In 1965, the consumption of nitrogen fertilizers stood at some 46.3 million metric tons. By 2021, this amount had increased to 195.38 million tons. In that latter year, nitrogen fertilizers accounted for around 56 percent of the total global consumption, whereas phosphate and potash fertilizers held shares of 24 and 20 percent, respectively. Mineral fertilizers are widely used in agriculture to improve soil fertility and achieve higher crop yields. They typically contain one or more of the three main essential nutrients needed for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
Some of the main global fertilizer producers include Nutrien, Mosaic, and Yara. In 2019, Nutrien, a Canadian company that resulted from the merger of PotashCorp and Agrium, had the largest fertilizer capacity worldwide, at over 30 million metric tons. In 2020, Nutrien generated a revenue of nearly 201 billion U.S. dollars and over 23 thousand people employed.
Global consumption of agricultural fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by nutrient
(in million metric tons)
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International Fertilizer Industry Association. (September 20, 2023). Global consumption of agricultural fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by nutrient (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/438967/fertilizer-consumption-globally-by-nutrient/
International Fertilizer Industry Association. "Global consumption of agricultural fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by nutrient (in million metric tons)." Chart. September 20, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/438967/fertilizer-consumption-globally-by-nutrient/
International Fertilizer Industry Association. (2023). Global consumption of agricultural fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by nutrient (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/438967/fertilizer-consumption-globally-by-nutrient/
International Fertilizer Industry Association. "Global Consumption of Agricultural Fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by Nutrient (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/438967/fertilizer-consumption-globally-by-nutrient/
International Fertilizer Industry Association, Global consumption of agricultural fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by nutrient (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/438967/fertilizer-consumption-globally-by-nutrient/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Global consumption of agricultural fertilizer from 1965 to 2021, by nutrient (in million metric tons) [Graph], International Fertilizer Industry Association, September 20, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/438967/fertilizer-consumption-globally-by-nutrient/