Report

The Africa Fertilizers Market size is estimated at 15.28 billion USD in 2025, and is expected to reach 20.07 billion USD by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.60% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The application of fertilizers in the respective crop types is anticipated to grow during 2023-2030, owing to the increasing need for food to feed the growing populations


- In 2022, field crops dominated fertilizer consumption in Africa, representing 71.1% of the total. This translated to a volume consumption of 15.5 million metric tons, valued at USD 11.80 billion.
- Horticultural crops followed, accounting for 28.7% of Africa's fertilizer consumption, valued at USD 4.77 billion in 2022. Despite a modest volume consumption of 9.0 thousand metric tons, the cultivation area for horticultural crops expanded from 36.5 million hectares in 2017 to 37.7 million hectares in 2022. This growth was driven by rising demand for high-value crops, such as fruits and vegetables, amidst concerns of hidden hunger and malnutrition. This surge in cultivation areas underscores the need for enhanced productivity, driving up fertilizer application in horticultural crops.
- Turf & ornamental crops, primarily driven by the demand for African flowers in international markets, accounted for 8.9% of Africa's fertilizer consumption in 2021. This translated to a market value of USD 770.6 million and a volume consumption of 1.5 million metric tons.
- However, in 2022, the share of turf and ornamental crops in Africa's fertilizer consumption dropped to a mere 0.02%. The market value for this segment was USD 3.5 million, with a volume consumption of 4.5 thousand metric tons. Conventional fertilizers dominated the market, capturing a 57.0% share, while specialty fertilizers accounted for the remaining 43.0%.
- The application of fertilizers across crop types is expected to rise. This growth is driven by the need to meet the food demands of a burgeoning population, achieve higher yields, and enhance crop productivity.

South Africa is one of the major agriculture-producing countries in the continent and is import-dependent


- Africa's vast mineral reserves of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash position it as a potential major player in the global fertilizer market. The region's rapid population growth, coupled with evolving food consumption patterns and rising incomes, is driving a need for increased agricultural production. This, in turn, is expected to lead to an increase in fertilizer demand.
- In 2022, Nigeria dominated the African fertilizer market, accounting for 36.7% of the total. Nigeria boasts one of the world's highest rice consumption rates, with an annual production of 7 million metric tons. The country's economic growth, primarily propelled by the agricultural sector, is projected to sustain a CAGR of 5.5% in the coming years.
- Despite being a major player, Nigeria's fertilizer usage remains relatively low, at under 20kg/hectare. This indicates a significant untapped potential for increased fertilizer application, potentially driving further market growth. In comparison, countries like Egypt and South Africa have already surpassed Nigeria's usage by a significant margin, suggesting a potential leap of around 500% for Nigeria to catch up.
- South Africa, a key agricultural nation in Africa, heavily relies on fertilizer imports. While all potassic fertilizers are domestically consumed, a substantial 60%-70% of nitrogenous fertilizers are imported. Unlike some other markets, South Africa's fertilizer sector operates in a deregulated landscape, devoid of import tariffs or government schemes. With a surge in crop cultivation, the South African fertilizer market is projected to witness substantial growth, expanding from USD 1.77 billion in 2022 to USD 5.60 billion by 2030.


Africa Fertilizers Market Trends



The region has the potential to double its agricultural production, and the area under field crops is expected to expand due to the rising consumption demand


- The agroecological zones in Africa span from dense rainforests with bi-annual rainfall to arid deserts with minimal precipitation. Dominant field crops in the region include corn, sorghum, wheat, and rice. In 2022, the cultivation area for these crops reached 224.8 million hectares, accounting for over 95% of the total agricultural land.
- In the 2018-19 season, South African corn farmers reduced their planted area by 10% to 2.1 million hectares, responding to an oversupply that suppressed prices. Consequently, corn production in the country dipped by 11%, from 13 million to 12 million tonnes, and exports plummeted from 2.5 million to 1 million tonnes. In light of this, producers were likely to pivot from corn to oilseed crops, with soybeans being a favored choice. This shift was anticipated to lead to an overall decline in corn cultivation across Africa from 2018 to 2019.
- Nigeria takes the lead as the largest sorghum producer in Africa, closely followed by Ethiopia. Sorghum, accounting for 50% of Nigeria's cereal output and occupying 45% of its cereal cultivation land, is a drought-tolerant crop with adaptability to diverse soil conditions. These qualities make sorghum a preferred staple crop, particularly in Africa's drier regions, ensuring food and income security.
- Kenya, Somalia, and significant parts of Ethiopia face an imminent threat of severe food shortages. Over the past decade, Africa's spending on food imports nearly tripled despite a consistent expansion in its agricultural industry and cultivated land.


Nitrogen stands out as a crucial nutrient essential for various field crops, with rapeseed being the primary nutrient consumer in this region


- Rapeseed crops have the highest potassium and phosphorous application rates, accounting for 162.4 kg/hectare and 281.7 kg/hectare, respectively, in 2022. Meanwhile, the average nitrogen application rate for field crops in Africa stood at 364.9 kg/hectare in 2022.
- In 2022, field crops in Africa accounted for 87.1% of the total primary nutrient consumption, which amounted to 556.1 thousand metric tons. This dominance can be attributed to the extensive land area dedicated to field crops. Specifically, the average nutrient application rates for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in these crops were 223.2 kg/ha, 125.3 kg/ha, and 155.3 kg/ha, respectively, in 2022.
- The Guinea savannas in Nigeria offer favorable environmental conditions for maize production. However, despite this potential, farmers in the region struggle with low yields. The primary culprits are soil degradation and nutrient depletion, primarily nitrogen, resulting from intensified land use. Field crops prioritize nitrogen application due to its multiple benefits, including promoting tillering, leaf area development, grain formation, filling, and protein synthesis. Nitrogen also plays a crucial role in enhancing both grain yield and quality. Given that primary nutrients are vital for crop growth and with concerns over soil depletion and nitrogen leaching, the application rates for primary nutrients are expected to witness significant growth in the coming years.


Africa Fertilizers Industry Overview

The Africa Fertilizers Market is fragmented, with the top five companies occupying 7.43%. The major players in this market are Gavilon South Africa (MacroSource, LLC), ICL Group Ltd, K+S Aktiengesellschaft, UPL Limited and Yara International ASA (sorted alphabetically).

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