World Fertilizer Trends and Outlook To 2020
World Fertilizer Trends and Outlook To 2020
World Fertilizer Trends and Outlook To 2020
fertilizer
trends
and
outlook
to
SUMMARY REPORT
2020
World
fertilizer
trends
and
outlook
to
2020
SUMMARY REPORT
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Contents
PREFACE v
SUMMARY viii
ANNEXES
1. World and regional nitrogen supply, demand and balance 2015-2020
(thousand tonnes N)........................................................................................... 7
2. World and regional phosphate supply, demand and balance 2015-2020
(thousand tonnes P2O5).................................................................................... 11
3. World and regional potash supply, demand and balance 2015-2020
(thousand tonnes K2O)..................................................................................... 16
4. World and regional nitrogen fertilizer demand forecasts (thousand tonnes N)
and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) 2015 to 2020................................ 20
5. World and regional phosphate fertilizer demand forecasts
(thousand tonnes P2O5) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR)
2015 to 2020................................................................................................... 21
6. World and regional potash fertilizer demand forecasts (thousand tonnes K2O)
and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) 2015 to 2020................................ 22
7. Regional classification of countries and territories............................................. 23
iii
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Figures
Tables
iv
The world fe rtilize r outlook
Preface
FAO, in collaboration with other members of the Fertilizer Outlook Expert
Group dealing with fertilizer production, consumption and trade, annually
provides five-year forecasts of world and regional nitrogen, phosphate and
potassium fertilizer supply, demand and potential balance.
FAO and other members of the Fertilizer Outlook Expert Group met in June
2016 to review the medium-term supply and demand prospects for nitrogen,
phosphate and potassium fertilizer, and to prepare forecasts for the period
2016-2020, the results of which are presented in this report.
The contributions made by the members of the Fertilizer Outlook Expert
Group, and the preparation of the FAO baseline data by Simona Mosco, Javier
Montero-Serrano and Francesco Tubiello from the FAO Statistics Division,
are gratefully acknowledged. This final report was prepared by Debra Turner,
Plant Nutrition Officer FAO, under the supervision of Caterina Batello, Senior
Officer FAO, and overall direction of Hans Dryer, Director Plant Production
and Protection Division FAO.
The forecast data presented in this report are based on the expert views
of the different organizations participating in the June 2016 “FAO/Fertilizer
Outlook Expert Group” meeting. They are not necessarily consistent with the
FAOSTAT historical data series.
v
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Capacity:
nameplate capacity.
Supply:
effective capacity, representing the maximum achievable production. Supply is
computed from the “nameplate capacity” (theoretical capacity), multiplied by
the highest operating rate achieved in the previous 5 years. For new plants, a
ramp up of the operating rates was established for the first 3 years of operation,
ranging from 85 to 100 percent. Nameplate capacity operating rates and
demand for fertilizers vary from year to year. In the case of phosphate, the
supply data in this report are restricted to phosphoric acid (H3PO4).
Demand:
Fertilizer demand is the purchase of fertilizer at a given point in time. The
forecast is based on the views of the Fertilizer Outlook Expert Group.
vi
The world fe rtilize r outlook
of nutrients (N, P2O5 or K2O) that are recovered as by-product from industrial
processes and then used as fertilizer.
Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is the is the mean annual growth
rate and calculated with the following formula:
1
number of years
End value
CAGR = -1
Start value
Potential balance:
is the difference between supply and total demand (fertilizer demand + non-
fertilizer demand). Regional balance is a medium-term indicator of potential
changes in fertilizer nutrient demand and supply in the region. Installed supply
capacity, operating rates and demand vary annually.
vi i
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Summary
World consumption of the three main fertilizer nutrients, nitrogen (N),
phosphorus expressed as phosphate (P2O5), and potassium expressed as potash
(K2O), is estimated to reach 186.67 million tonnes (N, P2O5 and K2O) in 2016,
up by 1.4 percent over 2015 consumption levels. The demand for N, P 2O5,
and K2O is forecast to grow annually on average by 1.5, 2.2, and 2.4 percent
respectively from 2015 to 2020. Over the next five years, the global capacity of
the production of fertilizers, intermediates and raw materials is also expected
to increase.
v iii
The
world
fertilizer
outlook
1
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
SUPPLY
The global total nutrient capacity (N, P2O5 and K2O) was 285.15 million
tonnes in 2015 (Table 1), out of which the total supply was 245.77 million
tonnes (Table 2). During 2016, the total capacity is expected to increase by
3.7 percent and supply to grow by 1.7 percent. Over the following four years
to 2020 global capacity and production of fertilizers are expected to increase
further. Table 2 shows estimated world supply of ammonia (NH3), phosphoric
acid (H3PO4) and potash from 2015 to 2020. Detailed regional and sub-
regional information is provided in Annexes 1, 2 and 3.
