Phosphatic Fertilizer Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2017 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 57.91 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 82.33 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 7.10% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
Phosphatic Fertilizer Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The phosphatic fertilizer market size stands at USD 57.91 billion in 2025 and is on course to reach USD 82.33 billion by 2030, representing a 7.10% CAGR over the forecast window. The steady expansion of the phosphatic fertilizer market reflects intensifying food-security pressures at a time when arable land per person is shrinking and protein consumption is rising across emerging economies. Farmers are responding by favoring high-analysis grades such as diammonium phosphate (DAP) and mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) that deliver more phosphorus per logistics dollar, while policymakers shift subsidy schemes toward balanced nutrient strategies that reward phosphorus use efficiency. Regulatory realignments, including the European Union’s cadmium limits and India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program, further reinforce demand for low-contaminant formulations and precision application technologies. Meanwhile, investments in controlled-release coatings, site-specific delivery systems, and biotechnology alliances position innovative suppliers to capture premium niches as the phosphatic fertilizer market evolves toward value-based purchasing.
Key Report Takeaways
- By type, DAP commanded 37.7% of the phosphatic fertilizer market share in 2024, whereas triple superphosphate (TSP) is projected to accelerate at a 9.3% CAGR through 2030, the highest among all products.
- By application mode, soil application accounted for 93.9% of the phosphatic fertilizer market size in 2024, and is forecast to widen at a 7.1% CAGR across the same horizon.
- By crop type, field crops represented 89.5% of total consumption in 2024, and are set to post the fastest 7.1% CAGR as urban agriculture and greenhouse output escalate.
- By geography, Asia-Pacific dominates the phosphatic fertilizer market, holding a 60.6% share in 2024, and is also the fastest-growing region, boasting a CAGR of 7.6%.
Global Phosphatic Fertilizer Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surge in high-analysis fertilizer (DAP/MAP) adoption | +1.2% | Global, strongest in Asia-Pacific and South America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Government subsidy realignment in Asia-Pacific | +1.8% | Asia-Pacific core, spill-over to Middle East and Africa | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Rising food-grade phosphate demand for specialty crops | +0.7% | North America and Europe, expanding to Asia-Pacific | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Precision farming enabling phosphorus use efficiency | +1.1% | North America and Europe, early adoption in Asia-Pacific | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Controlled-release phosphate coatings adoption | +0.9% | Global, premium markets leading | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Low-cadmium African phosphate rock supply growth | +0.8% | Europe and North America, expanding globally | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Surge in High-Analysis Fertilizer (DAP/MAP) Adoption
Transportation now accounts for up to 20% of delivered fertilizer cost in remote areas, pushing growers toward DAP and MAP that pack 1.7-to-2.0-times more P₂O₅ per ton than single superphosphate. Brazil’s soybean belt illustrates the shift as cooperatives consolidate storage around highly concentrated grades to reduce freight charges.[1]Source: International Fertilizer Association, “Global Fertilizer Supply and Transportation Costs,” fertilizer.org Rising diesel prices amplify logistics savings, while concentrated grades also reduce packaging waste —a benefit that aligns with tightening environmental regulations in many regions. Traders increasingly lock forward contracts for DAP to hedge against volatile freight markets, and distributors report double-digit drops in inventory carrying costs after pivoting to high-analysis products. Global producers with vertically integrated phosphate rock assets enjoy a cost advantage because they can switch product slates quickly to capture premium demand. As a result, the phosphatic fertilizer market registers stronger volume gains for DAP/MAP than total tonnage growth suggests, indicating an ongoing shift in composition rather than mere consumption expansion.
Government Subsidy Realignment in Asia-Pacific
India’s DBT program redirects USD 14.4 billion annually from product-specific subsidies to farmer-centric transfers, driving adoption of balanced NPK formulations that often include higher phosphorus shares. Chinese incentives under the 14th Five-Year Plan tie payments to phosphorus use efficiency targets, rewarding growers who deploy precision equipment and low-cadmium inputs.[2]Source: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, “DBT for Fertilizer Subsidies,” fert.nic.in These policies affect global flows because international suppliers must recalibrate capacity toward Asia-Pacific-preferred grades such as DAP and TSP. Short-term volume spikes follow each subsidy tranche, compelling importers to secure inventory earlier in the cycle. Longer term, premium products with controlled release or biological additives gain pricing power as farmers receive direct cash for sustainable practices rather than blanket price supports. For manufacturers, the Asia-Pacific policy overhaul magnifies revenue upside for technology-rich offerings, thereby accelerating R&D investment across the phosphatic fertilizer market.
