Market Trends of Phosphoric Acid Industry
Fertilizer Industry to Dominate the Market
- Phosphoric acid is basically an intermediate used to produce fertilizers. Fertilizers like monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), and trisodium phosphate (TSP) are produced from phosphoric acid.
- Phosphoric acid forms a key component for many fertilizers as it is a multi-function agent used for plant nutrition, pH adjustment, and cleansing irrigation equipment from lime precipitation. It is a rich source of phosphorus for plants.
- Phosphorus fertilizers are extremely important for the plant and provide better activities than organic fertilizers. Phosphorus accelerates the maturation of the plant and also provides the development of the roots. This is particularly important for dry areas.
- According to the Essential Chemical Industry, annually, more than 43 million metric tons of phosphoric acid are produced worldwide, of which about 90% are used to make fertilizers.
- According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, China, Russia, the United States, India, and Canada produce more than 60% of the world’s fertilizer nutrients combined. Russia and the United States each produce less than 10% of global fertilizers, while China produces approximately 25%.
- In September 2022, the US government announced programs worth USD 500 million to boost domestic fertilizer production, and the European Union is being urged to take similar action. Canada, already the world's largest supplier of potash fertilizers, announced in November 2022 that it will boost its fertilizer exports by 20% annually, filling a gap left by blocked shipments from other countries.
- According to the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), China is the largest user of fertilizer, consuming nearly one-quarter of global fertilizer supplies. In 2022, a total of 55.7 million tons of NPK fertilizer was produced in China. This was 55.44 million tons in 2021 and 54.96 million tons in 2020.
- Therefore, considering the growth trends and production of fertilizers in different regions worldwide, the fertilizer industry is likely to dominate the market, which, in turn, is expected to enhance the demand for phosphoric acid during the forecast period.
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Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- The Asia-Pacific region dominated the phosphoric acid market in 2022 with a considerable volume share, and it is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.
- This is due to China being the world's largest producer and consumer of fertilizer. In countries like China, India, and Southeast Asian nations, the demand for phosphoric acid has been increasing continuously.
- China accounts for approximately 7% of the overall agricultural acreage globally, thus feeding 22% of the world’s population. The country is the largest producer of various crops, including rice, cotton, potatoes, and others. Hence, the demand for phosphoric acid, which is used in fertilizers, is rapidly increasing owing to the large-scale agricultural activities in the country.
- Phosphoric acid is also used extensively in the production of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, and China is the dominant country in this field. In 2022, 44% of the total electric vehicles sold in China used LFP batteries, followed by 6% in Europe and 3% in the United States and Canada.
- India, another large fertilizer producer, is the second largest user. Much of India’s usage is fueled by the Indian government’s heavy subsidization of fertilizers. In the financial year 2022, over 42 million metric tons of fertilizers were produced in India. Fertilizer production in India peaked in the financial year 2020 at over 46 million metric tons. During the last few years, there has been a favorable policy facilitating investments in the public, cooperative, and private sectors.
- Phosphoric acid is also used in the food and beverage industries to acidify foods and beverages, such as various colas and jams, providing a tangy or sour taste. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Indian food industry ranks as the third-largest food industry globally. The industry has been experiencing steady growth over the past several years, with India anticipated to become the largest food producer in the world. The country’s food and grocery (F&G) retail market is projected to surpass USD 850 billion in sales by 2025.
- Hence, the reasons mentioned above are likely to fuel the growth of the phosphoric acid market in Asia-Pacific over the forecast period.
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