Table 1. Total world nutrient capacity of ammonia, phosphoric acid and potash,
2015-2020 (thousand tonnes)
Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ammonia (NH3)
174 781 181 228 185 222 186 804 186 920 188 310
as N
Phosphoric acid
57 422 58 385 60 955 61 995 63 036 64 677
(H3PO4) as P2O5
Total (N+ P2O5+K2O) 285 145 295 587 304 287 310 374 312 092 317 474
Total (N+ P2O5+K2O) 245 768 250 016 260 828 267 426 270 952 273 384
2
The world fe rtilize r outlook
FERTILIZER DEMAND
Demand for non-fertilizer nutrient use
The global demand for non-fertilizer use of nutrients (N, P2O5 and K2O) for
2015, and the forecast for global demand for non-fertilizer use of nutrients
for 2016 to 2020 are summarized in Table 3. Total non-fertilizer nutrient use
demand was estimated to be 44.93 million tonnes in 2015 and is forecast to
reach 50.21 million tonnes by 2020.
The regional and sub-regional demand forecasts for nitrogen, phosphate
and potash for non-fertilizer use for 2015 to 2020 are presented in Annexes 1,
2 and 3.
Table 3. World demand for non-fertilizer nutrient use, 2015-2020 (thousand tonnes)
Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Phosphate (P2O5)
5 684 6 038 6 209 6 528 6 692 6 803
(H3PO4-based)
The global demand for fertilizer nutrients (N, P2O5 and K2O) for 2015 and
the demand forecast estimates for 2016 to 2020 are summarized in Table 4.
Total fertilizer nutrient demand was estimated to be 184.02 million tonnes in
2015 and is forecast to reach 186.67 million tonnes in 2016. With an average
annual growth of 1.9 percent in the following years, it is expected to reach
201.66 million tonnes by the end of 2020. The demand for N, P2O5, and K2O
is forecast to grow annually by 1.5, 2.2, and 2.4 percent respectively for the
individual nutrients from 2015 to 2020.
3
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
The world and regional demand forecasts for the three main plant nutrients
for 2015 to 2020 are presented in Annexes 1, 2 and 3, as well as in Annexes 4,
5 and 6 where compound annual growth rates (CAGR) are also provided.
Table 4. World demand for fertilizer nutrient use, 2015-2020 (thousand tonnes)
Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nitrogen (N) 110 027 111 575 113 607 115 376 117 116 118 763
Total (N+ P2O5+K2O) 184 017 186 668 190 850 194 390 198 107 201 663
SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCES
The potential balance of nitrogen, phosphate (H3PO4-based) and potash is
derived from the maximum achievable production (supply) minus the forecasts
for total demand as follows:
4
The world fe rtilize r outlook
The potential world balance of nitrogen, phosphate and potash for the years
2015 to 2020 is presented in Table 5. Regional estimates are presented in
Annexes 1, 2 and 3. Figure 1 indicates the regional potential N, P2O5 and K2O
balance situation in 2020, the final year of the forecast period.