Rising Food-Grade Phosphate Demand for Specialty Crops
Strong growth in organic produce, hydroponic vegetables, and legalized cannabis triggers demand for food-grade phosphates carrying stricter purity thresholds than commodity fertilizers. U.S. seed companies now bundle pharmaceutical-grade phosphorus treatments with high-value vegetable genetics, citing germination gains in enclosed systems.[3]Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Food-Grade Phosphate Standards,” fda.gov Hydroponic growers accept premiums of three to four times bulk fertilizer pricing to avoid trace contaminants that can circulate indefinitely in closed-loop setups. European berry producers, targeting residue-free certification, likewise shift toward low-cadmium TSP sourced from African deposits. These trends carve out a premium tier within the phosphatic fertilizer market where volume may stay modest but margins are three to five percentage points higher. Suppliers with integrated beneficiation and quality-assurance capabilities achieve first-mover advantage, while mid-sized blenders partner with specialty distributors to reach greenhouse and vertical-farm clients.
Precision Farming Enabling Phosphorus Use Efficiency
Adoption of GPS-guided spreaders and variable-rate technology permits phosphorus placement within 2.5 centimeters of target rows, trimming wastage by 15-25% and lowering unit costs despite higher per-ton product prices. Soil sensor networks feed real-time indices into agronomic software that automatically adjusts P rates on the go, a shift that favors uniform-granule or liquid phosphate formulations tailored for machine flowability. The efficiency gains resonate in North America, where regulatory scrutiny over runoff intensifies, and in Europe, where nutrient budgets cap allowable applications. Equipment manufacturers bundle cloud analytics with lease packages, easing adoption barriers for mid-sized farms. Continuous data streams also create feedback loops that guide seed variety selection and irrigation scheduling, embedding phosphorus decisions within a broader digital agronomy stack. Consequently, the phosphatic fertilizer market pivots toward services wrapped around the product rather than pure tonnage throughput.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphate rock price volatility | -1.4% | Global, strongest in import-dependent regions | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Stringent European Union cadmium limits increasing costs | -0.8% | Europe primary, global supply chain effects | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Shift toward biofertilizers and P-solubilizing microbes | -0.6% | Global, fastest adoption in organic segments | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Eutrophication-driven application caps in North America and European Union | -0.7% | North America and Europe, expanding elsewhere | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Phosphate Rock Price Volatility
Export restrictions from Morocco and China—the two nations controlling the bulk of globally traded phosphate rock triggered 40-60% quarter-on-quarter price swings during 2024. Morocco’s OCP Group dominates 75% of known reserves and uses discretionary shipment pacing to balance its internal upgrade pipeline, while China imposes quotas to shield domestic food-security priorities. Import-dependent regions such as Brazil and India experience landing-cost spikes that compress farm profits and prompt last-minute demand deferrals. Futures markets for phosphate rock remain thin, leaving processors exposed to spot volatility and short-cycle credit risks. Manufacturers hedge by diversifying sources, yet logistics bottlenecks and ore-quality differentials limit substitution flexibility. The resulting uncertainty undermines forward contracting, constrains inventory financing, and subtracts 1.4 percentage points from the phosphatic fertilizer market CAGR in the immediate term.
Stringent European Union Cadmium Limits Increasing Costs
Regulation 2019/1009 mandates a cadmium ceiling of 60 mg kg⁻¹ P₂O₅ by 2026, compelling suppliers either to procure naturally low-cadmium ore or install purification circuits that add USD 54–86 per metric ton to production costs. The rule applies to all products placed on the European Union market, effectively extending its reach to global production facilities of multinational firms. Compliance spending crowds out other capital projects and tightens short-term supply, fostering a premium tier for certified low-cadmium fertilizers. Small European blenders unable to secure compliant feedstock face exit or consolidation. Over time, cost pass-through raises farm-gate fertilizer prices, which may dampen demand growth in price-sensitive segments. The structural burden clips approximately 0.8 percentage points from the phosphatic fertilizer market CAGR over the medium term.
