Keele Research Repository

The phosphate rock industry is a key industry for the Jordanian economy being both the largest industrial employer and the main source of Foreign exchange earnings. The production and marketing activities of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company have been affected by developments in the world phosphate rock industry and the Jordanian economy.
Data for this research has been collected from both published and unpublished material. In addition, field observations, personal interviews and informal talks with key personnel and other members of staff of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company were important.
Part of this thesis provides a background by reviewing developments in the world phosphate rock industry, in particular the availability and geology of phosphate deposits, production, consumption and the main uses of phosphate rock, present and future balances of supply and demand, and marketing aspects of the world industry. The thesis, also reviews developments in the Jordanian economy in order to understand better the phosphate rock industry in Jordan, since it operates within that economic sphere.
Economic and commercial aspects of the Jordanian phosphate rock industry related to the geology of phosphate deposits, reserves, developments in production and costs, marketing process, pricing policies and practices and transportation are discussed.
This research also attempts to evaluate the efficiency and performance of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, to estimate a demand function for world phosphates, to forecast world demand, and to estimate a production function for the Jordanian phosphate industry. Estimation and forecasting are carried out with the aid of multiple regression.
Finally, the last chapter brings together the analysis and conclusions of the earlier chapters on the economic and commercial aspects of the Jordanian phsophate rock industry and its relation to world production and trade in phosphates.