Market Overview
| Study Period | 2017 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 52.02 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 68.65 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 5.71% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Field Crops |
| Largest Market | Brazil |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
South America Fertilizers Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The South America fertilizers market, valued at USD 52.02 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 68.65 billion by 2030, growing at a 5.71% CAGR. This growth is driven by Brazil's initiatives toward fertilizer self-sufficiency and Argentina's agricultural reforms that have increased cultivated land area. Regional producers are implementing balanced nutrient programs and sustainable crop intensification methods to address soil health requirements and meet higher productivity targets. The market expansion is primarily supported by increased soybean and corn cultivation, while precision agriculture adoption and government credit accessibility continue to boost fertilizer usage despite logistics and transportation cost challenges.
Brazil, the region's largest market, is focusing on reducing import dependency and expanding domestic nutrient production. The National Fertilizer Plan prioritizes local phosphate and potash resource development, green-ammonia and biofertilizer project collaborations, and rail and port infrastructure improvements to resolve inland transportation issues. Farmers are increasingly selecting complex NPK blends, controlled-release formulations, and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers to maximize nutrient utilization and meet sustainability requirements. The emergence of domestic production facilities and AI-powered digital advisory services for input optimization is intensifying market competition in Brazil's fertilizer industry, transforming pricing dynamics and establishing the country as a key hub in South America's fertilizer supply chain.
Key Report Takeaways
- By Type, straight fertilizers commanded 90.9% of South America's fertilizer market share in 2024, whereas complex NPK products are expanding fastest at an 8.08% CAGR through 2030.
- By Form, conventional products held 93.7% of the South America fertilizers market size in 2024; specialty formulations are advancing at a 6.11% CAGR on the back of precision-farming uptake.
- By Application Mode, soil application represented 94.1% of the 2024 volume, while fertigation is growing at a 6.16% CAGR and gaining traction in irrigated fruit and vegetable clusters.
- By Crop Type, field crops absorbed 94.7% of 2024 demand and are projected to witness the fastest growth at a 5.75% CAGR..
- By Country, Brazil held a dominant 72.5% of 2024 revenue; Argentina is the quickest climber with a 6.18% CAGR as policy reforms unlock credit and technology investments.
South America Fertilizers Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising soybean and corn acreage expansion | +1.80% | Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia | Medium term (2–4 years) |
| Government credit programs boosting affordability | +1.20% | Brazil primary, and Argentina secondary | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Adoption of precision farming and specialty inputs | +0.90% | Brazil core, expanding to Argentina and Colombia | Medium term (2–4 years) |
| Brazil National Fertilizer Plan 2050 | +1.10% | Brazil nationwide, with regional trade spillovers | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Emergence of green-ammonia capacity | +0.70% | Brazil, Paraguay, and export potential to Argentina | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| AI-based variable-rate advisory services | +0.40% | Brazil is leading, and Argentina is following | Medium term (2–4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
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Rising soybean and corn acreage expansion
Soybean plantings in South America climbed to 45.2 million hectares in 2024, with Brazil alone adding about 2.8 million hectares of new area, while corn acreage expanded to 22.8 million hectares, according to the National Supply Company (Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento – CONAB)[1]Source: Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento, “Safra 2024-25 de Grãos,” conab.gov.br. Growth remains especially strong across the MATOPIBA region, particularly in Argentina, where approximately 1.2 million hectares of soybean returned to active production following policy reforms and improved weather conditions, reversing previous acreage declines. Each additional hectare of soybean cultivation requires roughly 180 kilograms of NPK fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), while the adoption of higher-yielding hub horn is driving up potassium demand by about 15%. Further supporting nutrient demand growth are ongoing infrastructure improvements, including USD 2.1 billion in rural road and storage upgrades approved in 2024, which are enhancing logistics efficiency and ensuring more timely fertilizer distribution[2]Source:Banco Central do Brasil, “Relatório de Crédito Rural 2024,” bcb.gov.br . Collectively, these acreage expansions and infrastructure investments are strengthening fertilizer consumption volumes and reinforcing the sustained growth trajectory of the South America fertilizers market.