Segment Analysis
By Type: High-Analysis Grades Reshape Demand
DAP and MAP dominate volume, yet TSP’s 9.3% CAGR through 2030 marks the fastest track among individual products. TSP’s calcium phosphate structure enhances solubility in alkaline soils, making it a favored choice in precision systems striving for predictable nutrient release. In 2024, DAP captured 37.7% of the phosphatic fertilizer market share, reflecting its dual nitrogen-phosphorus value proposition and entrenched distribution channels. As environmental standards tighten, TSP’s naturally low heavy-metal profile and compatibility with polymer coatings lift its attractiveness, especially in Europe and premium produce sectors. Producers are retrofitting granulation trains to widen TSP slate flexibility, leveraging lower sulfuric acid inputs versus DAP to trim marginal costs. Conversely, single superphosphate persists in price-sensitive contexts despite agronomic limitations, underscoring a two-tier trend wherein basic products meet subsistence farming needs while advanced grades cater to high-yield and regulated markets. The phosphatic fertilizer market size for high-analysis products is therefore increasing faster than aggregate tonnage, boosting average selling prices.
Emerging formulations, ammonium polyphosphate solutions, micronutrient-fortified phosphates, and biologically coated granules populate the “Others” bucket and address specialized use cases in fertigation, seed coating, and controlled-environment agriculture. Although their current volume base is small, double-digit growth indicates nascent but lucrative sub-segments. Licensing deals between chemical majors and biotech start-ups transfer microbial coating know-how into mainstream fertilizer plants. Over the forecast period, product portfolios will continue converging around high-analysis and enhanced-efficiency lines, rebalancing capacity footprints away from traditional superphosphate assets. This transition reinforces supply-chain resilience because concentrated products reduce logistic intensity, a structural advantage when freight markets tighten.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Application Mode: Soil Placement Retains Scale, and Gains Speed
Soil application held 93.9% of the 2024 volume, given its simplicity and compatibility with existing farm equipment. However, water-scarce zones in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of India expand drip irrigation acreage by low-double digits, creating headroom for fertigation systems that deliver nutrients directly into root zones. As growers increasingly recognize the benefits of soil application, the segment's 7.1% CAGR outpaces the overall phosphatic fertilizer market. Product innovation is being driven by the use of granular and powdered phosphatic fertilizer, which ensures even nutrient distribution in the soil. Suppliers are strengthening customer loyalty and capturing higher margins by offering customized soil application solutions, supported by their on-farm advisory teams.
Foliar feeding stays niche but fills critical timing gaps when cold or compacted soils restrict root uptake. Specialty crop growers rely on foliar sprays during flowering or fruit set, especially in greenhouse settings where precise nutrient ratios are paramount. Although aggregate tonnage remains modest, positive trial results in maize and oilseed rape could unlock broader acreage adoption. The evolution of application modes underscores a pivot from mass-spread strategies to pinpoint delivery, an adjustment that benefits premium formulations and integrated service models within the phosphatic fertilizer market.
By Crop Type: Field Staples Dominate, and Propels Margins
Field crops such as corn, soybean, wheat, and rice absorb 89.5% of 2024 phosphorus demand and grow with a higher CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period, reflecting global calorie requirements and established fertilizer regimes. Yield ambitions keep absolute usage rising even as precision tools trim per-ton output. Soil mining from decades of intensive cultivation makes replenishment mandatory, particularly in South American expansion areas. Adoption of coated DAP in U.S. corn belt trials signals future upgrades from commodity grades to value-added variants, expanding revenue faster than tonnage across the phosphatic fertilizer market.
Horticultural crops include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamentals, driven by dietary shifts toward fresh produce and the spread of controlled-environment agriculture. Growers pay premiums for food-grade or low-cadmium phosphates to meet retailer and export residue limits. High plant density in vertical farms concentrates nutrient demand, favoring liquid or soluble powders that minimize precipitation in recirculating systems. Turf and ornamental use remains a steady niche tied to landscaping standards in municipalities and sports venues that increasingly mandate slow-release or runoff-mitigating formulations. Taken together, crop-type dynamics highlight a bifurcation between volume-heavy staples and margin-rich specialty segments, each influencing strategic priorities for suppliers operating within the phosphatic fertilizer market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific controlled 60.6% of the share in 2024 and is forecast to advance at a 7.6% CAGR through 2030, sustained by government subsidy reforms and technology adoption that lift average phosphorus use per hectare. India’s DBT mechanism channels subsidy funds directly into farmer wallets, enabling the purchase of premium balanced formulations, while China’s precision-farming mandates under its modernization program endorse site-specific phosphorus placement. Southeast Asia adds further momentum as oil-palm and rice producers seek high-analysis fertilizers to curb freight costs across archipelagic geographies. Consequently, the phosphatic fertilizer market size in Asia-Pacific widens faster than any other region, cementing its status as the primary growth engine.
