Also known as: MCP · 22% P MCP
Feed-grade monocalcium phosphate, typically 22% P and 16% Ca with high phosphorus availability and a low Ca:P ratio. The standard phosphate for shrimp and high-performance broiler, layer and pig diets.
Short answer: Feed-grade monocalcium phosphate (MCP) typically supplies about 22% phosphorus and 16% calcium with high phosphorus availability, which makes it the standard phosphate for shrimp and high-performance broiler, layer and pig diets that need a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. China dominates supply volume, with Morocco, Tunisia and Vietnam serving EU and MENA buyers. FeedMatch Group compares supplier offers on assay, fluorine and heavy-metal limits and landed cost per unit of available phosphorus; supplier and batch evidence must be checked before award.
Compare origins on the same delivered basis for your discharge port and shipment window with the landed-cost calculator, then request offers through a reviewed RFQ.
Schemes buyers often ask suppliers to document for this ingredient — not a statement that any supplier holds them. FeedMatch asks for the current certificate in the RFQ; check that its scope covers the product and activity in the scheme's own register (see GMP+ and FAMI-QS).
Indicative ranges for commercial feed-grade MCP. Actual values vary by producer, rock source and process, so contract against the supplier's guaranteed analysis rather than these figures.
| Parameter | Typical value | Why a buyer checks it |
|---|---|---|
| Total phosphorus (P) | 21.0–22.7% | The unit you are actually buying — normalise every offer to cost per unit of P. |
| Calcium (Ca) | 15.0–17.0% | Determines how much limestone the formulation still needs and fixes the Ca:P ratio. |
| Phosphorus availability | ~90–98% (relative) | MCP's main advantage over DCP; drives the real inclusion rate. |
| Water-soluble P | Typically ≥80% of total P | A practical indicator that the product is genuinely mono- rather than di-calcium. |
| Fluorine (F) | Regulated maximum, commonly ≤0.2% (2,000 mg/kg) | A defluorination failure is the classic reason a phosphate cargo is rejected. |
| Heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Hg) | Within feed-material legal limits of the destination market | Phosphate rock origin drives cadmium in particular. |
| Moisture | ≤4% | High moisture caking is the commonest handling complaint on MCP. |
| Particle size / form | Granular or powder, per dosing system | Granular for on-line dosing, powder for premix. |
Fluorine and heavy-metal limits are set by the destination market's feed legislation. Confirm the limits that apply to your country before contracting.
Buyer comparison
Both supply phosphorus and calcium, but the right specification depends on the whole formulation. Compare actual grades and documents, not shorthand names or price per tonne alone. A qualified nutrition professional should approve any substitution or inclusion rate.
| Buyer check | MCP | DCP |
|---|---|---|
| Phosphate form | Monocalcium phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate |
| Phosphorus and calcium | Compare the supplier's guaranteed P and Ca assay | Compare the supplier's guaranteed P and Ca assay; account for calcium in the whole ration |
| Phosphorus availability | Request the analytical method and evidence used for the proposed grade | Request the same method and evidence; do not treat total P as available P |
| Physical form | Check granule size, moisture and flow for the dosing system | Check granule size, moisture and flow for the dosing system |
| Safety and documentation | Batch COA, fluorine and heavy-metal results for the destination market | Batch COA, fluorine and heavy-metal results for the destination market |
| Commercial comparison | Delivered cost on an agreed available-P basis | Delivered cost on the same available-P basis |
Ask for a lot-specific certificate of analysis, the proposed formulation basis and a delivered quotation to the same destination. Have a qualified professional assess available phosphorus, the calcium balance, phytase assumptions and applicable safety limits before calculating an equivalent cost or changing the ration.
Do not use indicative ranges on this page as a contract specification or a guarantee of product performance.
What actually moves the number an MCP supplier quotes you, and what a buyer can do about each one:
MCP is produced from phosphate rock and acid, so its price tracks the upstream phosphate and fertiliser complex rather than the feed market.
Buyer action: Do not assume feed-market seasonality applies. Track phosphate fertiliser direction when timing larger contracts.
