RABAT, July 17 (Reuters) - Moroccan phosphates and fertiliser producer OCP said on Friday it signed an agreement with U.S.-based Koch Ag & Energy Solutions to form a second joint venture, boosting their combined phosphate-based fertiliser production capacity to about 2.5 million metric tons annually.

Under the agreement, Koch will acquire 50% in Jorf Fertilizers Company I, OCP said in a statement without disclosing details about the cost of the transaction.

JFC I has an annual production capacity of up to 1.2 million metric tons of phosphate-based fertilisers.

In 2022, Koch acquired a 50% stake in OCP-owned Jorf Fertilizers Company III (JFC III), later renamed Kofert.

"The U.S. administration's recent decision to temporarily suspend countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports further creates an opportunity for the venture to serve U.S. farmers and customers with phosphate-based plant nutrition solutions, essential to soil health and crop yields,” OCP said.

OCP, which is the world's largest producer of phosphate-based fertilisers, has increased its production capacity to 16 million metric tons in 2025 from 3 million metric tons in 2008.