North America represents a technologically mature arena where precision agriculture is mainstream and environmental oversight is tight. Variable-rate spreaders, soil sensors, and zone sampling reduce input intensity, yet absolute demand remains high due to elevated yield targets in corn and soybean systems. Canada’s canola acreage expansion and Mexico’s pivot to higher-yield corn varieties open incremental volume pockets. Clean Water Act enforcement in the United States encourages coated and slow-release products, enhancing average revenue per ton. As a result, the North American phosphatic fertilizer market exhibits steady low-single-digit volume growth paired with mix-driven value gains.
Europe’s trajectory is dominated by Regulation 2019/1009, which limits cadmium and encourages circular-economy fertilizer streams. Western Europe shows flat consumption due to mature agronomy practices and strict nutrient budgets, whereas Eastern Europe, led by Poland and Ukraine, delivers moderate expansion as farms scale up and adopt modern fertilizer blends. The region’s premium on low-cadmium TSP elevates imports from West Africa and incentivizes beneficiation investment in domestic plants. Although total volume growth lags other continents, the phosphatic fertilizer market captures value uplift through specification-driven pricing.
Competitive Landscape
The phosphatic fertilizer market is markedly fragmented, with the top five producers, PhosAgro PJSC, Coromandel International Ltd., EuroChem Group, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, and Nutrien Ltd., collectively accounting for only a significant share of global revenue. PhosAgro leads with its fully integrated mine-to-fertilizer model that secures ore supply and controls processing costs. OCP leverages unmatched rock reserves but faces cadmium compliance upgrades for European sales, pushing investment toward beneficiation and downstream partnerships. Nutrien’s strategy revolves around distribution acquisitions, such as its 2025 Brazilian network purchase, coupled with precision-agriculture services to lock in market share closest to the farm gate.
Smaller regional players exploit localized logistics advantages and cater to crop-specific requirements, especially in APAC and Africa, where government relationships and tailored blends can trump scale. Technological differentiation constitutes the new battleground: since 2023, patent filings for controlled-release coatings and liquid phosphorus concentrates have soared 45%. Collaborations, exemplified by Mosaic and Yara’s joint venture on coated phosphates, aim to combine formulation science with distribution reach. ESG imperatives accelerate vertical integration into low-cadmium mining and renewable-powered processing, giving early movers an edge as sustainability metrics enter procurement criteria.
Price competition remains acute in commodity grades, yet premium tiers insulate margins for innovators. Digital agronomy add-ons, such as dosing algorithms and remote equipment calibration, further differentiate offerings and deepen customer retention. Over the next five years, consolidation among mid-tier producers is likely, driven by the capital burden of regulatory compliance and technology upgrades. Nonetheless, a long tail of specialized suppliers will persist, maintaining the phosphatic fertilizer market’s fragmented character.
Phosphatic Fertilizer Industry Leaders
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Coromandel International Ltd.
-
EuroChem Group
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Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited
-
Nutrien Ltd.
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PhosAgro PJSC
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- November 2024: Phosagro Group is set to invest USD 929.0 million in projects at Cherepovets and Volkhov. These initiatives aim to boost phosphate rock processing by nearly 400 thousand metric tons, enhancing the company's production capacity for phosphatic fertilizers and propelling market growth.
- June 2024: Phospholutions has chosen WeGrow AG as its launch partner for the global expansion of RhizoSorb, targeting Central and South America.
- April 2024: Deepak Fertilizers and Haifa Group have forged a strategic alliance, marking Haifa's expanded footprint in India. This partnership aims to drive innovation and champion sustainable practices including the realm of phosphate fertilizers for Indian agriculture.
