The fertilizer industry is responsible for the production, trade and consumption of millions of tonnes of plant nutrients each year.
Fertilizers are used across the globe to support sustainable agricultural production, and it is estimated that half the food we eat is produced thanks to mineral fertilizers. For more information about fertilizers and the vital role they play in agriculture, visit the main IFA website.
The fertilizer industry also makes a vital contribution to the economy, through sales, employment and investment. The estimated value of the fertilizer industry in 2022 was ~$290 billion. Fertilizer industry value is defined as the estimate value of fertilizers sold at the wholesale level globally.
1.9 million people were estimated to be employed by the fertilizer industry in 2022. Employment in fertilizer production quantifies the number of employees associated with the production and sale of fertilizers to the factory gate. Employment in fertilizer distribution includes the number of employees associated with the storage, wholesale and retail of fertilizers.