A 21.0% P product and a 22.5% P product are not the same purchase; the difference is roughly 7% more material for the same phosphorus.
Buyer action: Convert every offer to cost per unit of available phosphorus before comparing headline prices per tonne.
China dominates export volume; Morocco, Tunisia and Vietnam serve EU and MENA buyers with shorter lead times.
Buyer action: Compare on a landed basis. A lower FOB price from a distant origin often loses once freight, duty and lead time are included.
Granular, powder, 25 kg bags, big bags and bulk each carry different handling and packaging costs.
Buyer action: Specify the form your dosing system actually needs — paying for granular you then have to grind is waste.
Applying a phytase matrix typically removes several kilograms of inorganic phosphate per tonne of feed.
Buyer action: Settle the phytase matrix before tendering, so the tonnage you quote is the tonnage you will buy.
These questions turn a broad market search into a comparable procurement brief. Values, doses, substitutions and performance expectations must be approved by the buyer's qualified nutrition, veterinary, feed-science, safety and regulatory advisers.
State the mineral source, guaranteed element content rather than compound weight alone, physical form, contaminant and heavy-metal limits, destination-market authorisation and the intended premix or complete-feed use.
Compare delivered cost per kilogram of the declared element, not price per kilogram of compound. Include source form, bioavailability evidence, contaminants, testing and the approved inclusion basis.
Request a current specification, technical and safety data, recent batch certificates of analysis, manufacturing and feed-safety certification, destination registration where required, allergen or GMO status where relevant, traceability details, shelf-life evidence and a clear procedure for non-conforming lots. Verify documents and claims before approval.
The quoted result can change with feedstock or active-material availability, production concentration, plant outages, energy and freight costs, packaging, order size, Incoterm, destination registration, testing requirements and delivery window. FeedMatch does not publish a live price; buyers should request a firm, time-bound quotation against one controlled specification.
The checks that separate a reliable MCP supplier from a cargo that gets rejected at intake:
| Check | Evidence to request | Accept | Reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed analysis on the contract | Total P, Ca, water-soluble P and moisture stated as guaranteed minimums or maximums, not 'typical'. | Guarantees written into the contract with a tolerance and a remedy. | Only a typical-analysis sheet, or figures quoted verbally. |
| Batch certificate of analysis | A batch-specific COA from the producing plant, with batch number and date, matching the shipped lot. | Batch COA traceable to the delivered lot. | A generic or undated COA, or one that cannot be tied to the batch. |
| Fluorine and heavy metals | Fluorine, cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury tested against the destination market's feed limits. | Results inside the legal limits of the country of use, from a recognised laboratory. | Missing fluorine result, or limits quoted for a different market than yours. |
| Feed-safety certification | A valid GMP+, FAMI-QS or equivalent certificate covering the producing site, not only the trader. | Current certificate naming the production site and the product scope. | An expired certificate, or one covering a trading office only. |
| Independent verification right | A contractual right to third-party sampling and analysis at load or discharge. | Named inspection company, agreed sampling method, agreed cost split. | Supplier's own analysis declared final. |
Monocalcium Phosphate is bought inside the additives category, where specification discipline — not price per kilogram — decides the real cost. Our feed additives procurement guide covers how to write a quotable specification, which certifications and registrations to demand (FAMI-QS, GMP+, EU Reg. 1831/2003), when a premix beats buying straights, and how to normalise offers to delivered cost per unit of active.
Confirm the current rule for the exact product, target species and destination market before contracting. Private assurance schemes may support supplier qualification but do not replace applicable law.
Heavy metals — lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury — accumulate in animal tissues and are regulated in feed materials, with mineral sources and marine ingredients carrying the highest inherent risk.
Purity covers everything that should not be in the cargo — foreign matter, other-grain admixture, hulls, soil, packaging debris and deliberate adulterants — and is verified by physical inspection plus targeted analysis.
Particle size distribution governs mixing homogeneity, pellet quality, digestive efficiency and segregation risk, and is specified as a geometric mean diameter with a distribution, not a single sieve figure.
