferred for direct soil application.
- Prilled: Smaller, softer spheres. Often preferred for dissolving into liquid fertilizer formulations or for use in regions with specific application equipment. Agricultural grades may contain trace impurities or formaldehydes used as anti-caking agents, making them unsuitable for specific industrial or automotive uses.
3.2. Technical Grade
Manufactured with stricter quality controls to minimize impurities, heavy metals, and biuret (a byproduct of the manufacturing process that can be toxic to certain plants and interferes with specific chemical reactions).
- Applications: Used as a raw material in the synthesis of specialized resins, adhesives, water-soluble fertilizers, and chemical intermediates.
3.3. Automotive / DEF Grade (Diesel Exhaust Fluid)
The fastest-growing segment in the B2B sector, driven by stringent global emissions regulations.
- Specifications: Must meet exacting international standards (such as ISO 22241). It requires exceptionally low levels of biuret, aldehydes, and insoluble matter.
- Implications: Buyers cannot substitute agricultural grade for DEF production. Impurities will irreversibly poison the catalytic converters in commercial diesel fleets, leading to massive liability and equipment failure.
4. Industrial Manufacturing and Supply Scale
The economics of sourcing this chemical are directly tied to its manufacturing process. Commercial production is dominated by the Bosch-Meiser process, integrated with Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis.
The B2B View of the Production Cycle
- Feedstock Sourcing: The process begins with securing natural gas (or coal, primarily in specific Asian markets). The hydrocarbon is reformed to isolate hydrogen, which is then reacted with atmospheric nitrogen to create ammonia.
- Synthesis: Liquid ammonia and gaseous carbon dioxide (captured as a byproduct of the ammonia production) are reacted under extreme pressure to form an intermediate compound, which is subsequently dehydrated to yield the final product and water.
- Finishing: The resulting liquid is concentrated and passed through prilling towers or granulation circuits to create the dry bulk product.
Procurement Insight: Because natural gas accounts for up to seventy to eighty percent of the cash cost of producing ammonia (the primary precursor), global pricing for CAS 57-13-6 is intrinsically linked to energy market indices. Buyers must monitor global natural gas futures to accurately forecast fertilizer and technical chemical pricing.
5. Primary B2B Applications and Industry Sectors
The versatility of this high-nitrogen compound makes it a critical supply chain component across several multi-billion-dollar industries.
5.1. Macro-Agriculture and Agribusiness
Representing the vast majority of global consumption, it is the foundational nitrogen source for global food security. Agribusiness buyers procure this in massive bulk vessels (Panamax or Supramax ships) to supply regional distribution hubs before seasonal planting windows. The focus here is on maximizing nitrogen delivery efficiency and minimizing volatilization loss in the field.
5.2. Wood Products, Resins, and Adhesives
In the industrial manufacturing sector, technical grade product is reacted with formaldehyde to create thermosetting resins.
- End Users: Manufacturers of Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and commercial plywood.
- Buyer Focus: Consistency in purity is critical, as variations can alter the curing time of the adhesives, disrupting continuous-press manufacturing lines and affecting the structural integrity of the final composite wood products.
5.3. Automotive and Fleet Compliance (DEF)
To comply with regulatory standards requiring the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines, high-purity product is dissolved in deionized water to create Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
- Market Driver: Mandatory environmental compliance in logistics, maritime, and agricultural machinery sectors. This segment provides a high-margin, consistent demand curve insulated from the seasonal volatility of agriculture.
5.4. Aviation and Infrastructure
Utilized as an environmentally compliant runway de-icing fluid. Unlike chloride-based rock salts, it does not cause catastrophic galvanic corrosion to aircraft landing gear or reinforced concrete infrastructure, making it mandatory for commercial aviation hubs.
6. Global Supply Chain, Logistics, and Warehousing
Transporting and storing bulk commodity chemicals requires robust risk management to prevent inventory degradation.
- Maritime and Rail Freight: Shipped globally in dry bulk carriers and hopper cars. The primary risk during transit is moisture ingress. Holds must be immaculately clean, dry, and sealed.
