The function of phosphorus in plants is of utmost important. If the soil lacks phosphorus food production is restricted unless fertilizer is added. It helps to convert other nutrients into usable building blocks with which plants can grow efficiently. It also helps in root development, plant maturation, seed development. Phosphorus is one of the three nutrients most commonly found in fertilizers. Phosphorus is essential to a plant’s growth, but in moderation.

If the soil has high phosphorus can cause plants to grow poorly or even die. It reduces plants ability to take up micronutrients like iron and zinc. A phosphorus deficient plant will be pale, have weak root system or the plant growth stunted. Soil can be devoid of Phosphorus by washing away in rain or harvesting crops. Phosphorus is highly immobile in soil and so its placement is a major challenge. For corn phosphorus is added by broadcast or before planting and applied away from the seed row and directly on seed at planting if small amounts is needed.

Soybeans give greater yields when phosphate is added before planting through broadcast. The world has limited rock phosphate reserves. The rock phosphate is mined in strip form and then pulverized. This is then treated with sulphuric, phosphoric or nitric acid to yield phosphorus based fertilizers. In the past, ground rock phosphate was used while today majority of phosphate fertilizers are manufactured from rock phosphate. Due to low and limited reserves high transport costs and reduced crop responses the use of phosphorus fertilizer has decreased.

While, the use of phosphorus based fertilizers have increased. Phosphorus based fertilizers include Di-ammonium Phosphate DAP, Mono-ammonium Phosphate MAP, and others. DAP is the most common form of fertilizer used by farmers. Soil testing for adding phosphorus fertilizer determines the soil’s ability to supply P for plant growth but cannot measure total quantity required.According to the research report “Global Phosphorus Fertilizer Market Outlook, 2027" published by Actual Market Research, the fertilizer market is anticipated to grow slowly at a CAGR of 3.88% by 2027. Asia Pacific is dominant in the Phosphorus market globally. Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for their growth but, nitrogen fertilizers are given more emphasis as they are needed in large quantities and give great response.

Rock phosphates are used more with highest market share in 2021. Dry phosphatic fertilizers dominate the market. United States is the second largest phosphorus producer and consumer in the world. Russia accounts for only 3% of phosphorus fertilizer market share globally. Majority of phosphorus reserves are in China, Morocco, South Africa, Jordan and United States.DAP is excellent source of fertilizer for wheat, barley, fruits and vegetables. Most annual plants require phosphorus to grow.

Plants that grow in cold temperatures like lettuce require high phosphorus levels. Likewise, legumes also require high phosphorus. Wines and other crops, especially grown in hot temperatures require less of phosphorus fertilizers. Phosphatic fertilizers are costly than urea. With the degrading quality of rock phosphates more energy is required to mine and process it. This processing results in more produce of heavy metals such as cadmium and uranium which are toxic. Moreover due to uneven geographical distribution high transportation costs are inevitable.

However, sustainable phosphorus reserves can be achieved by efficient mining, use manure as fertilizer, make fertilizer use more targeted, recover phosphorus from human waste. Modern techniques of farming can increase absorption rate of fertilizers and also give increased yields.The COVID-19 pandemic has highly impacted Phosphorus fertilizer market landscape. Lockdown imposed to combat the spread of pandemic limited the production and supply of fertilizers thereby affecting crop production activities. Producers are resolving the challenges caused by the pandemic and adapting to the changing dynamics of the sector. Although government exempted agriculture from lockdown; the most severe impact was on the demand for end-use products, limiting the market opportunities for fertilizer producers. Several companies cut down on the production and supply of their fertilizers.

Many small scale production units were forced to shut down. Labour transit was another problem as migration was limited and transportation was also affected. Further China banned exports of phosphorus fertilizers which affected countries dependent on it for resources. To bring down prices of fertilizers in home country China banned exports up to 2022.Major Companies present in the marketThe Mosaic Company, Yara International, Nutrien Limited, K+S Aktiengesellschaft, OCP Group, CF Industries Holdings, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), National Fertilizers Limited Coromandel International Limited, EuroChem Group, Wesfarmers, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative Limited (IFFCO)Considered in this report • Geography: Global • Base year: 2021 • Estimated year: 2022 • Forecast year: 2027Aspects covered in this report • Global Phosphorus fertilizer market with its value and forecast along with its segments • Region-wise fertilizer market analysis • Various drivers and challenges • On-going trends and developments • Top profiled companies • Strategic recommendationRegions covered in the report • North America • Europe • Asia Pacific • Latin America • Middle East & South Africa By Product type in the report: • Di-ammonium Phosphate • Mono-ammonium Phosphate • Others (Phosphate rock, superphosphate, other phosphatic fertilizer)By physical formulation in the report: • Dry • LiquidThe approach of the report:This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audienceThis report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to fertilizer industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry..