THE WORLD FERTILIZER MARKET A SHORT-RUN VIEW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000500200016-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: May 1, 1975
• Content Type: IR

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Intelligence Report
The World Fertilizer Market
A Short-Run View
Confidential
ER IR 75-15
May 1975
Copy N2 100
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The World Fertilizer Market:
A Short-Run View
World production of chemical fertilizer has moved up steadily in recent years. At
the same time, prices in the international market have been extA,emely volatile, nearly
quadrupling between mid-1973 and mid-1974, only to fall back in recent months in the
face of world recession and expanding supplies. Global production of chemical
fertilizer by type, since 1970, is shown in Figure 1; trends in prices, mid-1973 to the
beginning of 1975, are shown in Figure 2.
World Production of Chemical Fertilizer, by Type
Million Tons of Nutrient Content
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25.5
73/74
Preliminary
28.3
74/75
Estimated
Note: Comments and queries regarding this report are welcomed. They may be
directed to I of the Office of Economic Research,
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Production of nitrogen and phos- Chemical Fertilizer Prices
phate fertilizer will increase substantially Us $ Per Ton of Product
in the 1975/76 fertilizer year (July 1975 500 -- -
through June 1976) because of the
coming on stream of new plants in major
producing countries, and the availability
of sizable amounts of ar-:monia and phos-
phoric acid, being diverted from nonfer- 400
tilizer uses because of sluggish demand. In
contrast, production of potassium ferti-
lizer will not increase much, because
Canadian producers are holding up expan-
sion projects pending the resolution of tax 300 -
disputes with the provincial government
of Saskatchewan.
The international prices of nitrogen 200
and phosphate fertilizer thus are expected
to continue under downward pressure in
1975/76, while prices of potassium ferti- ExPon Price of
lizer will be comparatively firm. Even Muriate of Potash
though down from peak, prices in mid- 1.00
1975 will be perhaps triple the early 1973
level and will continue to place an extra-
ordinary burden on the non-oil LDCs.
Fertilizer application rates in developing
countries are so low that farmers cannot 0 L 1----~
Jun Jan Jun Jan
reduce inputs of fertilizers without suf- 1973 1974 1974 1975
fering considerable loss in yield. Farmers
in the developed countries, where much of the land is already heavily fertilized,
continue to increase their use of fertilizer, although not nearly so rapidly as before
the price explosion.
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Increased Market Pressure, 1973/741
I. The globs! statistical results for the 1973/74 fertilizer year show record
production and an apparent increase in stocks, and therefore give no indication
of the panic that shook the fertilizer market. World production reached 88.4 million
tons2 in 1973/74, 8% above the previous fertilizer year. Impressive gains in output
were achieved in the United States, the USSR, Canada, and France, the world's
leading producers. World consumption3 rose 7%, suggesting addition to stocks at
all levels of some 4.2 million tons. World exports of chemical fertilizer increased
by 9%, paced by huge gains in Canadian shipments of potash and stepped-up
shipments of phosphate fertilizer from the United States.4
2. In spite of these superficially favorable statistics, export prigs for
fe ilizer nearly quadrupieu during 1973/74 as rising demand led to shartages and
then to a panicky scrambling for supplies. The apparent inconsistency is ~.xplained
by the rapid buildup of stocks held in transit, by distributors, and, to some extent,
by farmers, as a result of massive precautionary and speculative purchasing. These
purchases, in turn, caused producers' stocks to dwindle.
3. The market pressures began in response to the unusually strong world
economic boom of 1972-73 and the large rise in grain prices that followed the
depletion of US grain reserves. With farm incomes up sharply and more favorable
US grain/fertilizer price relations, farmers substantially increased crop acreage and
fertilizer application.
4. Prices of chemical fertilizer rose in the second half of 1973 and industry
profits soared. Farmers, long accustomed to inexpensive readily available fertilizer,
began scrambling for supplies as spot shortages began to appear in the United States
and South Asia. US suppliers agreed, when Phase Four price controls were removed
in October 1973, to divert 1.5 million tons of fertilizer froin the export market
1. Data are for fertilizer years, which run from 1 July to 30 June. In sonic cases, particularly in the case
of Communist countries, the governments report on a calendar year basis. Data for these countries, as used
in Tables 1-8 in the Appendix, refer to the first year stated - e.g., 1973 data are listed as 1973/74 data
and combined in 1973/74 totals.
