Key words of the passage: fertilizer; use; decline; global

Global fertilizer use is estimated to have declined by 1.6% to 200.6 Mt in FY 2021 after a 6% jump to 203.8 Mt in FY 2020. The decline in FY 2021 is driven by lower fertilizer affordability (and associated changes in crop mixes), the war in Ukraine and some advance fertilizer purchases made in the previous year.

According to latest IFA estimates, potassium consumption decreased by 4% after an 11% surge in FY 2020. Phosphorous consumption contracted by 2.5% after a 5.5% increase. Nitrogen consumption was almost stable (-0.2%) after a 4% increase.

The 1.6% reduction in global fertilizer use in FY 2021 is led by South Asia (particularly India after a bumper year), Europe and North America. East Asia and West Asia are also estimated to have reduced their consumption. Fertilizer consumption in Africa is seen as stable in FY 2021 due to a strong increase in Nigeria.

Consumption is estimated to have increased in

Latin America, EECA and Oceania.

Source: IFA