Market Trends of middle east & africa fertilizers Industry
Deterioration of both rain-fed and irrigated lands due to erosion caused by wind and water will pose a challenge in cultivating crops in the region.
- In the Middle East and Africa, field crops such as corn, rice, sorghum, and soybeans are typically planted between April and May and harvested from September to October. The agricultural sector in this region faces significant challenges. Land and water resources are scarce, and both rain-fed and irrigated lands are deteriorating due to erosion from wind and water, exacerbated by unsustainable farming practices. Field crops dominate the agricultural landscape, occupying around 90% of the total agricultural land in the region. In 2022, the cultivation area for field crops reached 249 million hectares, marking a 3.9% increase from 2017. Corn alone commands a significant share, covering 17.8% of the total field crop area. Wheat cultivation also saw a notable increase, with a 4.6% increase from 2017 to 2022. Specifically, the corn cultivation area in the region reached 44.3 million hectares in 2022.
- In Africa, Nigeria takes the lead as the top sorghum producer, closely followed by Ethiopia. Sorghum, a staple cereal crop, dominates the agricultural landscape in Nigeria, accounting for 50% of the total cereal output and occupying approximately 45% of the land dedicated to cereal production. Sorghum's resilience to drought and waterlogging, coupled with its adaptability to diverse soil conditions, makes it a preferred choice for food and income security in the drier regions of the Middle East and Africa.
- The region's population has surged by over 23% in the past decade. While food imports are projected to rise due to limited production capacity, the agricultural industry has shown consistent growth, paralleled by an expansion in cultivated land.
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The arid climate leads to a faster depletion of nitrogen in the soil, making it a crucial nutrient for agricultural productivity.
- Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are primary nutrients crucial for plant growth. Nitrogen and phosphorous are integral to proteins and nucleic acids, key components of plant tissue. Meanwhile, potassium significantly influences the quality of harvested crops. Field crops, on average, receive an application rate of 174.4 kg per hectare for these primary nutrients.
- Specifically, the average application rates for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in field crops across the Middle East & Africa stood at 234.8 kg/hectare, 127.4 kg/hectare, and 161.0 kg/hectare, respectively. The Middle East & Africa predominantly cultivate major field crops like wheat, sorghum, rice, and corn. In 2022, the average application rates for primary nutrients in these crops were 144.5 kg/hectare, 162.9 kg/hectare, 152.6 kg/hectare, and 245.24 kg/hectare, respectively.
- Of the primary nutrients, nitrogen dominates consumption in the Middle East & Africa, reaching 1.7 million metric tons in 2022. Nitrogen is the most crucial nutrient for crop yields, and given the prevalent deficiency of nitrogen in regional soils, it has become the most widely applied fertilizer. This dominance is driven by the region's substantial field crop area, comprising around 95.0% of the total, and the resulting high demand for primary nutrients. This emphasis on self-sufficiency and reducing import reliance underscores the growing market for field crops in the region.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Horticultural crops have high economic value and require less water for the entire crops cycle, making it the most preferred crop for farmers.
- Despite rich mineral reserves in the region, it still depends on import for copper micronutrient fertilizers.
- The need for calcium in plant tissue development facilitating overall plant growth, makes it most consumed secondary macronutrient.
- The practice of irrigation is most prevalent in countries like Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa, accounting for 24.5%, 12.1%, and 10.4%, respectively, of the total irrigated land area in 2022
- The acidic soils with high manganese content, under moist environmental conditions, results in iron deficiency
- Nitrogen is applied in a higher quantity to support the rapid vegetative growth and fruit production in horticultural crops.
- Magnesium aids in nutrient uptake, enzyme activation, and overall plant vigor, making it the most consumed by vegetable crops.