Government credit programs boosting fertilizer affordability
Brazil’s Plano Safra 2024/25 earmarked (R$400.59 billion) USD 73.2 billion for rural credit, with fertilizer-specific lines priced at 8.5% interest, far below commercial rates. Argentina’s USD 500 million fertilizer credit window at 25% interest likewise improves affordability against inflation-adjusted bank rates near 45%[3]Source: Embrapa, “Precision Agriculture Adoption,” embrapa.br. Participating growers report 20–25% greater purchasing power, spurring a 35% rise in specialty fertilizer volumes. Nearly 68% of March–May 2024 disbursements funded inputs, directly enlarging the South America fertilizers market.
Adoption of precision farming and specialty inputs
Precision tools now reach 67% of Brazilian farmers, up from 45% in 2022[4]Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Natural Gas Weekly,” eia.gov. Variable-rate spreading trims nutrient waste by 12–18% and steers demand toward controlled-release, slow-release, and micronutrient formulas. Argentina’s 35% adoption rate is catching up, helped by a 30% tax credit on digital equipment. AI soil mapping stretches across 12 million hectares in Brazil, delivering field-level advice that farmers validate with yield gains and lower labor bills. Specialty products command 15–20% price premiums yet remain cost-effective, expanding the South America fertilizers market size.
Brazil National Fertilizer Plan 2050 accelerating local capacity
Launched in 2022 and reinforced in 2024, the plan seeks to cut import dependence from 85% to 45% by 2050 through tax incentives, streamlined licensing, and a guaranteed offtake. Confirmed investments top USD 8.2 billion, led by EuroChem’s USD 1 billion Serra do Salitre phosphate complex and Petrobras’ USD 2.5 billion nitrogen restarts. Morocco’s OCP is co-building a USD 1.2 billion processing plant. New output could shave USD 4.5 billion off annual import bills by 2030, easing currency risk and enlarging in-region production for the South America fertilizers market.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timelin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility in natural-gas and potash prices | −1.4% | Global, Brazil and Argentina most exposed | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Stricter runoff and greenhouse-gas regulations | −0.8% | Brazil leading and Argentina tightening | Medium term (2–4 years) |
| Freight blockages via Panama Canal and Red Sea | −0.6% | Brazil primary and Argentina secondary | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Agronomy talent shortage slowing tech adoption | −0.3% | Rural Brazil and Argentina | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Agronomy talent shortage slowing technology adoption
Brazil needs 15,000 more agronomists, especially in MATOPIBA, as rapid expansion outruns educational output. Argentina lost 2,500 professionals to emigration from 2022–2024. Only 35% of Brazilian farmers receive extension visits, limiting uptake of variable-rate kits and specialty blends that require technical guidance. Remote advisory apps help, yet many growers still prefer on-farm assistance. The talent gap slows precision adoption, easing but not erasing gains in the South America fertilizers market.
Stricter runoff and greenhouse-gas regulations
Brazil’s 2024 rules mandate nutrient management plans on farms over 500 hectares, costing USD 15–25 per ha for compliance. Buffer strips near waterways and rain-period bans narrow application windows by up to 20%. Enhanced-efficiency products or precision gear become compulsory for emission cuts, inflating input bills 10–15%. Argentina faces similar tightening under EU trade deals that insist on sustainability certification. Record-keeping and third-party audits pile an extra USD 8–12 per ha in admin fees. Compliance costs most burden smaller growers, tempering uptake and damping the South America fertilizers market.
