Global Phosphate Rock Production Trends from 1961 to 2010. Reasons for the Temporary Set-Back in 1988-1994

Reasons for the temporary set-back in 1988-1994 In 2007, Patrick Déry and Bart Anderson published a paper in Energy Bulletin entitled “Peak Phosphorus” which proposed to apply the technique of Hubbert Linearization to phosphorus production1. The paper concluded that a definite production peak had occurred in 1988. This argument has since been adopted by a number of researchers, who have gone on to argue the “peak phosphate” theory. However, the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), which represents the largest phosphate producers worldwide, does not support this argument.