The overall value of fertilizers imported in 2022 increased by an average 119.4% from all importing countries since 2018 when fertilizers purchases were valued at $68.8 billion.
Year over year, international purchases of fertilizers accelerated via a 53.7% advance compared to $98.2 billion during 2021.
Key Geographic Insights for Exported Fertilizers
The 5 biggest importers of fertilizers in 2022 were Brazil, India, United States of America, mainland China and France. That cohort of major fertilizers buyers paid over two-fifths (43.1%) of total international spending on fertilizers imported in 2022.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries spent the most on imported fertilizers during 2022 with purchases costing $47.1 billion or 31.2% of the global total. In second place were importers in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean at 23.2% while 23% of globally imported fertilizers was delivered to Europe. Another 13.2% was sent to importers in North America.
Smaller percentages were sold to buyers in Africa (6%), and Oceania (3.3%) led by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Sales by Type of Imported Fertilizers
As for different categories of imported fertilizers, almost three-quarters (73.6%) were nitrogen-based products.
Potassic fertilizers represent 23% compared to phosphatic fertilizers at 2.7%. Excluding those mineral or chemical fertilizer subcategories, the other fertilizer type is animal or vegetable fertilizers which accounted for the remaining 0.8%.
For research purposes, the high-level Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for fertilizers is 31.
Fertilizers Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that spent the most on imported fertilizers during 2022.
- Brazil: US$24.8 billion (16.4% of total fertilizers imported)
- India: $17.3 billion (11.4%)
- United States: $13.2 billion (8.8%)
- China: $5 billion (3.3%)
- France: $4.8 billion (3.2%)
- Australia: $4 billion (2.6%)
- Indonesia: $3.7 billion (2.4%)
- Mexico: $3.5 billion (2.3%)
- Canada: $3.22 billion (2.1%)
- Belgium: $3.22 billion (2.1%)
- Thailand: $3.1 billion (2.1%)
- Türkiye: $3 billion (2%)
- Germany: $2.63 billion (1.7%)
- Bangladesh: $2.63 billion (1.7%)
- United Kingdom: $2.62 billion (1.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 64% of all fertilizers imported in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for fertilizers from 2021 to 2022 were: United Kingdom (up 104.1%), Belgium (up 96.7%), India (up 89.3%) and Germany (up 88.2%).
The smallest decrease among the top 15 buyer countries was the United States of America (up 28.7% from 2021).
Fertilizers Imports into Brazil
Brazil’s global purchases of imported fertilizers totaled US$24.8 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Brazil imported the highest dollar value worth of fertilizers during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Russia: US$5.6 billion (up 58.8% from 2021)
- Canada: $3.7 billion (up 151.1%)
- mainland China: $2.4 billion (up 14.4%)
- United States: $1.7 billion (up 92.5%)
- Morocco: $1.6 billion (up 2.6%)
- Israel: $1.1 billion (up 188.1%)
- Oman: $1 billion (up 111.6%)
- Qatar: $910.1 million (up 31.5%)
- Germany: $899.3 million (up 109.1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $866.3 million (up 86.3%)
- Nigeria: $824.2 million (up 111.6%)
- Norway: $466.9 million (up 232.8%)
- Egypt: $457.9 million (up 61.5%)
- Algeria: $401 million (down -7.4%)
- Belarus: $360.5 million (down -29.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 90.2% of fertilizers imported by Brazil in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of fertilizers to Brazil from 2021 to 2022 were: Norway (up 232.8%), Israel (up 188.1%), Canada (up 151.1%) and Oman (up 111.6%).
A pair of major suppliers experienced declines in the value of their fertilizers supplied to Brazilian importers, namely Belarus (down -29.1% from 2021) and Algeria (down -7.4%).
Overall, the value of Brazil’s imported fertilizers expanded by an average 63.4% from all supplying countries since 2021 when fertilizers purchased cost $15.2 billion.