2. Metric tons of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P205), and potassium (K20) nutrients.
3. Apparent cor.Lumption - i.e., annual production plus or minus net trade. Comprehensive data are not
available on actual use of chemical fertilizer at the farm level.
4. World exports of ri.. -,,gee. fertilizer, however, remained about the same as in tae previous year. Major
agricultural countries accounted for about 70% of world imports of chemical fertilizer and the LDCs about
30%, roughly OX same shares that have prevailed since the early 1960s. For tables representing world
production, consumption, anu ::-de in chemical fertilizer, see thin Appendix.
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to domestic use in calendar year 1974. An acceleration of fertilizer purchases in
the last half of 1973 reduced producers' inventories by 25?10-40% in the United
States, Western Europe, and Japan.
5. With the fertilizer market already very tight and nervous, three major
events created a near panic.
? In late 1973 the OPEC countries quadrupled the price of crude oil, driving
up prices of petroleum-based feedstocks, such as naphtha, used to produce
nitrogen fertilizer.
? In January 1974, Morocco and the United States, the world's largest
exporters of phosphate rock,' tripled export prices.
? In February 1974, Japan, the world's largest exporter of nitrogen
fertilizer announced that exports would be cut by 40%, a decrease of
700,000 tons. This announcement created turmoil in South Asian
countries that depend heavily on Japanese shipments.
6. These events quickly had repercussions on other countries. France, West
Germany, and the United Kingdom reported that their exports of nitrogen fertilizer
might be cut by about 20%, a decrease of approximately 500,000 tons. Poland,
Yugoslavia, Mexico, and Argentina b;ianed exports of nitrogen, and Japan halted
foreign sales of phosphoric acid. Domestic pressures mounted on major exporters,
including US and Italian exporters, to embargo snipments of all chemical fertilizer.
Panicky scrambling for supplies, combined with discriminatory pricing policies of
some major suppliers, drove chemical fertilizer prices to an artificially high and
unsustainable level, fLr out of line with cost o: production.
7. In the first six months of 1974, world export prices of nitrogen any
phosphate fertilizer more than tripled and those of potassium rose by about 50%.
The price of urea, a high-nutrient nitrogen fertilizer, skyrocketed from about $125
per ton6 in January to about $425 in June. Ammonia? prices increased from about
5. Phosphate rock is the basic raw material used to produce phosphoric acid, an important intermediate
product in the production of phosphate fertilizer. The United States and Morocco account for about one-half
of world exports of phosphate rock.
6. Unless otherwise indicated, prices in this report are f.o.b. per metric ton of bulk product, not on a
nutrient basis.
7. Ammonia is the basic input for the production of nitrogen fertilizers. US companies chiefly use natural
gas feedstocks to produce ammonia. West European producers use about 70% natural gas and 30% naphtha.
In Japan, naphtha is used exclusively. Smaller producers of nitrogen fertilizer use other feedstocks, such as
coal and heavy fuel oil.
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$80 to $350 during the same period and spot prices exceeded $501) in Middle
Eastern markets. Spurred by Morocco's announcement that export prices of
phosphate rock would be increased by an additional 50% in July, price increases
of phosphate fertilizer kept pace with those of nitrogen. Highly concentrated
phosphate fertilizers, such as diammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple
superphosphate, were selling routinely for $425-$475 in June, compared with $125
six months earlier. Prices of potassium fertilizer - which was in relatively good
supply - increased steadily in the first half of 1974 but less sharply than prices
of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer. High-nutrient potassium fertilizer, such as
muriate of potash (MOP), increased to about $110 in June, compared with $75
in January8 (see Figurr 2).
8. Industry and trade reports asserted that the world faced a severe,
long-term shortage of chemical fertilizer, which would undercut efforts to increase
grain production in developed countries. In the less developed countries (LDCs),
the impact of shortages of chemical fertilizer was seen as especially severe. Not
only were these countries financially strapped but also a considerable number had
emphasized the use of high yielding grains - the so-called miracle grains - that
must have heavy application of fertilizer to respond well. Any reduction in fertilizer
application would be apt to result in an even greater reduction in yields. For the
same amount of fertilizer imported in 1972/73, however, the LDCs would
(according to estimates by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization), at the new
1974/75 prices, have to pay an additional $3.3 billion - a severe burden for
countries already faced with staggering increases in the price of imported food
and oil.