Ash is the inorganic residue after complete combustion; it indicates total mineral content and, in protein meals, is a practical marker for bone, shell, sand or mineral adulteration.
Each parameter is explained in the specification library — what it measures, how it is tested and what to verify.
| Test | Why buyers run it |
|---|---|
| Assay of the declared element | Confirms the purchased mineral content, not just the salt identity |
| Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) by ICP-MS | Mineral sources are the primary heavy-metal entry route into feed |
| Fluorine, where phosphates are involved | Regulated and tightly limited in phosphate feed grades |
| Particle size distribution | Segregation control in premix and mash |
| Acid-insoluble ash / insolubles | Detects inert filler |
Generally 12–24 months when dry and sealed; caking risk rises sharply with humidity exposure.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for poultry — broilers operations.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for poultry — layers operations.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for aquaculture operations.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for swine operations.
Certificates of analysis, sampling, inspection, origin, traceability and import documentation.
Step-by-step buying guides and printable verification checklists.
Least-cost, inclusion and landed-cost tools for procurement planning.
Technical articles, market context and regulatory background.
Educational reference maintained by FeedMatch Group. We do not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers; values are indicative industry references and never replace testing of the delivered lot.
Before you tender, settle the phosphate source and the availability maths:
Purchase specification and commercial terms
Short answer: suppliers can only quote like-for-like when the specification and the commercial terms are written down. Use the two checklists below. Your nutritionist sets the nutrient values; this page does not suggest any limits, prices or tolerances.
| Product identity | Exact name, origin and process (e.g. solvent-extracted soybean meal), not a generic category. |
|---|---|
| Analytical specification | Parameters with limits and basis: protein, moisture, fat, fibre, ash or the key nutrient for that ingredient. |
| Contaminant limits | Mycotoxins, salmonella, heavy metals and residues under your local feed regulation. |
| Sampling and test method | Who samples, where (loading or arrival), how many samples, which laboratory and method. |
| Packaging and handling | Bulk, big bag or bags; storage and handling conditions in transit. |
| Documents per lot | Certificate of analysis, phytosanitary or health certificate and certificate of origin, as required. |
| Price basis | Price per tonne in one currency with an Incoterms® 2020 rule and named place (e.g. CIF named port). |
|---|---|
| Quantity and tolerance | Contract tonnage, delivery schedule and the agreed quantity tolerance. |
| Payment terms | Deposit, letter of credit or open account, and the documents that trigger payment. |
| Quality acceptance | Which analysis is final (loading or arrival), how a referee sample is resolved, and price adjustment or rejection rules. |
| Claims window | How many days after delivery a quality or quantity claim can be raised, and what evidence is needed. |
| Delivery and delay | Delivery window, who bears late-delivery costs and force majeure wording. |
| Validity | How long the offer stays valid and how price changes are handled for later deliveries. |
Compare offers on cost per kg of output, not price per tonne alone: a cheaper ingredient that worsens feed conversion can cost more per kg produced.
Calculators and checklists are free. Plant and equipment projects start from USD 250,000; ingredient and feed supply has no such minimum. Our team reviews each request before contacting suppliers. Incoterms® is a trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Pick the lane that matches where you are in the purchase — each link goes to the exact tool or page for that step.
What exactly am I buying?
How much, and at what landed cost?
Is this supplier and lot acceptable?
Availability and the ability to trade depend on the applicable law and on the licences and approvals required, which differ by product and country. Each participant is responsible for the rules that apply to its own role: suppliers for the products they offer and supply, buyers for their own import permissions and checks. FeedMatch is not a manufacturer, importer, exporter, seller or regulatory approver; it facilitates sourcing and screens requests before any supplier is contacted. Regulation & responsibilities.
MCP typically supplies about 22% phosphorus and 16% calcium with high phosphorus availability; DCP typically supplies about 18% phosphorus and 23–25% calcium at lower availability and a lower price per tonne. MCP suits shrimp and high-performance monogastric diets that need a low Ca:P ratio; DCP is often cheaper where the ration can carry the extra calcium. Compare offers on landed cost per unit of available phosphorus, not price per tonne, and check the certificate of analysis for assay and fluorine limits.
