USA Fertilizer Market

The US Fertilizer Market is a significant sector in the agricultural industry, estimated at $46.5 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $70.6 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 6.46%. It's driven by factors like increasing food demand, technological advancements in fertilizer formulations, and the adoption of precision farming. 

US Fertilizer Market Key Aspects 

Dominant Segments:
Chemical and dry fertilizers, particularly Straight Fertilizers, dominate the market, with straight fertilizers accounting for approximately 78% of the market share in 2024. 

Growth Drivers:
The market is experiencing growth due to the need to improve agricultural productivity to meet growing food needs, technological advancements in fertilizer formulations, and the widespread adoption of precision farming. 

Specialty Fertilizers:
Specialty fertilizers are experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing adoption of precision farming techniques and growing environmental consciousness among farmers. 

Importance of Trade:
The US relies on imports for 98% of its POTASH needs. It also plays a significant role in exporting PHOSPHATE. 

Global Context:
The US fertilizer market is part of a larger global landscape, with significant global trade relationships and the impact of geopolitical events like the Russian-Ukraine war.

USA Fertilizer Market

The need for new fertilizer plants in the USA is a pressing issue, driven by the growing demand for fertilizers in agriculture. The country's fertilizer market size was approximately $208.06 billion in 2024 ¹.

To meet this demand, the US would benefit from increasing its domestic fertilizer production. Currently, the country relies heavily on imports to meet its fertilizer needs. By investing in new fertilizer plants, the US can reduce its reliance on foreign imports, improve food security, and create jobs.

Key Factors Driving Demand

- Growing Population and Food Demand: The global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, putting pressure on the agricultural sector to increase food production.

- Increasing Focus on Sustainable Agriculture: As consumers become more environmentally conscious, the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly fertilizers is on the rise.

- Government Initiatives and Policies: The US government has implemented policies to promote domestic fertilizer production, such as the Fertilizer Institute's "Fertilizer Stewardship" program.

Benefits of New Fertilizer Plants

- Job Creation and Economic Growth: New fertilizer plants would create jobs and stimulate local economies.

- Improved Food Security: By increasing domestic fertilizer production, the US can reduce its reliance on foreign imports and improve its food security.

- Environmental Benefits: Modern fertilizer plants can incorporate sustainable practices and technologies, reducing their environmental footprint.

Overall, investing in new fertilizer plants in the US would have numerous benefits for the economy, food security, and the environment.

Fertilizer Production

Fertilizer Production involves extracting raw materials like Phosphate rock, Sulfur, and Nitrogen from the air (via Natural Gas), then chemically processing them to create various nutrient compounds, primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and Potassium, which are combined and formulated into different types of fertilizers depending on crop needs; this process typically includes mining minerals, reacting gases under high pressure to create Ammonia, and mixing the resulting compounds to achieve the desired nutrient balance, all while adhering to strict quality and Environmental Regulations. 

Key Points About Fertilizer Production

Main nutrients:
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are the primary nutrients targeted in fertilizers. 

Nitrogen source:
Most nitrogen fertilizers are derived from ammonia, which is produced by combining atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen from natural gas under high pressure and temperature using the Haber-Bosch process. 

Phosphorus source:
Phosphate rock is mined and treated with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid, which is then used to create various phosphate fertilizers. 

Potassium source: 

Potassium is usually obtained by mining potash minerals. 

Fertilizer Production Steps

Raw material extraction: Mining phosphate rock, sulfur, and potash minerals.

Ammonia production: Combining nitrogen from air with hydrogen from natural gas to create ammonia.

Nitric acid production: Converting ammonia to nitric acid through oxidation.

Phosphoric acid production: Treating phosphate rock with sulfuric acid.

Fertilizer formulation: Mixing ammonia, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and potash salts in specific ratios to create the desired fertilizer blend. 

Granulation or liquid blending: Converting the mixed fertilizer into a granular or liquid form for application.

Quality control: Testing the final product to ensure nutrient content meets standards.

Important considerations:

Environmental impact:
Fertilizer production, especially ammonia synthesis, is energy-intensive and can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Sustainability efforts:
Research is ongoing to develop more sustainable fertilizer production methods, including renewable energy sources and nutrient recycling. 

Regulations:
Strict regulations govern fertilizer production to ensure product quality and safety. 

Onsite Water Solution Processes

"R1" Research Institutions

R1 Universities are the Economic Engines. Texas State leads in innovation and the economic development of Texas by creating new career paths and job opportunities. Located in the Texas Innovation Corridor. As an R1 university, the private sector can engage in even more meaningful partnerships with R1-U, and can attract private investment from top companies in the United States to support the faculty and students. Already, R1-U research park, STAR Park, is the largest lab-based technology incubator in the State of Texas, and there’s a waiting list for entrepreneurial start-up companies to move in. 