Easing of World Demand, 1974/75
9. Demand for chemical fertilizer weakened noticeably in he last half of
1974 as the worldwide recession spread, prices of many commodities declined,
and consumers in both developed and less developed countries began to resist high
fertilizer prices. Falling grain prices in particular made traditionally cautious farmers
reluctant to purchase large amounts of chemical fertilizer. US farmers cut fertilizer
purchases by 14% in the second half of 1974, compared with the same period
one year earlier, a time of heavy buying. Farmers in Australia and the United
Kingdom reduced fertilizer consumption by 37o in the second half of 1974. In
January 1975, Japanese consumption of various types of multinutrient fertilizer
8. Prices paid by farmers for fertilizer in most countries increased considerably less than export prices during
this period because of lags and government subsidies.
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was reported to be 13%,30% below the level of one year before. The People's
Republic of China cut its imports of nitrogen from Japan to slightly less than
two-thirds of the previous year's level and canceled a contract for I million tons
of phosphate rock from Morocco. The LDCs toughened their stance in the
marketplace, many of them ordering their agents to pay no more than a fixed
price for any type of fertilizer. A number of factors on the supply side convinced
consumers that prices were more likely to decline than to continue to rise.
Consequently, they stopped anticipatory buying.
10. Some factors causing consumers to doubt predictions of long-term
shortages of fertilizer and continued price rises follow.
? Fertilizer production continued at full capacity in developed countries.
? In the first half of 1974, many projects for expanding production capacity
were announced.
? There was growing evidence that fears concerning possible shortages of
petroleum-based feedstocks and phosphate rock were groundless.
? The cost of naphtha in world markets declined from $160 per ton in
June to $90 in December. This drop resulted from oversupply,
attributable to the high priority given by the Indian and several West
European governments to naphtha production.
? Sizable amounts of ammonia and phosphoric acid were diverted from
nonfertilizer to fertilizer production because the recession lowered the
demand arising from the competing uses.' Nonfertilizer demand for
ammonia dropped by 5%-81% in the United States, Western Europe. and
Japan, a reduction that would make 600,000-900,000 tons of additional
ammonia available annually for production of nitrogen fertilizer. This
amount of ammonia is sufficient to produce 1-1.5 million tons of '.:ea.
? A 15%-20% decline in freight rates reduced the cost of delivered
fertilizers.
11. As a result of the changing supply and demand situation, producers'
inventories - which had been seriously depleted by the wave of panic buying in
9. About 15%20% of annual production of ammonia and phsophoric acid is u,;cd for nonfcrtilizcr
applications, such as synthetic fibers, detergents, and explosives.
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late 1973 and early 1974 - began to rebuild, and prices began to fall. World export
prices of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer dropped more than 20% in the second
halt' of 1974. Prices of urea and highly concentrated phosphate fertilizer fell from
about $425 per ton in June to $330 in December. Spot prices for these fertilizers
dropped below $300 in early 1975.* ? However, prices of potassium fertilizer
remained steady as producers and consumers marked time pending resolution of
tax disputes between Canadian producers and the provincial government of
Saskatchewan.
12. In January 1975, Japan reduced its export price of urea to $240, nearly
30Io less than export prices prevailing one month earlier. West European and Arab
suppliers, who have been closely coordinating their export prices with the Japanese,
almost certainly will follow suit, at least part way. Nitrex (Zurich), a major West
European supplier, recently cut the price of highly concentrated phosphate
fertilizer. French and Arab suppliers have offered to sell nitrogen and phosphate
fertilizer at prices 40% below mid-1974 peaks. Poland recently offered to sell urea
to the United States at 75% of the price it had been asking, but purchasers have
not responded, as the Polish export price still considerably exceeds the US domestic
price.
