United Kingdom Fertilizer Market Overview, 2029

The fertiliser sector in the United Kingdom plays a vital role in the agricultural economy, underpinning both food production and initiatives aimed at environmental stewardship. With a rich agricultural heritage and a wide array of farming methods, the UK fertiliser industry offers a diverse range of products tailored to the specific needs of different crops, soil types, and environmental factors. As the nation increasingly prioritises sustainable agricultural practices and the reduction of environmental impact, the fertiliser market has adapted to meet these demands. Recent years have seen a heightened focus on precision agriculture and the optimisation of nutrient management to enhance crop yields while minimising waste and environmental harm. This has led to the development of innovative fertiliser formulations, including slow-release, organic, and bio-based fertilisers, as well as controlled-release options that deliver nutrients to plants in a precise and efficient manner. Additionally, the UK fertiliser industry is characterised by a strong commitment to regulatory compliance and responsible usage, ensuring that market offerings adhere to rigorous standards of quality, safety, and environmental protection. The market comprises a diverse array of stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, agricultural merchants, and farmers, all working collaboratively to foster a profitable and sustainable agricultural sector. The fertiliser market in the United Kingdom continues to evolve, bolstering the agricultural economy and contributing to the nation’s food security and environmental objectives through a focus on innovation, sustainability, and responsible farming practices.

According to the research report "United Kingdom Fertilizer Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the United Kingdom Fertilizer market is anticipated to grow at more than 2.25% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. The fertilizer market in the United Kingdom is experiencing steady growth, driven by the country’s need to enhance agricultural productivity amid limited arable land and growing food demand. Key crops like cereals, wheat, and barley, along with high-value fruits and vegetables, are fuelling the demand for nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium-based fertilizers. Urea and ammonium nitrate (AN) are widely used to boost yields in these staple crops, while specialty fertilizers are increasingly adopted for tailored nutrient management. The move toward more eco-friendly and sustainable methods is a significant trend in the UK fertilizer sector. In order to reduce their influence on the environment, farmers are adopting precision agriculture practices and choosing slow-release, organic, and bio-based fertilizers in response to growing concerns about nutrient runoff and environmental deterioration. This trend is being further supported by the UK government's focus on lowering carbon emissions and promoting sustainable farming through a number of initiatives and subsidies. The optimization of fertilizer consumption is also greatly aided by technological improvements. Farmers can now apply fertilizers more effectively, enhancing crop health and cutting waste, thanks to the growing use of data-driven solutions, variable rate applications, and soil health monitoring.

Nitrogenous fertilisers dominate the market, while complex fertiliser use is expected to grow in the coming years. However, high prices of complex fertilisers are still a restraint, resulting in low demand from farmers. The fertilizer market's by-product segment in the United Kingdom, which includes ammonium sulfate (AS), urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), ammonium nitrate (AN), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), potassium chloride (MOP/KCl), and complex fertilizers, is experiencing moderate but consistent growth. Urea and ammonium nitrate (AN) are particularly favored for cereal crops like wheat and barley due to their high nitrogen content and effectiveness in enhancing crop yields. DAP and MAP serve as crucial phosphorus fertilizers, vital for promoting root development and boosting the productivity of high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables. The demand for potassium chloride (MOP/KCl) remains robust, as it plays a key role in maintaining plant health, especially in potassium-deficient soils found in certain areas of the UK. Additionally, complex fertilizers, which provide a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), are becoming increasingly popular, enabling farmers to enhance resource efficiency and crop performance. Ammonium sulfate (AS) is also gaining attention in specific regions, particularly where sulfur deficiencies are present.

In the UK, the fertilizer market's application segment is on a steady upward trajectory, driven by the increasing demand for a diverse range of crops, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, grains, oilseeds, and pulses. The cereals and grains segment is the largest, with essential crops like wheat and barley that heavily depend on nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium fertilizers to enhance their yields. These crops are vital for both local consumption and export, making fertilizers such as urea and ammonium nitrate critical for maintaining high productivity in the agricultural sector. The vegetable and fruit segment is also experiencing significant growth, particularly due to the rising consumer demand for high-quality, locally grown products. There is a notable shift towards the use of fertilizers designed to meet specific nutritional needs in horticulture, which helps improve crop yields and ensures premium quality for fruits like apples and berries, as well as vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Additionally, oilseeds and pulses, including rapeseed and peas, are playing a role in the expansion of the fertilizer market, as these crops require tailored nutrients for optimal growth. In the "others" category, crops like sugar beets are seeing an increase in fertilizer use to boost soil fertility and production levels.

COVID-19 Impact
Agriculture was an essential activity and so was exempted from government regulations during the pandemic. But the restrictions on the movement of people and goods created challenges for the industry, halting the supply of fertilizers. Due to non-availability, the farmers were not able to sow the seeds at the proper time and the food production came to a standstill. Due to the shortage of labour and the shutdown of a few fertiliser plants located in the integrated chemical complexes, shipments were affected in the initial lockdown process. China, a major fertiliser supplier to the world markets, was not able to export fertilisers to other countries, which created scarcity and a price hike in fertilizers. However, government initiatives and subsidies after the pandemic have eased the farmers' burdens, giving them relief for fertiliser purchases.





Considered in this report :
• Geography: United Kingdom
• Historic Year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029


Aspects covered in this report :
• United Kingdom fertilizer market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Application wise fertilizer consumption
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Nutrient in the report:
• Nitrogenous fertilizer (Urea, ammonium sulphate, CAN/ AN, others)
• Phosphate fertilizer (Di-ammonium phosphate, mono-ammonium phosphate, others)
• Potash fertilizer (Muriate of potash/potassium chloride, sulphate of potash others)
• Complex fertilizer (NPK, NK, PK, NP compounds)

By Product type in the report:
• Ammonium sulphate
• Urea
• Calcium ammonium nitrate/ Ammonium nitrate
• Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)
• Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP)
• Muriate of potash (MOP)/ (KCl)
• Complex (NPK, NK, PK, NP)
• Others (Potassium nitrate, Other Potasic fertilizer)
• Others (Phosphate rock, superphosphate, other Phosphatic fertilizer)
• Others (UAN, Sodium nitrate, Ammonia anhydrous, Others nitrogenous fertilizers)

By Application in the report:
• Vegetable & Fruits
• Cereals & Grains
• Oilseeds & Pulses
• Others

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to fertilizer industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.