Fertilizer industry in the UK - statistics & facts

The agricultural fertilizer demand worldwide has seen a slight but steady growth over the past decade. In 2020, it amounted to 188 million metric tons, and is forecast to surpass 208 million by 2025. The United Kingdom consumed approximately 1.4 million metric tons of chemical fertilizers in 2020, a quantity that has remained fairly stable in the last ten years. Nitrogen is the most used fertilizer nutrient in the UK, with almost one million metric tons consumed in 2020. In that same year, fertilizers containing phosphorous and potassium reached a consumption of 174 and 253 thousand metric tons, respectively.

Fertilizer market in the UK

The UK market for fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium saw a decline in sales value between 2010 and 2020, recovering in 2021. Fertilizer sales peaked in 2013, reaching 539 million British pounds. In 2021, the sales value of these fertilizers amounted to 456 million pounds. In contrast to chemical fertilizers, the sales value of animal and vegetable fertilizers has surged in the past five years, coming in at nearly 186 million British pounds in 2021. The volume of animal and vegetable fertilizers sold that year was almost 1.4 million metric tons.

Regional consumption

Out of all English regions, the East of England consumed the most phosphate fertilizers, with an average of 28 kilograms per hectare used in the 2020/21 farming season. The North East, Yorkshire, and Humber were the leading consumers of potash fertilizers, with 29 kilograms per hectare. In regards to the application of nitrogen fertilizers, the East of England proved to have the highest consumption with an average of 125 kilograms per hectare used, closely followed by the East Midlands region with 119 kilograms per hectare.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Apr 14, 2023

Key insights

Chemical fertilizer consumption in Europe
17m mt
Chemical fertilizer consumption in the UK
1.39m mt
Price index for fertilizers in the UK
279.9
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Monthly index of prices for fertilizers and soil improvers in the United Kingdom (UK) from January 2020 to June 2022

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Monthly price index of fertilizers and soil improvers in the UK 2020-2022

Sales value of mineral and chemical fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the United Kingdom between 2010 and 2022 (in 1,000 GBP)

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Nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium fertilizers: sales value in the UK 2010-2022

Usage of nitrogen fertilizer in Great Britain (GB) from 2011 to 2022 (in kilograms per hectare)

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Overall nitrogen fertilizer use in Great Britain (GB) 2011-2022

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