Resource Logistics Analysis on Phosphorus and its Applications for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy - Topical Themes in Energy and Resources - page 158

A
AA

00
00

PP

=

(9.3)

MP

0 A 0

RM

PP A , the material composition of a product is simply given by à MP . The
composition, however, generally forms

When = 0

PP A because of the input of intermedi-
ate products such as parts. A matrix of the material composition C MP is commonly
given by Eq. (9.4):

≠ 0

) −

1

C A IA = ( − (9.4)

MP MP PP

Here, the element i , j represents the volume of materials that make up the unit prod-
uct j . Thus, the column sum gives the weight of the unit output j . When a unit of a
product is expressed in physical terms, for instance, as 1 t, the column sum of the
applicable composition matrix also becomes 1 t. When the product is expressed on
a monetary basis, for instance, as 1 million yen, the column sum of the applicable
composition matrix represents the weight per 1 million yen.

9.3 Case Study: Resource Logistics on the Supply

of Phosphorus in Economic Activities

9.3.1 Why Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is present only as a trace element on the Earth, but it is one of the impor-
tant strategic resources for agricultural food production and the chemical industry.
In 2005, approximately 147 × 10 3 kt of phosphate ore was mined worldwide. Of this,
24.7 % (36.3 × 10 3 kt) was produced in the USA, 20.7 % (30.4 × 10 3 kt) in China, and
17.1 % (25.2 × 10 3 kt) in Morocco, while essentially no deposits of phosphate ore
exist in Japan or the EU. An increasing cause of concern is the growing demand for
fertilizers worldwide, which could cause the deposits of the high-grade phosphate
ore to deplete within the next century (Vaccari 2009 ). Moreover, the average price
of the ore in 2008 was approximately twice that in 2007. Considering the limited
supplies of phosphorus, it is important to evaluate the quantity and availability of
currently untapped phosphorus resources.
It is evident that an increase in the global population will increase the demand
for food; hence, the demand for larger quantities of phosphorus is expected to grow
in the future. The global production of agricultural products is dependent on a small
number of ore-producing countries. Phosphorus, like guano, is produced in part from
the accumulation of bird manure, and although it mainly exists as an underground