13. Despite the downward trend in prices, inventories continued to grow.
By January 1975, US producers' inventories of nitrogen fertilizer were 19% higher
than a year earlier, those of highly concentrated phosphate fertilizer were 10%
higher, and those of potash about 33% higher. Japanese and West European
producers' inventories of nitrogen and multinutrient fertilizer were at high levels,
and Japan also found itself overstocked with ammonia and phosphoric acid.
Fertilizer inventories were reported to be at or above normal levels in Brazil,
Indonesia, India, and Pakistan. The Philippines and Nicaragua banned further
imports of nitrogen fertilizer because of excess inventories, and Sri Lanka reportedly
was attempting to sell surplus stocks of phosphate fertilizer through Japanese
exporters.
14. By the first quarter of 1975, the world fertilizer market had turned
around from a situation of soaring demand, tight supplies, and rising prices to
one of weak demand, rising inventories, and falling prices. A recent Pakistani tender
for 200,000 tons of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer brought bids offering almost
950,000 tons. A Chilean tender for 25,000 tons of multinutrient fertilizer brought
bids totaling almost 300,000 tons. In contrast, in mid-1974, most tenders brought
bids for only one-third of the amount requested.
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Prospects
Supply
15. World production of chemical fertilizer will increase by an estimated 8%
in 1974/75 and grow even faster in 1975/76. Ten large ammonia plants that will
be commissioned in 1975 in the United States, the USSR, and Mexico, with a
combined annual capacity of 3 million tons of ammonia, will support production
of more than 5 million tons of urea. Smaller increases in capacity are due in India,
Indonesia, and Bangladesh. An additional 4-5 million tons of ammonia capacity
is expected to be commissioned in 1976, paced by huge increases in Chinese
capacity. Although spot shortages of natural gas could limit increases in output,
especially in the United States, the world supply of nitrogen fertilizer will continue
to outpace demand in 1975/76, resulting in further downward pressure on prices.'
16. The world supply of phosphate fertilizer will increase substantially in
both 1974/75 and 1975/76 because of the greater availability of phosphoric acid.
At least 3.6 million tons of new phosphoric acid capacity, equal to 18% of total
installed capacity in 1974, will come on stream by December 1975. The United
States will add about 1.5 million tons, Western Europe 900,000 tons, and Morocco
500,000 tons. Smaller increases are due in at least half a dozen other countries.
17. Spot shortages of phosphate rock will not appreciably limit production
of phosphate fertilizer. Rapid gains in rock production are expected in 1975 in
both the United States and Morocco. Jordan plans to triple production of phosphate
rock by 1976, and like increases probably will be achieved in Spanish Sahara, Togo,
Senegal, and Israel.
18. Potash, however, probably will remain in tight supply, and prices of
potassium fertilizer almost certainly will remain high during this fertilizer year and
next. Much of the uncertainty hanging over world potash markets involves the
decision by Canadian producers in late 1974 to postpone eight major potash
expansion projects, valued at $250 million, pending resolution of tax disputes with
the provincial government of Saskatchewan. Tight supplies and high prices will
probably characterize the potash market until huge increases in Soviet capacity
come into play in the late, 1970s.
11. As world fertilizer prices weaken, jome longer range plans for construction of additional production
capacity after 1976/77 undoubtedly will be shelved. Between November 1973 and June 1974, in response
to high prices then prevailing, plans were announced for building, by 1980, plants with capacity to produce
18 million tons of ammonia and 2.6 million tons of phosphoric acid annually.
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19. World consumption of chemical fertilizer probably will increase during
1974/75 at a lower rate than the 7% average in the early 1970s. In 1975/76,
despite greatly improved supply conditions and lower fertilizer prices, gains in
consumption of fertilizer hinge to a large extent on future grain prices. If grain
prices are low relative to fertilizer prices, increases in fertilizer consumption -
especially in developed countries - probably will be small.
20. Changes in fertilizer consumption in this fertilizer year and next will
vary widely from country to country. A lower rate of growth is most likely in
those major agricultural countries where the price of fertilizer has increased sharply
relative to the price of grain. This is especially true in the case of France and
the United States, where fertilizer prices in 1974 increased two to three times
faster than prices of major crops, such as corn and wheat, thus reducing the
profitability of fertilizer use.' 2 The relationship between prices of fertilizer and
grain in Australia, West Germany, and Italy changed little during the same period.