APES Research Program

APES Mission: Cyber Resilient Supply Chain Integration

Theme: Alignment; Economy; Excellence; Governance; Sustainability; Technology

Key Core Technologies: Agri-Voltaics; LiDAR; Precision Agriculture

Regions: USA - Central & South East Asia - Central & North Africa

Phase-1 Focus: Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Mauritania, Mongolia, USA

Deliverables: 1.  Human Resource Skiles Development

2. Lawful Technology Transfer & Commercialization

3. Growing Organic Energy Crops on Marginal Lands

4. Regional Food Business Centers

Lawful Technology Commercialization

Turnkey Solution

Center Pivot System (CPS)

MUGHALS Research Focus

In alignment with U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Strategic Plan 2022–2026; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026 and 2021 Policy Document titled U.S. Agriculture Innovation Strategy, one of THE MUGHALS associated company i.e. Afro Eurasian Coalition LLC (AEC) is actively working on following Five:

Strategic Objectives

In alignment with UNFAO & USDA Policies

1. Creation of New Products from Agriculture Waste by adopting multiple technologies including Blockchain and Quantum Computing to Transform Agrifood System, ensuring Food Security. 

2. Education and Workforce Skills Development (EWSD) focusing Rural Communities using USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Resources.

2.1. EWSD includes non-formal education that promote Agriculture; Job Growth; Energy Security;  Economic Development; Infrastructure Improvements; Innovation; and Quality of Life in Rural Areas.

2.2. EWSD Research &Education (R&E) focus U.S. DOE Genome Program. The Genomic Science program pursues fundamental research to understand, predict, manipulate, Microbial Systems and design plants for innovations in renewable energy.

3. Efficient Management of Digital and Mechanized Equipment; Irrigation; Fertilization; and Pests (CEDS; H-GAC 2020-2024).

4. Establishment of Regional AGRO-Pharma Clusters, using Hub-and-Spoke Network Topology, of Intersection of Broadband Internet Infrastructure and Digital Precision Agriculture Technologies for cyber-resilient connectivity.

Project Deliverable: AGRO-Pharma Supercluster Hub (SCH) Economic Model.

Project Outcome: Quantifiable Economic Impact of Agriculture Production Processes.

Lead Company: AfroEurasian Coalition LLC (AEC) USA; Indus Basin Resources PLC (IBR) Pakistan. 

Multiple Crops are Designed For Various Agroecosystems

Focused Programs

Benefits include:

• Higher crop productivity

• Decreased  use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, which in turn keeps food prices down

• Reduced impact on natural ecosystems

• Less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater

• Increased workforce safety

Pilot Project NOVA-2A 1 Country: USA

Key Research Sources

U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 

USDA Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2022–2026 

Resource Links

USA Fertilizer Industry

The US fertilizer market is a significant and growing industry, valued at around $46.5 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $70.6 billion by 2033. Driven by increasing agricultural productivity demands and technological advancements, the market is expected to continue expanding. The industry encompasses producers, importers, wholesalers, and retailers, supporting 487,000 jobs and contributing $34 billion in annual wages.  

U.S. Rural Development Business Programs

👉Agriculture Innovation Center Program

👉Bio Preferred Program

👉Business and Industry Loan Guarantees (B&I)

👉Energy Programs

👉Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP)

👉Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program

👉Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP)

👉Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP)

👉Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG)

👉Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG)

👉Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program

👉Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)

Socially-Disadvantaged Group Grants (SDGG)

Strategic Economic and Community Development Program

Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP)

Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

Sources:

SBA Video Series: SF424

Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants 

Fertilizer Production Expansion Program Source

Phosphate, Ammonia, Ammonium Nitrate, Urea, and Nitric Acid. 

>>> "Straight" Fertilizers contain only a single nutrient. 

>>> "Mixed" Fertilizers contain two or more primary nutrients. Mixed fertilizers can be produced by chemically reacting different ingredients and utilizing the chemical reaction as the binding force; or simply by mechanically blending together straight fertilizers.

>>> The fertilizer industry is composed of multi-product manufacturing plants. Phosphate-based products and ammonia-based products are typically produced at different plants.

European Fertilizer Industry: 

>>> Nitrogen-based fertilizers, the largest product group.

>>> Phosphorus-based fertilizers are produced from mined ores. Phosphate rock is primarily treated with sulphuric acid to produce phosphoric acid, which is either concentrated or mixed with ammonia to make a range of phosphate (P2O5) fertilizers. 

involves various chemical processes, including Ammonia Synthesis, Urea Production, and Nitric Acid Processing, all of which depend heavily on complex rotating equipment. Key equipment includes Centrifugal and Reciprocating Compressors, Steam and Gas Turbines, Pumps, and Electric Motors.