Fertilizers Imports into India
India’s global purchases of imported fertilizers totaled US$17.3 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which India imported the highest dollar value worth of fertilizers during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Russia: US$2.7 billion (up 463.4% from 2021)
- Saudi Arabia: $2.5 billion (up 76.8%)
- mainland China: $2.3 billion (down -13%)
- Morocco: $1.8 billion (up 158.4%)
- Oman: $1.3 billion (up 58.4%)
- Canada: $641.4 million (up 206.5%)
- Qatar: $623.2 million (up 223%)
- United Arab Emirates: $597.2 million (up 32%)
- Egypt: $496.6 million (up 36.9%)
- Israel: $465.9 million (up 286.7%)
- Finland: $444.8 million (up 2994.1%)
- Jordan: $422 million (up 68.3%)
- Vietnam: $277.9 million (up 33,997%)
- United States: $277.6 million (up 2,463%)
- Algeria: $244.7 million (2021 data unavailable)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.6% of fertilizers imported by India in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of fertilizers to India from 2021 to 2022 were: Russia (up 33,997%), Saudi Arabia (up 2,994%), mainland China (up 2,463%) and Morocco (up 463.4%).
Algeria was the lone top supplier to incur a decline in the value of fertilizers supplied to Indian importers, dragged down by a -13% year-over-year drop.
Overall, the value of India’s imported fertilizers accelerated by an average 89.3% from all supplying countries since 2021 when fertilizers purchased cost $9.1 billion.
Fertilizers Imports into America
America’s global purchases of imported fertilizers totaled US$13.2 billion in 2022. Below are the top suppliers from which the United States of America imported the highest dollar value worth of fertilizers during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying from country from 2021 to 2022.
- Canada: US$6 billion (up 58.5% from 2021)
- Russia: $1.9 billion (up 51.9%)
- Saudi Arabia: $844.1 million (up 18.1%)
- Qatar: $709.1 million (up 39.1%)
- Oman: $553.7 million (up 93.3%)
- Israel: $481.8 million (up 59.7%)
- Norway: $232.9 million (up 57.9%)
- Nigeria: $221.5 million (up 1,271%)
- Australia: $183.3 million (down -27.2%)
- Algeria: $175.9 million (down -51%)
- Mexico: $173.3 million (up 17.1%)
- Trinidad/Tobago: $170.5 million (down -51.6%)
- Belgium: $164.4 million (up 107.6%)
- Morocco: $156.5 million (up 5.9%)
- Lithuania: $141.1 million (up 14.7%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 92.1% of fertilizers imported by the United States of America in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of fertilizers to the United States from 2021 to 2022 were: Nigeria (up 1,271%), Belgium (up 107.6%), Oman (up 93.3%) and Israel (up 59.7%).
A trio of major providers experienced declines in the value of their fertilizers supplied to American importers, namely: Trinidad and Tobago (down -51.6% from 2021), Algeria (down -51%) and Australia (down -27.2%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported fertilizers increased by an average 28.7% from all supplying countries since 2021 when fertilizers purchased cost $10.3 billion.
Fertilizers Imports into China
Mainland China’s global purchases of imported fertilizers totaled US$5 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of fertilizers during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Canada: US$1.5 billion (up 165.1% from 2021)
- Russia: $1 billion (up 34.8%)
- Belarus: $928.2 million (up 116.5%)
- Israel: $436.5 million (up 136.3%)
- Laos: $281.3 million (up 180.8%)
- Jordan: $251.7 million (up 203.9%)
- Norway: $178.1 million (down -24.6%)
- United States: $68.5 million (up 281.8%)
- Belgium: $66.5 million (down -36.2%)
- Germany: $51.8 million (up 134.7%)
- Finland: $49.2 million (down -28.3%)
- Uzbekistan: $26.3 million (up 14.9%)
- Netherlands: $22.5 million (up 2.6%)
- United Kingdom: $17.4 million (down -10.4%)
- Italy: $16.9 million (up 5.5%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.4% of fertilizers imported by mainland China in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of fertilizers to China from 2021 to 2022 were: Canada (up 281.8%), Russia (up 203.9%), Belarus (up 180.8%) and Israel (up 165.1%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their fertilizers supplied to Chinese importers were: Italy (down -36.2% from 2021), United Kingdom (down -28.3%), Netherlands (down -24.6%) and Uzbekistan (down -10.4%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported fertilizers rose by an average 79.2% from all supplying countries since 2021 when fertilizers purchased cost $2.8 billion.
