Market Trends of europe specialty fertilizer Industry
The cultivation area of field crops is steadily rising to meet domestic needs and export demand
- Field crops, such as rapeseed, wheat, rye, and triticale, are mainly winter crops in Europe, while maize, sunflowers, rice, and soybean are summer crops. Both the winter and spring types of barley are widely available. The area harvested under major food crops in Europe has been steadily increasing, primarily due to the growing population and increasing demand for food grains. Field crops accounted for 78.5 thousand ha in 2017, which increased to 108 thousand ha in 2022.
- The EU harvested 282.7 million ton of common wheat in 2022, the equivalent of 54.0% of all cereal grains harvested. This was 11.0 million ton more than in 2020, an increase of 9.3%. This upturn reflected a rise in the area harvested (+5.6 % to 21.8 million hectares) and improved apparent yields.
- Between 2019 and 2022, there was a notable 34% decline in the harvested area within the region. Despite this overall reduction, the areas dedicated to corn/maize and wheat cultivation experienced increases of 11% and 2%, respectively, while the other field crop acreages decreased during the same period. It is anticipated that farmers will augment their fertilizer usage in the upcoming forecast period, aiming to enhance yields and mitigate the impact of the overall decrease in harvested areas observed in recent years.
- Therefore, with rising pressure on farmers to improve yield and grain production to meet the growing demand with growing overall field crop cultivation area, the fertilizer market is expected to grow significantly during 2023-2030.
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Nitrogen is the primary nutrient consumed more in filed crops as most of the soil in the region is deficient in nitrogen
- In 2022, field crops dominated nutrient consumption in Europe, accounting for 85% of the total and reaching a volume of 47 million metric tons. This high demand can be attributed to both the extensive cultivation of field crops and their significant nutrient requirements. The primary field crops in Europe include wheat, rapeseed, rye, soybean, and corn, all of which have a substantial appetite for fertilizers. In 2022, these crops had an average nutrient application rate of 187.3 kg per hectare for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
- Nitrogen emerged as the most in-demand primary nutrient fertilizer for European field crops, with an average application rate of 130.64 kg/hectare in 2022. Nitrogen deficiency poses the most significant yield constraint, as a majority of agricultural soils in the region lack sufficient nitrogen levels. Following nitrogen, potassium stood out as the second most utilized fertilizer, with an average application rate of 103.75 kg/hectare in 2022. Countries like Sweden, Spain, Poland, and Latvia, with a prevalence of sandy soils, faced more pronounced potassium deficiencies. Phosphatic fertilizers trailed behind with an application rate of 56.93 kg/hectare in 2022.
- Primary nutrient fertilizers hold immense significance for crops, as they are vital for metabolic processes and contribute to the formation of crucial plant tissues, such as cells, cell membranes, and chlorophyll. Phosphorous plays a pivotal role in cultivating high-quality crops, while potassium activates enzymes essential for plant growth and development.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Climate change and extreme weather conditions are the major challenges in the expansion of horticulture cultivation
- Manganese deficiency is the common problem in sandy soils, organic soils with a pH above 6
- Out of all crops, corn stands out for its relatively high secondary nutrient consumption
- Russia holds a major irrigation area in the European region with 21.6% in 2022
- Zinc has become the most used micronutrient fertilizer in the region
- The average application rate of primary nutrients in vegetable crops is 290.4 kg/ha, with nitrogen as the most applied.
- Tomato is the most secondary nutrient consuming vegetable crop in the region, with sulfur being the most need