Uncertainty concerning future grain prices probably will cause farmers to adopt
a wait-and-see attitude toward making large purchases of chemical fertilizer.
21. In major agricultural countries, where much of the land already is heavily
fertilized. ~armers can shift to crops that require less fertilizer or can postpone
additional application for a short time without suffering substantial loss in yields.
Opportunity for reduced application is greatest in the case of phosphate and
potassium fertilizers, the nutrients of which remain active in the soil beyond one
crop season. For example, Japan plans to reduce consumption of phosphate
fertilizer 10%-i 5% in 1975 because of the high cost of imported phosphate rock.
Australian fertilizer producers expect to encounter weak demand because of the
anticipated unfavorable market conditions for wheat. One producer is -estimating
that domestic purchases of chemical fertilizer may fall by as mucl: as 30% in 1975
if wheat prices continue to decline.
22. The LDCs are unlikely to reduce fertilizer consumption. Fertilizer
application rates in the LDCs are low, and farmers face substantial loss in yields
if fertilizer application is delayed. The potential loss in grain output is suggested
by the high response ratios for fertilizer that are obtainable when fertilizer is used
effectively with adequate amounts of water and chemical pesticides. In developed
12. Fertilizer costs increased from about 4% of total farm cost in the United States in 1;72/73 to 8%10%
in 1973/74. In Western Europe, farm costs (excluding labor) were 33% higher in 1974 than two years earlier,
largely as a result of increased fertilizer prices.
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countries, at current levels of application, each ton of plant nutrient applied to
grain results in 4-5 tons of additional output. In the LDCs, response ratios of
8-12 tons of additional grain per ton of plant nutrient are commonly achieved
with high yielding variety grains. Fertilizer has accounted for an estimated 33%
of the increase in yields in Taiwan in recent years u.id about 60% in India. Increased
availability and application of fertilizer can make a great difference to the food
situation in the LDCs.
23. On the other hand, significant increases in fertilizer use in most LDCs
seem unlikely this fertilizer year. In Brazil, India, and Pakistan, by far the largest
non-Communist LDC consumers of fertilizer, production continues to rise and
stocks are accumulating. Farmers in these countries are financially strapped and
are faced with worsening relationships between fertilizer and grain prices. The huge
rise in world market prices in 1973/74 forced the LDCs, espccially India and Brazil,
to increase dramatically the prices farmers pay for chemical fertilizer. Desire to
hold down food prices and to combat inflation militated against a proportionate
increase in grain prices. In Brazil, government-controlled prices of chemical fertilizer
soared by 230% in 1974, whereas prices farmers received for wheat and corn rose
by only 29% and 11 %, respectively. Government-ordered increases in domestic
fertilizer prices also outran increases in grain prices by a wide margin in India
and Pakistan.
24. The turnaround in the fertilizer market and the prospects for substantially
higher production and slower growth in demand in developed countries will mean
that more fertilizer will be available to the LDCs at lower prices. This should enable
them to reduce fertilizer Writes at the farm level. Indone''ia, for example, which
is well stocked with chemical fertilizer, recently established more favorable
relationships between the prices of fertilizer and rice in order to stimulate sluggish
fertilizer consumption. If fertilizer and grain price relationships improve in other
LDCs, fertilizer consumption probably will rebound in 1975/76.
25. Given the expected world supply and demand conditions, export prices
of chemical fertilizer should fall sharply in 1975/76. It is uncertain, however, how
far prices will need to fall in order to stimulate consumer demand sufficiently
to clear the market. Most suppliers appear to be trimming the export price of
urea to about $240, the pr.,;e set by Japan. This price, although down sharply
from mid-1974 peaks, probably wil! come under further downward pressure.
Farmers in importing countries, such as India and Pakistan, currently are resisting
domestic prices that are 25%-50% lower than the Japane..e export price.