Searchable List of Fertilizers Importing Countries in 2022
The 100 key importers in the automated database below represent 98.5% of global spending on imported fertilizers during 2022.
| Rank | Importer | Fertilizer Imports | 2021-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brazil | $24,785,390,000 | +63.4% |
| 2. | India | $17,259,772,000 | +89.3% |
| 3. | United States | $13,248,147,000 | +28.7% |
| 4. | China | $4,954,092,000 | +79.2% |
| 5. | France | $4,786,178,000 | +70.9% |
| 6. | Australia | $3,988,681,000 | +60.2% |
| 7. | Indonesia | $3,665,059,000 | +66.3% |
| 8. | Mexico | $3,513,532,000 | +68% |
| 9. | Canada | $3,220,728,000 | +45.9% |
| 10. | Belgium | $3,219,497,000 | +96.7% |
| 11. | Thailand | $3,113,313,000 | +35.2% |
| 12. | Türkiye | $3,031,474,000 | +51.9% |
| 13. | Germany | $2,631,743,000 | +88.2% |
| 14. | Bangladesh | $2,628,477,000 | +39% |
| 15. | United Kingdom | $2,623,015,000 | +104.1% |
| 16. | Argentina | $2,503,160,000 | +9.6% |
| 17. | Poland | $2,240,636,000 | +67% |
| 18. | Romania | $2,146,632,000 | +100.2% |
| 19. | Spain | $2,015,852,000 | +28.3% |
| 20. | Malaysia | $2,014,076,000 | +57.3% |
| 21. | Italy | $1,829,067,000 | +56.6% |
| 22. | Japan | $1,729,870,000 | +92% |
| 23. | South Africa | $1,509,940,000 | +46.2% |
| 24. | Colombia | $1,469,182,000 | +40.4% |
| 25. | South Korea | $1,416,133,000 | +74.7% |
| 26. | Netherlands | $1,325,800,000 | +36.9% |
| 27. | Ethiopia | $1,297,289,000 | +119.5% |
| 28. | Philippines | $1,259,373,000 | +46.3% |
| 29. | Peru | $1,185,904,000 | +50% |
| 30. | Ireland | $1,135,053,000 | +82.6% |
| 31. | Vietnam | $1,058,722,000 | -26.1% |
| 32. | Hungary | $894,174,000 | +46.1% |
| 33. | Lithuania | $894,119,000 | +70.3% |
| 34. | New Zealand | $889,169,000 | +21.1% |
| 35. | Chile | $872,842,000 | +17% |
| 36. | Pakistan | $832,021,000 | -10.4% |
| 37. | Czech Republic | $830,278,000 | +84.2% |
| 38. | Bulgaria | $809,175,000 | +69.6% |
| 39. | Ukraine | $797,023,000 | -52.1% |
| 40. | Paraguay | $768,282,000 | +27.8% |
| 41. | Sweden | $751,407,000 | +75.7% |
| 42. | Uruguay | $701,313,000 | +58.6% |
| 43. | Zambia | $692,084,000 | +57.9% |
| 44. | Ecuador | $642,323,000 | +23% |
| 45. | Serbia | $605,977,000 | +127.1% |
| 46. | Myanmar | $586,762,000 | +50.9% |
| 47. | Guatemala | $567,737,000 | +40.6% |
| 48. | Djibouti | $564,638,000 | +64.8% |
| 49. | Tanzania | $553,253,000 | +168.8% |
| 50. | Denmark | $535,139,000 | +45.6% |
| 51. | Greece | $505,199,000 | +36.2% |
| 52. | Austria | $491,434,000 | +52.6% |
| 53. | Taiwan | $470,643,000 | +82.2% |
| 54. | Portugal | $463,111,000 | +31.9% |
| 55. | Finland | $462,756,000 | +48.6% |
| 56. | Morocco | $441,108,000 | +51.5% |
| 57. | United Arab Emirates | $437,592,000 | +343.6% |