Segment Analysis
By Type: Complex fertilizers move to the forefront of balanced nutrition
Straight fertilizers dominated the South America fertilizers market in 2024 with a market share of about 90.1%, driven by their affordability, easy availability, and compatibility with existing farm equipment and application practices. Within this segment, straight nitrogenous fertilizers held the leading position, accounting for 87% of straight-grade volumes, as urea's cost-effectiveness and versatility across diverse crops continue to anchor demand. In contrast, complex fertilizers contributed a modest 9.1% of total revenue in 2024 but are projected to outpace straight grades with an 8.08% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), signaling a gradual shift toward labor-saving blends that deliver consistent nutrient ratios. Farmers have reported 30-40% labor savings and fewer application errors when using complex NPK products, particularly in the large-scale soybean fields of Mato Grosso. Meanwhile, micronutrient additives are growing steadily at 7.90% annually as precision farming identifies widespread zinc, boron, and manganese deficiencies across regional soils. The start of domestic phosphate output from the Serra do Salitre facility is strengthening local supply for monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), although potash remains heavily import-dependent. Rising sulfur and calcium deficiencies are also pushing secondary macronutrients higher on procurement lists, broadening the nutrient base of the South America fertilizers market.
Complex fertilizers are emerging as the fastest-growing segment as multi-deficiency soils extend beyond the Cerrado into new MATOPIBA frontiers. Fertilizer blenders operate through rail-linked hubs, customizing NPK formulations based on localized soil analyses while reducing regional freight and storage expenses. Farmers are shifting their buying approach from simple price comparisons to total-program economics, recognizing the yield stability and nutrient-use efficiency benefits of balanced blends under climate stress. Straight grades continue to evolve, with urea producers introducing coated variants and phosphate suppliers incorporating micronutrient enrichments, ensuring both segments maintain relevance in South America's fertilizer market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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By Form: Specialty products gain ground under precision management
Conventional fertilizers retained a 93.7% share in 2024; however, specialty forms are registering a 6.11% CAGR as growers chase efficiency gains. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) spearhead the trend, expanding due to a single pass that can feed crops over the season, slashing labor trips. Liquid and water-soluble grades flourish in irrigated fruit belts and greenhouse clusters, supported by variable-rate fertigation systems. The Brazilian Greenhouse Association notes protected-area expansion of 18% in 2024, endorsing water-soluble blends that dissolve fully and minimize clogging. Precision hardware sales climbed 25% in 2024, according to the Agricultural Machinery Association, further positioning specialty products at the heart of the South America fertilizers market.
Regulatory nudges also favor specialties. New runoff rules highlight inhibitors and stabilized nitrogen to curb leaching, pushing product managers to highlight emission metrics on labels. Yet conventional bulk NPK stays indispensable in broad-acre soy and corn zones where per-hectare margins are tight and logistics revolve around high-capacity spreaders. Distributors therefore dual-track inventories, ship trainloads of standard NPK to interior depots while stocking premium CRF and soluble lines closer to horticultural hubs, sustaining diversified growth within the South America fertilizers market size.
By Application Mode: Water-efficient fertigation takes hold
Soil broadcasting still accounts for 94.1% of applications, but fertigation fertilizer is dissolved into irrigation water, is rising 6.16% yearly as drip and center-pivot acreage enlarges. Brazil added 180,000 hectares of irrigated land in 2024, primarily under pivots that blend urea ammonium nitrate into water streams. Trials show fertigation trims nutrient losses 15–25% and lets farmers micro-dose by growth stage, aligning with EU residue rules. Foliar feeding, though niche, targets in-season micronutrient corrections; University of São Paulo researchers recorded 30% higher zinc uptake from foliar sprays than from soil placement on soybeans.
Broadcast methods prevail on cost and equipment familiarity, especially for first-season base dressings. Even so, environmental mandates may curtail indiscriminate surface spreading. Equipment makers now bundle pivot systems with nutrient-compatible pumps, further embedding fertigation in orchard and vegetable estates. Over time, mixed strategies based on soil applications plus fertigation top-ups are likely to dominate, cementing a hybrid approach within the South America fertilizers market.
