Global consumption of fertilizers 2021, by country

China is the world's largest consumer of fertilizers. In 2021, the Asian country consumed more than 42 million metric tons worth of nutrients. It was followed by India and the Brazil, which consumed 29.8 and 21.17 million tons, respectively.

Fertilizer consumption in China

China’s agriculture relies heavily on fertilizers to meet the food demand of its large population, as well as to support its exports of agricultural products.
China’s demand for fertilizers has grown rapidly since the 1960s, driven by the expansion of cultivated land, the intensification of farming practices, the improvement of crop varieties, and the subsequent increase of agricultural output. Over this time China’s fertilizer consumption per hectare of arable land has increased from only seven kilograms in 1961 to over 383.3 kilograms in 2020. China’s fertilizer consumption is dominated by nitrogen-based fertilizers, accounting for 55 percent of the total nutrient consumption, followed by phosphate fertilizers and potash fertilizers.

Environmental footprint of fertilizers

Fertilizer consumption can have a positive impact on food security by increasing crop yields and reducing the need for additional agricultural land. However, fertilizers can also have a negative impact on the environment by causing eutrophication, soil erosion, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite these potential impacts, the forecast global fertilizer demand is expected to reach some 208.3 million metric tons by 2026. Some potential strategies to reduce the environmental impact of the anticipated fertilizer consumption include improving the efficiency of fertilizer use by developing an understanding of the most effective amount, type, and timing of fertilizer applications; by adopting organic farming practices, including the use of more natural sources of nutrients; by promoting circular economy models, which involves recovering and reusing nutrients from waste streams; and the introduction of regulating policies, such as establishing standards and guidelines for fertilizer production and use.