Phosphate (P2O5)
4 105 3 984 3 769 4 193 4 349 4 142
(H3PO4-based)
20 000
15 000
10 000
Thousand MT
5 000
-5 000
-10 000
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5
The
Annexes
world
fertilizer
outlook
6
The world fe rtilize r outlook
Annex 1
World and regional nitrogen supply, demand and
balance 2015-2020 (thousand tonnes N)
AFRICA
NH3 capacity 8 310 9 545 10 739 10 700 10 700 11 000
NH3 supply capability 6 201 7 724 8 741 9 000 9 100 9 200
N other uses 538 556 567 576 586 594
N available for fertilizers 5 663 7 168 8 174 8 424 8 514 8 606
N fertilizer demand 3 573 3 641 3 788 3 964 4 126 4 302
Potential N balance 2 089 3 526 4 386 4 460 4 388 4 304
AMERICAS
NH3 capacity 24 301 27 618 28 688 29 304 29 320 29 346
NH3 supply capability 21 533 24 039 24 827 25 913 26 096 26 250
N other uses 6 516 6 653 6 775 6 893 7 009 7 122
N available for fertilizers 15 017 17 386 18 052 19 020 19 087 19 128
N fertilizer demand 22 506 23 030 23 379 23 768 24 169 24 564
Potential N balance -7 489 -5 644 -5 327 -4 748 -5 082 -5 435
North America
NH3 capacity 14 315 17 611 17 758 18 375 18 375 18 400
NH3 supply capability 13 565 16 054 16 511 17 318 17 394 17 500
N other uses 5 127 5 209 5 286 5 368 5 450 5 532
N available for fertilizers 8 438 10 845 11 225 11 950 11 944 11 968
N fertilizer demand 14 434 14 517 14 552 14 612 14 667 14 701
Potential N balance -5 996 -3 672 -3 326 -2 662 -2 723 -2 733
Table follows in the next page >>
7
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
ASIA
NH3 capacity 99 959 101 188 101 703 101 734 101 734 102 799
NH3 supply capability 90 625 90 072 94 704 95 030 95 210 95 815
N other uses 17 445 17 962 18 473 19 085 19 389 19 892
N available for fertilizers 73 180 72 110 76 231 75 945 75 821 75 923
N fertilizer demand 66 294 67 082 68 446 69 493 70 525 71 476
Potential N balance 6 886 5 028 7 785 6 452 5 297 4 447
West Asia
NH3 capacity 14 537 15 655 16 550 16 033 16 033 16 033
NH3 supply capability 13 529 11 153 15 117 14 776 14 809 14 809
N other uses 645 662 673 685 689 692
N available for fertilizers 12 884 10 491 14 444 14 091 14 120 14 117
N fertilizer demand 2 982 3 048 3 127 3 213 3 302 3 395
Potential N balance 9 902 7 443 11 317 10 878 10 818 10 722
South Asia
NH3 capacity 17 507 18 365 18 365 18 378 18 378 18 900
NH3 supply capability 14 792 15 363 15 772 15 813 15 813 16 300
N other uses 700 700 700 800 800 800
N available for fertilizers 14 092 14 663 15 072 15 013 15 013 15 500
N fertilizer demand 22 273 22 525 23 430 24 002 24 645 25 191
Potential N balance -8 181 -7 862 -8 358 -8 990 -9 632 -9 691
East Asia
NH3 capacity 67 915 67 169 66 789 67 324 67 324 67 866
NH3 supply capability 62 304 63 556 63 815 64 442 64 589 64 706
N other uses 16 100 16 600 17 100 17 600 17 900 18 400
8
The world fe rtilize r outlook
EUROPE
NH3 capacity 40 378 41 044 42 238 43 211 43 311 43 311
NH3 supply capability 34 824 35 425 36 522 37 436 37 679 37 888
N other uses 8 207 8 364 8 489 8 632 8 758 8 847
N available for fertilizers 26 617 27 061 28 033 28 804 28 921 29 041
N fertilizer demand 15 874 16 016 16 161 16 290 16 407 16 504
Potential N balance 10 743 11 046 11 872 12 514 12 514 12 537
Central Europe
NH3 capacity 6 686 6 762 6 817 6 902 6 902 6 902
NH3 supply capability 4 935 4 966 5 015 5 058 5 102 5 110
N other uses 852 867 875 882 885 885
N available for fertilizers 4 083 4 099 4 140 4 176 4 217 4 225
N fertilizer demand 2 945 3 044 3 121 3 200 3 282 3 343
Potential N balance 1 138 1 055 1 019 976 935 882
West Europe
NH3 capacity 9 642 9 642 9 660 9 710 9 710 9 710
NH3 supply capability 9 610 9 610 9 628 9 678 9 678 9 678
N other uses 5 132 5 239 5 323 5 414 5 493 5 537
N available for fertilizers 4 478 4 371 4 305 4 264 4 185 4 141
N fertilizer demand 8 448 8 370 8 315 8 236 8 139 8 038
Potential N balance -3 970 -3 999 -4 010 -3 972 -3 954 -3 897
East Europe and Central Asia