By Crop Type: Field-crop dominance meets specialty-crop momentum
Field crops used 94.7% of fertilizers in 2024, with booming soybean and corn double-cropping underpinning the bulk of demand. Yield-driven programs increased soybean nutrient intensity 12% since 2022, adding sulfur and potash at pod-fill stages. Corn safrinha’s shorter window prioritizes fast-release nitrogen, sustaining urea supremacy. Horticultural acreage, although smaller, grows faster at 6.50% CAGR as high-margin fruit exports climb 22% in 2024. Growers pay 25–40% premiums for water-soluble, chloride-free fertilizers that boost taste and shelf life, thereby enlarging the South America fertilizers market share of specialty formulations.
Urban landscaping creates an embryonic turf segment that favors slow-release nitrogen to limit mowing frequency, especially around São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Coffee and cacao estates increasingly apply controlled-release blends to counter labor shortages. Crop diversification thus introduces supplier differentiation possibilities: commodity players defend volume in grains, while specialty houses court horticulture with technical packages, together broadening opportunities across the South America fertilizers market size.
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Geography Analysis
Brazil’s fertilizer appetite mirrors its scale, holding 72.5% of 2024 revenue due to 45.2 million hectares of soybean and 22.8 million hectares of corn. Average soybean yield at 3.5 t/ha and corn at 6.2 t/ha require sustained nutrient flows, explaining per-capita fertilizer use near 347 kg per ha. Import reliance of 85% exposes pricing to currency shifts, yet the Fertilizer Plan 2050 and USD 8.2 billion in announced plants promise to trim imports to 45% by 2050. Ports at Santos, Paranaguá, and Rio Grande already handle 28 million tons annually, and rail links into Mato Grosso are being upgraded, cementing Brazil as the anchor of the South America fertilizers market.
Argentina offers the fastest growth lane at 6.18% CAGR. Soybean at 19.5 million hectares and corn at 7.8 million hectares form the backbone, but past macro turmoil suppressed fertilizer volumes. Peso devaluation in 2024 improved export margins, and export tax cuts from 33% to 28% freed cash for inputs. Import dependence of 75% leaves upside for local makers; policy circles examine joint ventures to exploit the Vaca Muerta gas basin for nitrogen. Precision farming lags Brazil yet is catching up with 30% equipment tax credits, propelling specialty fertilizer potential inside the South America fertilizers market.
The rest of South America combines Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and others into a dynamic frontier. Paraguay’s 3.8 million hectare of soy plus logistical corridors to landlocked Bolivia make it a pivotal transshipment node. Uruguay ranks high in technology adoption, with 45% of farmers using variable-rate spreaders and demanding stabilized nitrogen for dairy-corn rotations. Colombia’s floriculture and coffee niches require fully soluble fertilizers, often imported at premium prices. Mercosur tariff alignment smooths cross-border trade, enabling Brazilian blenders to serve neighbors while unlocking volume-plus-value growth across the South America fertilizers market share spectrum.
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Competitive Landscape
Market concentration is moderate. Yara’s edge lies in nitrogen know-how and a national blend-plant lattice, while Mosaic leverages integrated phosphate and potash channels. New domestic entrants are changing the calculus; EuroChem’s Serra do Salitre adds 1.2 million tons of MAP and DAP, and Atlas Agro’s green nitrogen plant promises 500,000 tons of low-carbon ammonia. Producers court growers with digital advisory tie-ins: Yara partners with ag-fintechs for in-season credit scoring, Mosaic embeds satellite prescriptions, and CF Industries secures Gulf export capacity to hedge against logistics snags.
Specialty niches attract K+S, Haifa, and SQM. Their water-soluble and chloride-free lines target fruit exporters who face strict EU residue caps. Patent filings for enhanced-efficiency formulas jumped 35% in 2024, highlighting innovation races focused on urease and nitrification inhibitors. Meanwhile, distribution networks see strategic reshuffles: Nutrien divested retail outlets in Argentina and Chile to bankroll Brazilian specialty growth. Mergers may emerge as smaller blenders seek scale to comply with environmental audits and greenhouse-gas metrics, tightening competition within the South America fertilizers market.
