South America Fertilizers - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)

According to Mordor Intelligence, the south america fertilizers market size was valued at USD 35.66 billion in 2025 and estimated to grow from USD 37.37 billion in 2026 to reach USD 47.19 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 4.78% during the forecast period (2026-2031).

This report is Segmented by Type (Complex and Straight), by Form (Conventional and Specialty), by Application Mode (Fertigation, Foliar, and Soil), by Crop Type (Field Crops, Horticultural Crops, and Turf and Ornamental), and by Country (Argentina, Brazil, and the Rest of South America). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD ) and Volume (Metric Tons)

South America Fertilizers Market Trends and Insights

Rising Soybean and Corn Acreage Expansion

Brazil planted 49.1 million ha of soybeans in the 2025-2026 crop year, a 2.8% rise, concentrated in Mato Grosso and the MATOPIBA frontier, where acidic cerrado soils require high phosphate starters. Safrinha corn production increases the country's corn output and compresses the nitrogen top-dress window to fewer than 20 days, stimulating demand for liquid urea-ammonium-nitrate blends that sprayers can deliver quickly. Double-cropping strategies tighten logistics calendars and increase the premium on readily available fertilizers that support rapid crop transitions. Second-crop corn, known as safrinha, accounts for a significant share of Brazil's total corn production. Its planting window, from February to March, limits the top-dress nitrogen application period to 18 days. This has increased demand for liquid urea-ammonium-nitrate solutions, which can be applied more quickly with spray rigs than with granular broadcast methods.

Adoption of Precision Farming and Specialty Inputs

Variable-rate technology guided by Sentinel-2 and Planet imagery cut urea use by 14% of Brazilian soybean and corn in 2025 while keeping yields flat. The gain in nutrient-use efficiency shifts product preference toward water-soluble, inhibitor-enhanced, and coated formulations that sprayers and drip systems meter precisely. Polymer-coated urea extended nitrogen availability to 90 days in sugarcane trials, eliminating the need for two application passes and saving USD 28 per ha in fuel and labor. Across the South America fertilizer market, precision tools are moving specialty inputs from niche to mainstream as growers chase input savings and sustainability metrics.

Stricter Nutrient-Runoff and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Regulations

Resolution 430/2011 of CONAMA, which regulates the discharge of effluents into receiving water bodies in Brazil, established stricter standards for nitrogen and other pollutants. This regulation, which modifies and supplements Resolution 357/2005, mandates that industries and agricultural operations, including sugarcane and rice producers, adhere to tighter nutrient discharge limits to reduce pollution in surface and groundwater resources. The regulation aims to address the growing concerns over water quality and its impact on ecosystems and public health. Increased regulatory costs could hinder the adoption of specialty inputs by smallholders unless credit incentives help offset the initial price premium. These measures are projected to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies to meet compliance requirements while minimizing environmental impact.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

1. Brazil National Fertilizer Plan 2050 Implementation
2. Emergence of Green-Ammonia Production Capacity
3. Agronomy Talent Shortage Slowing Tech Adoption

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Straight was the largest segment, accounting for 89.4% of South America fertilizers market share in 2025, as growers seek single-pass solutions that save labor. Farmers have reported labor savings of 30-40% and reduced application errors when using complex NPK products, particularly in large-scale soybean fields in Mato Grosso. Additionally, micronutrient additives are experiencing steady growth driven by precision farming practices that have identified widespread deficiencies in zinc, boron, and manganese in regional soils. The commencement of domestic phosphate production at the Serra do Salitre facility is bolstering the local supply of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Potash continues to rely heavily on imports. Increasing deficiencies in sulfur and calcium are also elevating the importance of secondary macronutrients on procurement lists, thereby expanding the nutrient base of the South America fertilizers market.

Complex is the fastest-growing segment, advancing at an 7.8% CAGR through 2031, as multi-deficiency soils expand beyond the Cerrado into new MATOPIBA frontiers, fertilizer blenders are utilizing rail-linked hubs to customize NPK formulations based on localized soil analyses. This approach helps reduce regional freight and storage costs. Farmers are transitioning from focusing solely on price comparisons to evaluating total-program economics, acknowledging the benefits of balanced blends in improving yield stability and nutrient-use efficiency under climate stress. Meanwhile, straight grades are evolving, with urea producers introducing coated variants and phosphate suppliers adding micronutrient enrichments. These developments ensure that both segments remain significant in South America fertilizer market.

Conventional fertilizers were the largest segment, accounting for 92.8% share of the South America fertilizers market size in 2025. This dominance can be attributed to their widespread use in agricultural practices, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to meet the nutrient requirements of various crops. The high adoption rate of conventional fertilizers highlights their critical role in supporting agricultural productivity across the region.

The specialty segment is the fastest-growing, advancing at a 6.0% CAGR through 2031. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) are gaining prominence as a single-application system that provides nutrients to crops throughout the growing season, thereby reducing the need for multiple labor-intensive applications. Liquid and water-soluble fertilizers are experiencing growth in irrigated fruit-growing regions and greenhouse operations, supported by the adoption of variable-rate fertigation systems. Polymer-coated urea holds a notable share of the regional nitrogen market, particularly in sugarcane cultivation, where its 90-day nutrient release cycle aligns with the crop's nutrient uptake, eliminating the need for additional mid-season applications.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Type
  • Complex
  • Straight
    • Micronutrients
      • Boron
      • Copper
      • Iron
      • Manganese
      • Molybdenum
      • Zinc
      • Others
    • Nitrogenous
      • Urea
      • Others
    • Phosphatic
      • Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP)
      • Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)
      • Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
      • Triple Superphosphate (TSP)
    • Potassic
      • Muriate of Potassium (MoP)
      • Sulphate of Potash (SoP)
      • Others
    • Secondary Macronutrients
      • Calcium
      • Magnesium
      • Sulfur
• By Form
  • Conventional
  • Speciality
    • Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF)
    • Liquid Fertilizer
    • Slow-release fertilizers (SRF)
    • Water Soluble
• By Application Mode
  • Fertigation
  • Foliar
  • Soil
• By Crop Type
  • Field Crops
  • Horticultural Crops
  • Turf and Ornamental
• By Geography
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Rest of South America

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

1. Coromandel International Limited
2. EuroChem Group AG
3. COMPO EXPERT GmbH
4. Haifa Group
5. Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group Co., Ltd.
6. Koch Fertilizer LLC
7. Nutrien Ltd.
8. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A.
9. The Mosaic Company
10. Yara International ASA
11. ICL Group Ltd.
12. K+S Aktiengesellschaft
13. Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd.
14. Omex Agriculture Ltd.
15. Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers LLC

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support