Global Phosphatic Fertilizer Market Report Scope
Straight are covered as segments by Type. Fertigation, Foliar, Soil are covered as segments by Application Mode. Field Crops, Horticultural Crops, Turf & Ornamental are covered as segments by Crop Type. Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, North America, South America are covered as segments by Region.| Straight | Phosphatic | DAP |
| MAP | ||
| SSP | ||
| TSP | ||
| Others |
| Fertigation |
| Foliar |
| Soil |
| Field Crops |
| Horticultural Crops |
| Turf & Ornamental |
| Asia-Pacific | Australia |
| Bangladesh | |
| China | |
| India | |
| Indonesia | |
| Japan | |
| Pakistan | |
| Philippines | |
| Thailand | |
| Vietnam | |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
| Europe | France |
| Germany | |
| Italy | |
| Netherlands | |
| Russia | |
| Spain | |
| Ukraine | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Middle East & Africa | Nigeria |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| South Africa | |
| Turkey | |
| Rest of Middle East & Africa | |
| North America | Canada |
| Mexico | |
| United States | |
| Rest of North America | |
| South America | Argentina |
| Brazil | |
| Rest of South America |
| Type | Straight | Phosphatic | DAP |
| MAP | |||
| SSP | |||
| TSP | |||
| Others | |||
| Application Mode | Fertigation | ||
| Foliar | |||
| Soil | |||
| Crop Type | Field Crops | ||
| Horticultural Crops | |||
| Turf & Ornamental | |||
| Geography | Asia-Pacific | Australia | |
| Bangladesh | |||
| China | |||
| India | |||
| Indonesia | |||
| Japan | |||
| Pakistan | |||
| Philippines | |||
| Thailand | |||
| Vietnam | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Europe | France | ||
| Germany | |||
| Italy | |||
| Netherlands | |||
| Russia | |||
| Spain | |||
| Ukraine | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Middle East & Africa | Nigeria | ||
| Saudi Arabia | |||
| South Africa | |||
| Turkey | |||
| Rest of Middle East & Africa | |||
| North America | Canada | ||
| Mexico | |||
| United States | |||
| Rest of North America | |||
| South America | Argentina | ||
| Brazil | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
Market Definition
- MARKET ESTIMATION LEVEL - Market Estimations for various types of fertilizers has been done at the product-level and not at the nutrient-level.
- NUTRIENT TYPES COVERED - All Phosphorus Fertilizers
- AVERAGE NUTRIENT APPLICATION RATE - This refers to the average volume of nutrient consumed per hectare of farmland in each country.
- CROP TYPES COVERED - Field Crops: Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds, and Fiber Crops Horticulture: Fruits, Vegetables, Plantation Crops and Spices, Turf Grass and Ornamentals
| Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|
| Fertilizer | Chemical substance applied to crops to ensure nutritional requirements, available in various forms such as granules, powders, liquid, water soluble, etc. |
| Specialty Fertilizer | Used for enhanced efficiency and nutrient availability applied through soil, foliar, and fertigation. Includes CRF, SRF, liquid fertilizer, and water soluble fertilizers. |
| Controlled-Release Fertilizers (CRF) | Coated with materials such as polymer, polymer-sulfur, and other materials such as resins to ensure nutrient availability to the crop for its entire life cycle. |
| Slow-Release Fertilizers (SRF) | Coated with materials such as sulfur, neem, etc., to ensure nutrient availability to the crop for a longer period. |
| Foliar Fertilizers | Consist of both liquid and water soluble fertilizers applied through foliar application. |
| Water-Soluble Fertilizers | Available in various forms including liquid, powder, etc., used in foliar and fertigation mode of fertilizer application. |
| Fertigation | Fertilizers applied through different irrigation systems such as drip irrigation, micro irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, etc. |
| Anhydrous Ammonia | Used as fertilizer, directly injected into the soil, available in gaseous liquid form. |
| Single Super Phosphate (SSP) | Phosphorus fertilizer containing only phosphorus which has lesser than or equal to 35%. |
| Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) | Phosphorus fertilizer containing only phosphorus greater than 35%. |
| Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers | Fertilizers coated or treated with additional layers of various ingredients to make it more efficient compared to other fertilizers. |
| Conventional Fertilizer | Fertilizers applied to crops through traditional methods including broadcasting, row placement, ploughing soil placement, etc. |
| Chelated Micronutrients | Micronutrient fertilizers coated with chelating agents such as EDTA, EDDHA, DTPA, HEDTA, etc. |
| Liquid Fertilizers | Available in liquid form, majorly used for application of fertilizers to crops through foliar and fertigation. |
Research Methodology
Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.
- Step-1: IDENTIFY KEY VARIABLES: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step-1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set and the model is built on the basis of these variables.
- Step-2: Build a Market Model: Market-size estimations for the forecast years are in nominal terms. Inflation is not a part of the pricing, and the average selling price (ASP) is kept constant throughout the forecast period for each country.
- Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.
- Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases & Subscription Platforms