NH3 capacity 24 051 24 640 25 762 26 600 26 700 26 700
NH3 supply capability 20 279 20 850 21 879 22 700 22 900 23 100
N other uses 2 223 2 258 2 291 2 336 2 380 2 425
N available for fertilizers 18 056 18 592 19 588 20 364 20 520 20 675
N fertilizer demand 4 481 4 602 4 725 4 854 4 986 5 123
Potential N balance 13 575 13 991 14 863 15 510 15 534 15 552
9
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
10
The world fe rtilize r outlook
Annex 2
World and regional phosphate supply, demand and
balance 2015-2020 (thousand tonnes P2O5)
AFRICA
H3PO4 capacity 9 138 10 038 10 488 10 548 11 394 12 939
H3PO4 supply capability 7 141 7 220 7 933 8 567 8 955 9 402
H3PO4 industrial demand 501 542 564 586 587 588
H3PO4 available for
fertilizer 6 640 6 678 7 369 7 981 8 368 8 814
P fertilizer demand 1 448 1 489 1 529 1 571 1 614 1 659
H3PO4 fertilizer demand 1 406 1 445 1 485 1 525 1 567 1 610
Non-H3PO4 fertilizer
demand 42 43 45 46 47 48
Potential H3PO4 balance 5 234 5 233 5 884 6 456 6 802 7 204
AMERICAS
H3PO4 capacity 11 729 11 741 11 741 11 941 11 941 11 941
H3PO4 supply capability 9 884 9 893 9 893 9 975 9 975 10 045
11
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
ASIA
H3PO4 capacity 29 895 29 946 32 066 32 846 33 041 33 137
H3PO4 supply capability 25 157 26 026 26 477 27 393 28 177 28 377
12
The world fe rtilize r outlook
13
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
EUROPE
H3PO4 capacity 6 060 6 060 6 060 6 060 6 060 6 060
H3PO4 supply capability 4 763 4 774 4 774 4 774 4 774 4 774
H3PO4 industrial demand 939 947 979 1 010 1 011 1 012
H3PO4 available for
fertilizer 3 824 3 827 3 796 3 764 3 763 3 762
P fertilizer demand 4 026 4 135 4 217 4 269 4 319 4 368
H3PO4 fertilizer demand 3 373 3 486 3 583 3 646 3 700 3 760
Non-H3PO4 fertilizer
demand 654 649 634 623 620 608
Potential H3PO4 balance 451 342 213 119 63 2
Central Europe
H3PO4 capacity 704 704 704 704 704 704
H3PO4 supply capability 350 350 350 350 350 350
H3PO4 industrial demand 102 102 103 103 104 104
H3PO4 available for
fertilizer 248 248 247 247 246 246
P fertilizer demand 756 780 807 835 864 889
H3PO4 fertilizer demand 643 663 686 710 735 756
Non-H3PO4 fertilizer
demand 113 117 121 125 129 133
Potential H3PO4 balance -395 -416 -439 -463 -488 -510
West Europe
H3PO4 capacity 565 565 565 565 565 565
H3PO4 supply capability 467 478 478 478 478 478
H3PO4 industrial demand 522 522 552 582 582 581
14
The world fe rtilize r outlook
OCEANIA
H3PO4 capacity 600 600 600 600 600 600
H3PO4 supply capability 480 480 480 480 480 480
H3PO4 industrial demand 19 19 19 20 20 20
H3PO4 available for
fertilizer 461 461 461 460 460 460
P fertilizer demand 1 305 1 319 1 332 1 356 1 376 1 390
H3PO4 fertilizer demand 954 964 974 991 1 006 1 016
Non-H3PO4 fertilizer
demand 351 355 358 365 370 374
Potential H3PO4 balance -493 -503 -513 -531 -546 -556
15
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Annex 3
World and regional potash supply, demand and
balance 2015-2020 (thousand tonnes K2O)
AFRICA
K2O capacity - - - - 300 300
K2O supply capability - - - - 15 -
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 100 100 100 100 100 100
K2O available for fertilizer -100 -100 -100 -100 - 85 -100
K2O fertilizer demand 647 662 708 765 838 897
Potential K2O balance -747 -762 -808 -865 -923 -997
AMERICAS
K2O capacity 22 305 25 185 25 225 25 780 25 780 25 780
K2O supply capability 16 084 15 476 16 581 17 408 17 842 17 942
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 1 759 1 792 1 825 1 859 1 895 1 931
K2O available for fertilizer 14 325 13 684 14 756 15 548 15 948 16 011
K2O fertilizer demand 11 589 11 833 11 977 12 129 12 487 12 830
Potential K2O balance 2 736 1 851 2 779 3 419 3 461 3 181
North America
K2O capacity 20 180 23 060 23 100 23 655 23 655 23 655
K2O supply capability 14 381 13 720 14 826 15 565 16 000 16 100
16
The world fe rtilize r outlook
ASIA