| 58. | Latvia | $426,287,000 | +35.4% |
| 59. | Kenya | $419,825,000 | +17.6% |
| 60. | Slovakia | $416,950,000 | +66% |
| 61. | Nigeria | $361,083,000 | +73.5% |
| 62. | Croatia | $356,903,000 | +113.5% |
| 63. | Costa Rica | $336,270,000 | +61.8% |
| 64. | Estonia | $319,598,000 | +47.6% |
| 65. | Slovenia | $288,861,000 | +102.6% |
| 66. | Cambodia | $276,523,000 | -3.6% |
| 67. | Egypt | $276,082,000 | +54.3% |
| 68. | Sri Lanka | $275,926,000 | +62.9% |
| 69. | Ghana | $269,365,000 | +141.1% |
| 70. | Kazakhstan | $261,661,000 | +29.6% |
| 71. | Ivory Coast | $254,689,000 | +6.1% |
| 72. | Dominican Republic | $247,416,000 | +33.6% |
| 73. | Switzerland | $241,679,000 | +39.3% |
| 74. | Malawi | $223,507,000 | -21.4% |
| 75. | Nepal | $217,597,000 | +6.3% |
| 76. | Iraq | $214,456,000 | +105.8% |
| 77. | Mozambique | $199,915,000 | +61.8% |
| 78. | Nicaragua | $187,365,000 | +53.7% |
| 79. | Israel | $177,104,000 | +52.2% |
| 80. | El Salvador | $175,759,000 | +103.1% |
| 81. | Zimbabwe | $173,605,000 | -60.7% |
| 82. | Norway | $167,683,000 | +27.2% |
| 83. | Saudi Arabia | $166,230,000 | +38.9% |
| 84. | Panama | $159,949,000 | +57.7% |
| 85. | Angola | $153,078,000 | +121.6% |
| 86. | Honduras | $152,421,000 | -27.3% |
| 87. | Senegal | $142,886,000 | +312.5% |
| 88. | Moldova | $138,995,000 | +55.7% |
| 89. | Sudan | $127,660,000 | -7.6% |
| 90. | Mongolia | $125,418,000 | +244% |
| 91. | Benin | $123,952,000 | +47.5% |
| 92. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $108,778,000 | +105.9% |
| 93. | Laos | $103,998,000 | +26.1% |
| 94. | Russia | $102,262,000 | -39.2% |
| 95. | Uzbekistan | $100,188,000 | +324.8% |
| 96. | Bolivia | $99,352,000 | +23.9% |
| 97. | Rwanda | $98,625,000 | +81.8% |
| 98. | Papua New Guinea | $94,887,000 | +74.4% |
| 99. | Algeria | $92,494,000 | +15.1% |
| 100. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $89,447,000 | +132.3% |
Five of these importers posted triple-digit percentage increases in their purchases of imported fertilizers from 2021 to 2022. These leading gainers were buyers in the United Arab Emirates (up 343.6%), Uzbekistan (up 324.8%), Senegal (up 312.5%), Mongolia (up 244%), Tanzania (up 168.8%) and Ghana (up 141.1%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the above table columns. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2021 data was available.
See also Top Fertilizers Exports by Country, China’s Top Trading Partners, Mexico’s Top Trading Partners, Japan’s Top Trading Partners and South Korea’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on September 15, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 15, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 15, 2023
Wikipedia, Fertilizer. Accessed on September 15, 2023