- Warehousing Economics: Bulk storage facilities must be climate-controlled. Because the product is hygroscopic, variations in ambient humidity and temperature can cause “caking”—where free-flowing granules fuse into massive, concrete-like blocks. This renders the product unusable without expensive mechanical crushing, delaying supply chains.
- Quality Preservation: Suppliers often treat agricultural grades with proprietary anti-caking coatings. However, procurement teams sourcing technical or DEF grades must strictly audit these coatings, as standard agricultural additives will contaminate industrial processes.
7. Market Dynamics and Pricing Factors
For B2B procurement professionals, predicting the cost of this commodity requires analyzing a complex matrix of global variables:
- Energy Market Volatility: As the primary feedstock cost, spikes in natural gas (especially in Europe) or coal (in Asia) will immediately compress manufacturing margins, leading to supply curtailments and global price spikes.
- Geopolitical Export Controls: Major producing nations frequently impose sudden export quotas or tariffs to protect their domestic agricultural sectors during periods of food inflation, instantly tightening global supply.
- Seasonal Demand Surges: The market is highly cyclical. Prices historically firm up ahead of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring planting season. Savvy buyers engage in strategic off-season stockpiling to hedge against seasonal premiums.
- Logistics Bottlenecks: Because it is a high-volume, low-margin bulk commodity, freight rates (such as the Baltic Dry Index) significantly impact the final landed cost for the buyer.
8. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Outlook
Enterprise buyers are increasingly subject to Scope 3 emissions reporting and sustainability mandates. The future of this market is pivoting toward “Green” manufacturing.
Innovations currently scaling in the market include replacing natural gas feedstocks with green hydrogen generated via renewable energy. Furthermore, the agricultural sector is rapidly adopting polymer-coated, controlled-release variations. These advanced products drastically reduce the environmental runoff and greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional rapid-release nitrogen, aligning procurement with corporate ESG goals.
About ZCChem Urea CAS 57-13-6
| Parameter | Specification |
| Appearance @25℃ | White or light yellow gelatinous paste |
| Assay (Purity) | ≥99.0% |
| pH (2 %) | 7.0-9.0 |
| Active matter | 68.0-72.0% |
| Unsulphated matter | ≤3.5% |
| Sodium Sulphate | ≤1.5% |
| Fe,ppm | ≤5.0 |
| 1,4-Dioxane,ppm | ≤20 |
| Melting Point | 132 ~ 135℃ |
| Volatility | ≤ 0.5% |
| Ash Content | ≤ 0.02% |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water (1080g/L at 20℃); Soluble in ethanol |
| Thermal Stability | Stable under standard conditions; Decomposes upon heating above 132℃ |
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FAQ
Can we substitute Agricultural Grade Urea for DEF or Technical Grade manufacturing to save on procurement costs?
Absolutely not. Agricultural grades are manufactured with broader tolerances for heavy metals, biuret, and insoluble materials, and frequently contain formaldehyde-based anti-caking agents. Introducing these impurities into a Diesel Exhaust Fluid production line will irreparably destroy the catalytic converters of end-user vehicles. In resin manufacturing, these impurities will alter chemical curing rates and compromise the structural integrity of the final adhesives. Each grade is chemically tailored to its specific end-use.
What is the standard shelf-life of bulk Urea, and how can we mitigate inventory loss due to caking?
Under ideal, hermetically sealed, climate-controlled conditions, it can be stored indefinitely without chemical degradation. However, in standard bulk commercial warehousing, the practical shelf-life is entirely dependent on ambient humidity. To prevent caking, warehouses must maintain low humidity, prevent massive temperature swings, and avoid stacking supersacks too high, as pressure exacerbates the fusing of granules. First-In, First-Out (FIFO) inventory rotation is mandatory.
How should our procurement team hedge against the price volatility of this commodity?
Because CAS 57-13-6 pricing is highly correlated with global energy indices and seasonal agricultural cycles, procurement teams should employ a multi-tiered strategy. This includes negotiating index-linked long-term contracts based on natural gas futures, diversifying origin sources to protect against regional export bans, and utilizing off-season warehousing to build strategic reserves before the predictable price surges that accompany global spring planting seasons.