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STATISTICAL TABLES
Table 1
World Production of Chemical Fertilizer
Thousand Metric Tons of Nutrients
1970/71
1971/72
1972/73
1973/74'
Total
72,335
77,314
81,932
88,435
United States
15,624
16,126
16,662
17,511
USSR
13,095
14,664
15,924
17,561
Canada
4,465
5,446
5,340
6,620
France
4,644
4,821
4,756
5,424
China
2,781
3,339
3,951
4,906
West Germany
4,744
4,784
4,954
4,977
East Germany
3,244
3,247
3,295
3,352
Japan
2,770
2,811
3,183
3,167
Poland
1,629
1,787
1,910
2,180
Netherlands
1,206
1,334
1,544
1,874
Other
18,133
18,:'55
20,413
20,863
World Production of Nitrogen Fertilizer
1970/71
1971/72
1972/73
1973/74'
Percent Change
over Pre-
vious Year
Total
32,987
35,105
37,878
40,800
7.7
United States
8,161
8,318
8,433
9,152
8.5
USSR
5,423
6,055
6,551
7,150
9.1
China
1,562
1,900
2,360
2,880
22.0
Japan
2,105
2,125
2,454
2,431
-1.0
France
1,351
1,417
1,472
1,694
15.1
Netherlands
929
1,038
1,189
1,500
26.2
West Germany
1,505
1,321
1,471
1,473
Negl.
Poland
1,030
1,081
1,147
1,366
19.1
India
846
946
1,054
1,050
Negl.
Italy
900
1,028
1,045
1,050
Negl.
Other
9,175
9,876
10,702
11,054
1. Preliminary.
g
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World Production of Phosphate Fertilizer
1970/71
1971/72 1972/73
1973/741
Percent Change
aver Pre-
Thousand Metric Tons of P2O5
vious Year
Total
21,754
22,561
23,850
25,500
6.9
United States
5,204
5,601
5,797
6,013
3.7
USSR
3,585
3,802
3,940
4,261
8.2
China
1,103
1,299
1,439
1,858
29.1
France
1,451
1,577
1,611
1,650
2.4
Australia
695
762
1,082
1,169
8.0
West Germany
946
976
986
965
-2.0
Belgium
745
739
788
830
5.3
Poland
599
706
763
814
6.7
Japan
665
685
729
736
Negl.
Canada
726
721
720
740
2.8
Other
6,035
5,693
5,995
6,464
1970/71
1971/72
1972/73
1973/74'
Percent Change
over Pre-
Thousand Metric Tons of K2O
vious Year
Total
17,594
19,648
20,204
22,135
9.6
USSR
4,087
4,807
5,433
6,150
13.2
Canada
3,179
3,920
3,820
5,060
32.5
East Germany
2,419
2,445
2,458
2,678
9.0
West Germany
2,293
2,487
2,497
2,539
1.7
United States
2,259
2,207
2,432
2,346
-3.6
France
1,842
1,827
1,673
2,080
24.3
Israel
576
552
622
515
-17.2
Other
939
1,403
1,269
767
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Table 5
World Production of Chemical Fertilizer, by Region
Thousand Metric Tons of Nutrients
1970/71
1971/72
1972/73
1973/74'
Total
72,335
77,314
81,932
88,435
Developed countries
64,522
68,184
71,886
76,777
Nitrogen
28,553
29,657
31,619
33,907
Phosphate
18,526
19,636
20,663
21,427
Potassium
17,443
18,891
19,604
21,443
Less developed countries
7,813
9,130
10,046
11,658
Nitrogen
4,434
5,448
6,259
6,893
Phosphate
3,228
2,925
3,187
4,073
Potassium
151
757
600
692
Table 6
World Consumption of Chemical Fertilizer, by Region
Thousand Metric Tons of Nutrients
1970/71
1971/72
1972/73
1973/74'
Total
68,269
72,824
78,613
84,221
Developed countries
54,800
57,179
61,741
65,826
Nitrogen
23,203
24,039
25,765
27,728
Phosphate
16,606
17,360
19,275
19,992
Potassium
14,991
15,780
16,701
18,106
Less developed countries
13,469
15,645
16,872
18,395
Nitrogen
8,560
10,051
10,300
11,083
Phosphate
3,218
3,774
4,436
4,906
Potassium
1,691
1,820
2,136
2,406
11
Approved For Release 2005/01/10 : CIA-RDP86T00608R000500200016-9
Confidential
 Approved For Release 2005/01/10 : CIA-RDP86T00608R000500200016-9
Table 7
World Exports of Chemical Fertilizer'
Thousand Metric Tons of Nutrients
Exporter
Nitrogen
Phosphate
Potassium
Total
Nitrogen
Phosphate
Potassium
Total
Total
Canada
6,823
434
2,867
260
0,652
2,959
18,342
3,653
355
2
6,954
438
3,365
330
330
1
9,674
3,868
596
19,993
4,636
2,861
United States
9772
815
563
,
319
,
109
1,622
,622
2,050
307
132
1,309
1,748
602
USSR
West Germany
483
142
1,176
1,801
370
13
144
1,088
1,757
1,
1,770
East Germany
2
....