MCP is monocalcium phosphate, an inorganic feed phosphate that supplies phosphorus and calcium. Feed grade typically carries about 22% phosphorus and 16% calcium with high phosphorus availability, which makes it the reference phosphate where the diet needs phosphorus without much extra calcium.
MCP typically supplies around 22% P and 16% Ca at high availability; DCP typically supplies around 18% P and 23–25% Ca at lower availability and a lower price per tonne. MCP is chosen where a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio or maximum available phosphorus matters; DCP is often cheaper per unit of available P where the ration can carry the extra calcium.
Shrimp diets need a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, so MCP or MDCP is the standard phosphate source. DCP's high calcium content makes it a poor fit for most shrimp formulations.
MDCP (mono-dicalcium phosphate) is a blend of both salts, giving a Ca:P ratio and availability between MCP and DCP, usually at a price between the two. It is a common compromise where MCP's cost premium is not justified.
China dominates global export volume. Morocco and Tunisia are significant producers serving EU and MENA buyers, and Vietnam supplies regional Asian demand.
Typically 3–15 kg per tonne depending on species, phase and the rest of the mineral package. Applying a phytase matrix commonly removes several kilograms per tonne of inorganic phosphate.
Convert both to cost per unit of available phosphorus on a landed basis: divide the delivered price per tonne by (total P% × availability). Then check the certificate of analysis for assay, moisture, fluorine and heavy metals against the limits of the market where the feed will be used.
For commercial farm feed buyers
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
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Poultry, dairy & beef, pig and aquafeed, plus bulk feed contracts.
Soybean meal, grains, DDGS, fish meal, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, premixes and additives.
Suppliers are contacted only after authorized human review. Plant and equipment projects generally from USD 250,000; feed and ingredient supply has no such minimum.
How it works
| Monocalcium Phosphate | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Product-specific specification | MCP identity and soluble phosphorus method; calcium/phosphorus balance, fluorine and heavy metals; compare DCP on an approved nutrient basis. |
Turn the product checks into a written specification approved by your technical team. Separate guaranteed contractual values from typical information; state units, moisture basis, analytical methods and tolerances. Request a dated, lot-linked certificate of analysis and representative sampling plan. Agree who releases the lot, what happens after an out-of-spec result, and how retained samples and claims are handled. A generic technical sheet is not evidence for the shipment you receive.
Use the same grade, quantity, named delivery place, Incoterm, currency and quote date. Separate product, freight, insurance, duties, testing, handling and payment costs; never count included freight twice or unknown charges as zero. Concentrates require an agreed active-content or activity basis. Moisture correction and nutritional equivalence must use measured analysis and qualified approval, not a kilogram-for-kilogram swap. Ask for quote validity and confirm inclusions before comparing totals.
State quantity and units per shipment, frequency, requested arrival window, packaging and unloading constraints. Record warehouse temperature/humidity needs, remaining shelf life at arrival, segregation and traceability requirements. Ask the team to obtain dated lead-time proposals and contingency terms; this is not a stock or supplier-availability claim. Product eligibility and import documents must be checked for the actual destination and animal species, not inferred from another market.
A lower ingredient invoice does not prove a lower cost of animal production. Use the FCR calculator with your own feed consumed, liveweight gain and complete-feed cost over the same period. Keep species, phase, feed basis and measurement method consistent. Do not attribute an FCR change to an additive without comparable evidence; the calculator evaluates inputs, not product efficacy. Any inclusion or reformulation decision belongs to your qualified nutritionist.
Buyer use is free. Ingredient and recurring feed supply are assessed by specification, viable volume/frequency, destination and logistics—not the plant/equipment capital minimum. FeedMatch reviews your request, contacts suitable suppliers and presents responses through the team; no direct buyer–supplier handoff and no guaranteed offers.
Send your specification, quantity and destination for human review; the US$250,000 minimum applies only to plant and equipment projects. FeedMatch reviews and organises your brief before contacting suitable suppliers, then presents responses through FeedMatch—not through direct buyer-to-supplier contact.
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