Granular vs Prilled Urea Fertilizer: Which Should You Buy?

Comprehensive comparison of granular urea vs prilled urea fertilizer. Both contain 46% nitrogen, but their physical properties, handling characteristics, and ideal applications differ significantly. Published by MC INTERNATIONAL Export Team, April 2026.

Granular vs Prilled: Key Differences

Granular urea has larger particles (2-4mm), harder texture, lower dust, and better flow for mechanical spreaders. Prilled urea has smaller spherical particles (1-2mm), faster dissolution in water, and is preferred for fertigation and foliar application. Both contain minimum 46% nitrogen, maximum 1.0% biuret, maximum 14% moisture. Granular is priced 5-10 USD/MT higher than prilled.

Best Applications for Each Type

Choose granular urea for: broadcast field application, bulk transport and storage in humid climates, NPK blending. Choose prilled urea for: fertigation systems, foliar spray dissolution, cost-sensitive large-scale farming. Both types are suitable for all major crops including rice, wheat, corn, sugarcane, and vegetables.

Storage Requirements

Urea is highly hygroscopic — store in dry covered warehouses with relative humidity below 60%. Use wooden pallets to elevate bags off floors. Stack maximum 10 bags high. Avoid storing near acids, bases, or oxidizing materials. Use within 6 months of receipt. MC INTERNATIONAL supplies in 50kg polypropylene bags or 1MT big bags, minimum 500 MT order.