K2O capacity 10 307 10 453 11 556 11 556 11 956 12 076
K2O supply capability 10 082 10 151 10 772 11 030 11 072 11 179
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 3 112 2 964 2 978 2 996 3 011 3 125
K2O available for fertilizer 6 970 7 187 7 794 8 034 8 061 8 054
K2O fertilizer demand 16 024 16 083 16 594 17 077 17 597 18 181
Potential K2O balance - 9 054 - 8 896 - 8 799 - 9 042 - 9 536 -10 127
West Asia
K2O capacity 3 995 3 995 4 030 4 030 4 050 4 080
K2O supply capability 3 656 3 671 3 704 3 704 3 723 3 831
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 97 100 103 106 110 113
K2O available for fertilizer 3 558 3 570 3 601 3 597 3 613 3 718
K2O fertilizer demand 260 276 291 308 326 347
Potential K2O balance 3 298 3 295 3 309 3 290 3 287 3 371
South Asia
K2O capacity 65 65 65 65 65 65
K2O supply capability 16 33 49 49 49 49
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 415 364 375 389 401 412
K2O available for fertilizer -399 -331 -326 -340 -353 -363
Table follows in the next page >>
17
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
EUROPE
K2O capacity 20 330 20 336 21 330 24 240 24 100 26 330
K2O supply capability 17 405 17 146 17 514 18 812 19 969 20 423
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 646 660 676 691 706 722
K2O available for fertilizer 16 758 16 485 16 838 18 121 19 263 19 701
K2O fertilizer demand 4 187 4 193 4 390 4 539 4 669 4 741
Potential K2O balance 12 571 12 293 12 448 13 582 14 594 14 960
Central Europe
K2O capacity - - - - - -
K2O supply capability - - - - - -
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 52 53 54 56 57 58
K2O available for fertilizer -52 -53 -54 -56 -57 -58
K2O fertilizer demand 650 650 700 750 780 800
Potential K2O balance -702 -703 -754 -806 -837 -858
West Europe
K2O capacity 5 630 4 946 4 940 4 840 4 840 4 640
K2O supply capability 4 088 3 593 3 589 3 538 3 569 3 423
Non-fertilizer K2O demand 495 507 522 535 549 563
K2O available for fertilizer 3 593 3 086 3 068 3 002 3 020 2 860
K2O fertilizer demand 2 150 2 100 2 200 2 250 2 300 2 300
Potential K2O balance 1 443 986 868 752 720 560
18
The world fe rtilize r outlook
19
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Annex 4
World and regional nitrogen fertilizer demand
forecasts (thousand tonnes N) and compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) 2015 to 2020
20
The world fe rtilize r outlook
Annex 5
World and regional phosphate fertilizer demand
forecasts (thousand tonnes P2O5) and compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) 2015 to 2020
21
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Annex 6
World and regional potash fertilizer demand
forecasts (thousand tonnes K2O) and compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) 2015 to 2020
22
The world fe rtilize r outlook
Annex 7
Regional classification of countries and territories
AFRICA
23
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Swaziland
Togo
Uganda
United Rep of Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
AMERICAS
24
The world fe rtilize r outlook
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela
ASIA
25
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020
EUROPE
26
The world fe rtilize r outlook
OCEANIA
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Nauru
Niue
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
27
World
fertilizer
trends
and
outlook
to
SUMMARY REPORT
2020
World
fertilizer
trends
and
outlook
to
2020
This report presents the world nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizer
medium-term supply and demand projections for the period 2016-2020.
FAO, in collaboration with other members of the Fertilizer Outlook Expert
Group dealing with fertilizer production, consumption and trade, annually
provides five-year forecasts of world and regional fertilizer supply, demand
and potential balance.
I6895EN/1/03.17