Countries by Fertilizer consumption (% of fertilizer production)

Ranking 2023

Values shown in %.

Analysis

This metric measures fertilizer consumption as a percentage of domestic fertilizer production. A country scoring 100% consumes exactly what it produces. Scores above 100% indicate net importers—countries that must import fertilizer because domestic production falls short. Scores below 100% indicate net exporters—countries producing more fertilizer than they use domestically. This matters because fertilizer security directly affects agricultural output. Countries with low domestic production must rely on global supply chains and fluctuating prices. Countries with fertilizer industries export for revenue and geopolitical influence. Fertilizer consumption volatility averages 38.1% year-over-year, indicating these ratios shift substantially as production and trade patterns change.

The top scorers are small European nations that import heavily. Estonia (20,163%) consumes approximately 200 times what it produces. France (7,181%) and Finland (1,716%) follow as major importers. South American and Asian agricultural powers cluster in the 400-700% range: Brazil (718%), Cuba (685%), Bangladesh (668%), and Philippines (459%) all consume far more fertilizer than they produce. The bottom of the rankings comprises Middle Eastern oil producers and fertilizer-manufacturing nations. Qatar (0.19%) and Bahrain (0.06%) produce vastly more fertilizer than they consume, exporting the surplus. Russia (13.48%), Belarus (12.68%), Saudi Arabia (7.14%), and Israel (2.39%) all have significant fertilizer industries. These countries produce ammonia, potash, or phosphate fertilizers as major economic output.

A few countries stand out. Ukraine scores 262.75%, despite being a major grain exporter—it imports fertilizer to sustain agricultural output. Japan (143.79%) ranks higher than several developing nations, reflecting intensive agriculture and manufacturing that requires inputs. Russia at 13.48% sits in the lower half despite its size, a consequence of massive ammonia production at facilities like Togliatti. Morocco (5.34%) has a phosphate industry but consumes very little domestically. Libya (252.73%) ranks high as an importer despite oil wealth, suggesting fertilizer production capacity lags domestic agricultural needs.

This metric counts domestic production and consumption, but doesn't account for quality, type (nitrogen, phosphate, potash), or intended use (agriculture vs. industrial). A country showing 0.5% might export 99.5% of its production but still have robust domestic consumption in absolute terms. Trade data can lag by 1-2 years, and some countries rely on estimates rather than precise reporting. Fertilizer prices fluctuate significantly, potentially affecting production decisions and import volumes. Additionally, "fertilizer consumption" conflates farmer application with industrial and other uses. Countries with chemical manufacturing or explosives production may inflate consumption figures through non-agricultural use. Finally, high year-over-year volatility (38.1% average) means rankings can shift dramatically year to year as global markets change.

Methodology

Fertilizer consumption is calculated as domestic production plus imports minus exports, divided by domestic production, then expressed as a percentage. The metric covers nitrogenous, phosphate, and potassium (potash) fertilizers but excludes organic manures. Data comes from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator: AG.CON.FERT.PT.ZS) and is sourced from agricultural and chemical production statistics. The 84 countries measured report 2023 data with 85.7% coverage in the latest year. The mean ratio is 609.46% with a standard deviation of 3,417.18%, indicating extreme variation globally. Estonia's ratios are statistical outliers with z-scores above 5.7, suggesting near-total dependence on imports. Year-over-year volatility averages 38.1%, reflecting price fluctuations and changing import-export patterns in global fertilizer markets.

Sources

• World Bank