Fertilizers exported by all countries attracted US$83.9 billion worth of global spending for 2024.

That dollar amount results from an average 51% increase collected by all shippers of fertilizers over the five-year period starting in 2020 when overall fertilizer exports were worth $55.6 billion.

From 2023 to 2024, the value of exported fertilizers declined by -8.9% starting from $92.1 billion.

Fertilizers are critical agricultural drivers, essential for growing crops that feed people around the world.

The 6 biggest fertilizer exporters in 2024 were Russia, mainland China, Canada, Morocco, United States of America, then Saudi Arabia. Collectively, those major suppliers accounted for over half (53.2%) of globally exported fertilizers during 2024 slightly down from 53.3% for 2023.

Applying a continental lens, countries in Europe sold the highest dollar worth of exported fertilizers during 2024 with shipments valued at $30.6 billion or 36.4% of the world’s total. In second place were exporters located in Asia at 33.3% while 14.5% of international fertilizer shipments originated from North America. Another 13.1% was sent from exporters in Africa.

Smaller percentages came from suppliers in Latin America (2.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean notably Trinidad and Tobago, then Oceania (0.4%) mostly Australia.

Focusing on different types of exported fertilizers, three-quarters (75.3%) were nitrogen-based products. Potassic fertilizers represent 19.7% compared to phosphatic fertilizers at 3.5%. Excluding those mineral or chemical fertilizer subcategories, the other fertilizer type is animal or vegetable fertilizers which accounted for the remaining 1.5%.

For research purposes, the high level 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 31 for fertilizers.

Top Fertilizers Exports by Country

Below are the 30 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fertilizers during 2024.

1. Russia: US$13.9 billion (16.6% of total exported fertilizers)
2. mainland China: $8.5 billion (10.1%)
3. Canada: $6.7 billion (8%)
4. Morocco: $5.4 billion (6.4%)
5. United States: $5.2 billion (6.2%)
6. Saudi Arabia: $5 billion (5.9%)
7. Belgium: $2.9 billion (3.4%)
8. Oman: $2.7 billion (3.2%)
9. Egypt: $2.43 billion (2.9%)
10. Netherlands: $2.41 billion (2.9%)
11. Qatar: $1.56 billion (1.9%)
12. Spain: $1.55 billion (1.9%)
13. Israel: $1.51 billion (1.8%)
14. Germany: $1.4 billion (1.6%)
15. Belarus: $1.16 billion (1.4%)
16. Poland: $1.12 billion (1.3%)
17. Jordan: $1.11 billion (1.3%)
18. Algeria: $1 billion (1.2%)
19. Nigeria: $914.5 million (1.1%)
20. Laos: $840.1 million (1%)
21. United Arab Emirates: $831.7 million (1%)
22. Malaysia: $825 million (1%)
23. Lithuania: $737 million (0.9%)
24. Italy: $696.5 million (0.8%)
25. Vietnam: $655.1 million (0.8%)
26. Finland: $641.4 million (0.8%)
27. Indonesia: $552.8 million (0.7%)
28. Türkiye: $538.7 million (0.6%)
29. France: $504.1 million (0.6%)
30. Chile: $504 million (0.6%)

By value, the listed 30 countries shipped 87.8% of globally exported fertilizers in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters of fertilizers since 2023 were: United Arab Emirates (up 2,361%), Oman (up 129.9%), Vietnam (up 6.2%) and Italy (up 6.1%).

Those countries that posted declines in their international sales of fertilizers were led by: Belarus (down -43.8% from 2023), Canada (down -30.1%), Algeria (down -23.9%), Jordan (down -23.4%) and Israel (down -22.3%).

Countries Generating Greatest Surpluses Buying and Selling Fertilizers

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for fertilizers during 2024. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported fertilizers and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Russia: US$13.8 billion (net export surplus down -8.9% since 2023)
2. Morocco: $5.2 billion (up 1%)
3. Saudi Arabia: $4.8 billion (up 5.5%)
4. Canada: $4.1 billion (down -42.1%)
5. mainland China: $3.9 billion (down -5.2%)
6. Oman: $2.7 billion (up 135.5%)
7. Egypt: $2.3 billion (up 5.3%)
8. Netherlands: $1.6 billion (down -6.3%)
9. Qatar: $1.55 billion (down -15.5%)
10. Israel: $1.38 billion (down -24.8%)
11. Belgium: $1.38 billion (up 30.8%)
12. Belarus: $1.14 billion (down -44.1%)
13. Jordan: $1.06 billion (down -23.1%)
14. Algeria: $897.3 million (down -22.9%)
15. Nigeria: $838.3 million (up 12.1%)

The Russian Federation generated the highest surplus in the international trade of fertilizers. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms Russia’s strong competitive advantage for this specific product category.

Countries Causing Worst Deficits Buying and Selling Fertilizers

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for fertilizers during 2024. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported fertilizers purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. Brazil: -US$13.3 billion (net export deficit down -7.6% since 2023)
2. India: -$7.7 billion (down -25.7%)
3. United States of America: -$4.2 billion (down -3.1%)
4. Australia: -$2.8 billion (up 29.2%)
5. Thailand: -$2.3 billion (up 16.2%)
6. France: -$2.1 billion (down -8.3%)
7. Argentina: -$1.5 billion (up 10.4%)
8. Indonesia: -$1.4 billion (up 2.9%)
9. Türkiye: -$1.18 billion (down -37.2%)
10. Ukraine: -$1.16 billion (down -2.6%)
11. Bangladesh: -$966.1 million (down -37.3%)
12. Colombia: -$849.2 million (down -12.7%)
13. Peru: -$835.6 million (up 19.4%)
14. Philippines: -$834.9 million (down -13.3%)
15. United Kingdom: -$834.7 million (down -9.3%)

Brazil, South America’s biggest country including by land area, incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of fertilizers. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights Brazil’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for fertilizers-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand.

Major Fertilizers Exporting Companies

Below are global fertilizers-processing conglomerates that represent established players engaged in the international trade of fertilizers. The home country for each is shown within parenthesis.

• Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemicals (Egypt)
• Acron Group (Russia)
• Intrepid Potash (United States)
• Nutrien (Canada)
• Sinofert (China)

 

 

See also Top Pesticides Exporters, Chemical Exports by Country and Top Water and Ice Exporters by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 26, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 26, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 26, 2025

Wikipedia, Category:Fertilizer companies. Accessed on May 26, 2025