Global Fertilizers

Report Overview

2nd Edition

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This study covers the global market for fertilizers, including agriculture, commercial, and consumer uses.

What are the product breakouts?

• Nitrogen
• Phosphate
• Potassium
• Micronutrients (e.g., sulfur)
• Commercially manufactured organic fertilizers

On-site fertilizer production (e.g., animal waste, kitchen scraps) is excluded from the scope of this study.

Unless otherwise noted, demand is given in metric tons (nutrient basis) and is evaluated at the manufacturers’ level. Manufacturers’ level demand includes all formulations and additives included by the manufacturers in the fertilizer products shipped to distributors, retailers, and secondary formulators such as fertilizer application services or consumer formulators. Additional formulation by distributors, service companies, and end users is excluded. Production capacity is given in formulated terms.

Historical data for 2007, 2012, and 2017 and forecasts for 2022 are provided for fertilizer demand by market and product for six regions and 27 individual countries.

Definitions

Commercial Fertilizer

Any fertilizer industrially produced and marketed by suppliers.

Farm-Made Fertilizer

Also called on-site fertilizer; fertilizers derived from on-site farm waste, not purchased from a distributor or retailer.

Fertilizer

Any material applied to soils or plants to supply plant nutrients.

Formulated Fertilizer

Fertilizer volume representing the total chemical weight of the finished fertilizer product, as well as added ingredients such as carriers, solvents, spreaders, and other additives.

Muriate of Potash

Potassium chloride; contains 60% potash.

Nutrient Basis

Fertilizer volume representing only the content of elemental nutrient in the formulated fertilizer.

Organic Fertilizers

Fertilizers made with biological materials, e.g., animal manure, food scraps, tilled plants.

Potash

Salts containing potassium in water-soluble form; may be used interchangeably with “potassium”.

Sulfate of Potash

Contains both potassium and sulfur.

Specialty Fertilizer Blends, Modernizing Agricultural Practices to Promote Fertilizer Demand

Global demand for fertilizers is expected to rise 1.4% per year to 212.1 million metric tons (nutrient basis) in 2022. Gains will result from efforts to increase crop yields as growth in the area of cropland in use slows. The expanding use of specialized fertilizer blends that contain multiple nutrients and additives for specific crops in particular climates will also promote rising demand in otherwise mature markets.

Key Findings in the Global Fertilizers Study:

Industrialization of Agriculture Will Promote Increased Fertilizer Use

Agricultural practices are becoming increasingly industrialized. In developed countries, agricultural activity is increasingly consolidated into large agribusinesses, which have the resources to apply large quantities of fertilizer to maximize production. Developing countries are shifting away from subsistence agriculture and instead focusing on production of cash crops and export products.

In conjunction with slowing growth in the amount of cropland, industrialization efforts are necessitating the use of more inputs – including fertilizers – to maximize crop yields while reducing labor costs and meeting the world’s demand for food, fodder, and fuel.

Improved Education will be Key to Effective Fertilizer Use Going Forward

A major issue in the global fertilizer industry has been a lack of quality information for fertilizer users in developing areas. Going forward, fertilizer producers, government agencies, agriculture extension services, and other organizations will increase efforts to properly educate users about the benefits of proper fertilizer application and the risks of improper fertilizer use.

Expanding Production in Developing Markets Will Improve Access to Fertilizers

A major barrier to growth in developing fertilizer markets – particularly in Eastern Europe and the Africa/Mideast region – has been the unreliability of fertilizer distribution networks. Expanding fertilizer production capabilities in these regions will support improved access to fertilizers and reduce costs for local consumers. Expanding production in the Middle East and Eastern Europe will also place increased pressure on fertilizer producers based in North America and Western Europe through increasing price competition from these developing regions.

Study Coverage

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $130.8 billion global fertilizer market. It presents historical demand data (2007, 2012, and 2017) and forecasts for 2022 by nutrient (nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium), market (agriculture, commercial, and consumer), crop, and geographic region. The study also evaluates company market share and analyzes industry competitors including Belaruskali, CF Industries, EuroChem, Israel Chemical, Mosaic, Nutrien, OCP, PhosAgro, Uralkali, and Yara International.