Supply security is a second battleground. Firms co-invest in rail sidings, port storage, and inland warehouses to insulate clients from freight shocks. Logistics alliances, such as Mosaic’s Tocantins rail link expansion (USD 73 million, help hold delivered costs in volatile freight conditions. Producers also roll out carbon-footprint labeling to pre-empt EU carbon-border adjustments. The sum of these moves hints at gradual consolidation, but ample room remains for local specialists agile in services and region-specific blends across the South America fertilizers market size.
South America Fertilizers Industry Leaders
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ICL Group Ltd
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K+S Aktiengesellschaft
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Nutrien Ltd.
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The Mosaic Company
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Yara International ASA
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Recent Industry Developments
- December 2024: Yara International began the production of renewable-based ammonia at its Cubatão, Brazil complex. The new process uses biomethane derived from sugar-cane residues rather than fossil natural gas, cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by up to ~75%.
- October 2024: Atlas Agro announced progress on its “Uberaba Green Fertilizer” project in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil—a facility that will use 100 % renewable energy (solar and wind) to produce green hydrogen, green ammonia, and low-carbon nitrogen fertilizers. The project is planned for commercial operations around 2028 with a capacity of 530,000 tons/year.
South America Fertilizers Market Report Scope
The South America Fertilizers Market Report Segments the Industry Into Type (Complex and Straight), Form (Conventional and Specialty), Application Mode (Fertigation, Foliar, and Soil), Crop Type (Field Crops, Horticultural Crops, and Turf and Ornamental), and Country (Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America). Get Five Years of Historical Data Alongside Five-Year Market Forecasts in Value (USD ) and Volume (Metric Tons)
Type
| Complex | ||
| Straight | Micronutrients | Boron |
| Copper | ||
| Iron | ||
| Manganese | ||
| Molybdenum | ||
| Zinc | ||
| Others | ||
| Nitrogenous | Ammonium Nitrate | |
| Urea | ||
| Others | ||
| Phosphatic | DAP | |
| MAP | ||
| SSP | ||
| TSP | ||
| Others | ||
| Potassic | MoP | |
| SoP | ||
| Others | ||
| Secondary Macronutrients | Calcium | |
| Magnesium | ||
| Sulfur | ||
Form
| Conventional | |
| Specialty | CRF |
| Liquid Fertilizer | |
| SRF | |
| Water Soluble |
Application Mode
| Fertigation |
| Foliar |
| Soil |
Crop Type
| Field Crops |
| Horticultural Crops |
| Turf and Ornamental |
Country
| Argentina |
| Brazil |
| Rest of South America |
| Type | Complex | ||
| Straight | Micronutrients | Boron | |
| Copper | |||
| Iron | |||
| Manganese | |||
| Molybdenum | |||
| Zinc | |||
| Others | |||
| Nitrogenous | Ammonium Nitrate | ||
| Urea | |||
| Others | |||
| Phosphatic | DAP | ||
| MAP | |||
| SSP | |||
| TSP | |||
| Others | |||
| Potassic | MoP | ||
| SoP | |||
| Others | |||
| Secondary Macronutrients | Calcium | ||
| Magnesium | |||
| Sulfur | |||
| Form | Conventional | ||
| Specialty | CRF | ||
| Liquid Fertilizer | |||
| SRF | |||
| Water Soluble | |||
| Application Mode | Fertigation | ||
| Foliar | |||
| Soil | |||
| Crop Type | Field Crops | ||
| Horticultural Crops | |||
| Turf and Ornamental | |||
| Country | Argentina | ||
| Brazil | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
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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 - Primary Nutrients: N, P and K, Secondary Macronutrients: Ca, Mg and S, Micronutients: Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Mo, B, and Others
- 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. |
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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
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