A helping hand

Concerns about food security due to an increasing population, along with a growing need for better field productivity, are primarily driving growth in the fertilizer market. Rising consumer awareness for healthy food and product innovation, involving micronutrients and a multifunctional approach, may add further opportunity for the sector. Global trade of fertilizer is highly concentrated: 50 – 80% of total fertilizer production capacity is handled by five main countries. Asia-Pacific, with its thriving economies and rapidly expanding population, is expected to experience the highest consumption of fertilizer from 2015 to 2020. South Asian countries, such as China and India, are currently major importers of fertilizers and are driving trade. Sub Saharan Africa and Latin America also provide great scope for growth.