Lithuanian plant shutdown could lift European demand for Moroccan fertilizer

Morocco could gain additional European fertilizer demand after a major Lithuanian phosphate plant halted production and shipping disruptions tightened global supplies, according to industry reports.

Argus Media reported that EuroChem’s Lifosa plant in Lithuania had suspended all production because of high raw-material costs. The producer had not directly confirmed the shutdown.

Lifosa has annual capacity of about 1 million tonnes of DAP, MAP and NPS fertilizers, alongside 220,000 tonnes of feed-grade monocalcium phosphate and 35,000 tonnes of technical monoammonium phosphate. Removing that capacity could increase European reliance on imports, including supplies from Morocco’s OCP Group.

Price pressure has become visible in Ukraine, where compound fertilizer prices rose by 300 to 500 hryvnias per tonne within one week. Polish producers Siarczopol and FOSFAN also raised prices, with superphosphate increasing by more than 19%.

Ukrainian deliveries face additional constraints along the Danube after Russian strikes near Maiaky in the Odesa region disrupted logistics, while demand remains moderate.

The International Fertilizer Association estimated that conflict in the Middle East had interrupted about 5.5 million tonnes of global urea production. It said a sustained recovery would depend on vessels returning to Gulf routes, not only on ships already stranded near the Strait of Hormuz departing.

The World Bank expects fertilizer prices to rise more than 30% globally during 2026.

Buyers are consequently seeking additional fertilizer from Morocco, the United States and Canada, while shipping operators use longer and more cautious routes.

A CNC Vertical Lathe Machine is a type of turning equipment built around a spindle that rotates on a vertical axis rather than a horizontal one. This orientation changes how the workpiece sits on the machine table, allowing gravity to help support heavy or large-diameter parts during cutting. Unlike a conventional horizontal lathe, a CNC Vertical Lathe Machine holds the workpiece flat on a rotating chuck while the cutting tool moves along programmed paths to remove material layer by layer.
The core advantage of this configuration lies in stability. Because the part rests horizontally on the table, a CNC Vertical Lathe Machine can accommodate components that would otherwise be difficult to clamp securely on a horizontal axis. This makes the setup particularly suited to turning large rings, flanges, wheels, and disc-shaped parts where diameter exceeds length.
Operation begins with programming. A technician writes or loads a numerical control program that defines toolpaths, spindle speeds, feed rates, and depth of cut. Once the program runs, the machine controller directs the cutting head through each pass automatically, reducing the need for manual adjustment mid-cycle. Sensors and encoders feed position data back to the controller, letting the CNC Vertical Lathe Machine correct for tool wear or thermal drift as the job progresses.
Tooling flexibility is another point worth noting. Many configurations include a turret capable of holding multiple tools, so a single setup can perform facing, boring, grooving, and threading without repositioning the part. This reduces handling time and keeps tolerances consistent across operations. Some models add a second turret or a live tooling option, expanding what a CNC Vertical Lathe Machine can accomplish in one cycle.
Material handling also differs from horizontal designs. Loading a heavy blank onto a vertical table is often easier with an overhead crane or automated loader, since the part simply sits down rather than needing to be chucked against gravity. This lowers the physical strain on operators and shortens setup time for repetitive batches.
Control systems vary by manufacturer, but most modern units offer touchscreen interfaces, graphical simulation of toolpaths, and diagnostic feedback that flags irregularities before they affect part quality. Operators can preview a cutting sequence virtually, catching collision risks or programming errors before the spindle ever engages the workpiece.
In terms of accuracy, a CNC Vertical Lathe Machine relies on rigid column construction and a stable base to minimize vibration during heavy cuts. This rigidity supports tighter dimensional control, particularly on parts with thin walls or asymmetric geometry that might otherwise flex under cutting force.

https://www.east-cnc.com/product/vertical-turning-lathe/

North Korea answers US olive branch with missile launch

South Korea detected 10 ballistic missiles hours after Pyongyang dismissed Washington's decision to scale back joint exercises with Seoul

North Korea has fired several short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul's military said on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said he would meet Pyongyang's Kim Jong-un this year.

The latest launches from the nuclear-armed North come as South Korea and the United States hold a shorter edition of their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, following an order from Trump to scale them back.

Pyongyang has long condemned US-South Korea joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion, often staging missile launches around the drills.

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Trump, seeking to revive the bond he claims to have forged with Kim in his first term, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday he planned to meet the North Korean leader later this year.

The US president also said it was important to "get along" with Kim, adding that Pyongyang now had 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. Seoul says there are around 80 to 120.

Hours after Trump's remarks, an official from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the North fired "around 10 short-range ballistic missiles" from the Pyongyang area.

Japan earlier said a suspected "ballistic missile launched by North Korea a short while ago has already fallen", according to a social media post from the prime minister's office.

Trump's sudden focus on Kim and his scaling back of joint US-South Korean military drills have alarmed Asian allies, while sparking speculation that he was seeking a foreign policy win as the Iran war stalls.

Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, dismissed Trump's overture on Wednesday. She said it was not even worthy of comment.

"The provocative, aggressive nature of the drills won't change even though their duration and size were reduced," she said. "If the US calculates that it can propagate its recent measure as the one of so-called good faith, they will not get the desired answer."

She also cited a series of other military drills carried out by the US and South Korea earlier this year and South Korea's push to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.

Kim Yo-jong still refrained from the typical North Korean reaction of fiery rhetoric and said personal relations between her brother and Trump are "still excellent". That signals North Korea would want to wait for Trump to make bigger concessions before returning to talks.

She denied Trump's claim that her brother had responded to his request for a conversation.

When asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would be meeting with Kim Jong-un this year, Trump said that "yeah, I will be". He wouldn't answer a question about whether he was exchanging letters with Kim but said he got along with him.

Additional reporting by Associated Press