1,739
1,741
274
1
48
1,332
Japan
1,410
28
....
1,438
,
652
255
?.??
907
595
210
....
805
974
5
Netherlands
France
192
97
859
1,148
890
163
482
89
493
722
975
a
N
Belgium
442
448
559
442
67
21
530
Italy
442
70
47
866
1
500
...
2,366
Other
1,539
665
....
2,204
,
1973/74
1972/73
Total
7,915
4,108
11,616
23,639
7,900
4,600
13,200
25,700
Of which:
377
340
3,640
4,357
256
350
5,042
5,648
332
3
Canada
23!
1
1,291
836
3,358
1,0702
1,403
859
7
,
451
2
United States
USSR
,
405
95
1,706
2,206
051
2
362
578
173
1,99
1,214
,
1,965
West Germany
507
144
1,400
,
N
l
880
1
880
1
0
East Germany
2
1,820
1,822
Negl.
eg
.
50
,
10
1,,48
Japan
1,585
60
9
1,654
226
1
1,386
110
1
340
1,450
Netherlands
794
330
90
102
795
,
1,108
,
162
307
733
1,202
France
m
i
l
B
223
515
655
131
1,301
N.A.
N.A.
170
20
N.A.
460
u
e
g
Italy
265
35
23
323
410
N
A
30
A
N
N.A.
N.A.
Other
2,013
1,066
1,154
4,233
.
.
.
.
1. Because of transportation delays and differences jr tabulation methods of the reporting countries, totals in Table 7 do not agree with those in Table 8.
2. Including anhydrous ammonia.
Approved For Release 2005/01/10 : CIA-RDP86T00608R000500200016-9
 Approved For Release 2005/01/10 : CIA-RDP86T00608R000500200016-9
World Imports of Chemical Fertilizer
Thousand Metric Tons of Nutrients
1970/7
1
!271[72
Nitrogen
Phosphate
Potassium
Total
Nitrogen
Phosphate
Potassium
Total
Total
U
it
d
6,681
3,106
9,664
19
451
6
964
n
e
States
842
257
,
,
3,076
10
114
20
154
Brazil
2,278
3,377
766
297
,
,
255
215
306
2,802
3
865
China
1,480
776
209
216
351
,
776
France
5
1,485
1
526
208
340
183
,
5
1
531
Poland
731
226
366
212
,
12
1
144
1
156
804
India
491
37
,
,
29
1
173
1
202
U
i
d
183
711
470
,
,
n
te
Kingdom
C
h
131
63
531
725
170
242
284
996
zec
oslovakia
98
24
82
492
744
Japan
526
648
79
24
569
22
632
654
672
Denmark
227
42
21
487
508
Other
188
457
221
36
2,949
2,094
3
688
177
434
,
8,731
3,297
1,763
3,562
8,622
1972/73
Total
1973/74
Of which:
11,058
22,307
United States
800
282
2,896
3,978
958
285
324
586
456
3,742
4,985
__
NA
460
1
700
China
France
'.,535
426
15
629
10
378
1,560
1,366
83
75
,
1
524
Poland
37
12
1
232
1,433
N.A.
500
N.A.
,
NA
India
691
211
,
316
1,281
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
.
NA
United Kingdom
155
75
512
1,218
658
208
381
.
1
247
Czechoslovakia
99
19
590
742
N.A.
54
473
,
NA
Japan
48
708
66
34
600
.
700
Denmark
50
G1U
620
531 3
658
Other
05
212
3,4D4proved FWftelease 20&9R31/10 : Cli P86T0Q0Q8R000500d4016-9
N.A.
S72
N.A.