No Fertilizer Shortages

ROME - Feb 26/08 - SNS -- Fertilizer production will keep pace with forecast increases in land used to support rising food and biofuel production levels, the FAO argues in its 'Current world fertilizer trends and outlook to 2011-12'.

"High commodity prices experienced over recent years led to increased production and correspondingly to greater fertilizer use," said Jan Poulisse, FAO fertilizer expert.

"This has led to tight markets and higher fertilizer prices. While it is expected that the demand for basic food crops, fruits and vegetables, for animal products and for biofuel crops is likely to remain strong, we expect fertilizer supply to grow sufficiently to meet higher consumption," he added.

The FAO report estimates that world fertilizer supply (nitrogen, phosphate and potash nutrient) will increase by some 34 million metric tons (MT) representing an annual growth rate of 3% between 2007-08 and 2011-12, comfortably sufficient to cover demand growth of 1.9% annually.

Total production is expected to grow from 206.5 million MT in 2007-08 to 241 million MT in 2011-12. Fertilizer demand will increase from 197 million MT today to 216 million MT in 2011-12.

World nitrogen supply is forecast to rise by 23.1 million MT by 2011-12; world phosphate fertilizer supply will increase by 6.3 million MT and potash supply by 4.9 million MT.

Africa will remain a major phosphate exporter and increase nitrogen exports while importing all of its potash. Fertilizer consumption in Africa continues to be largely restricted to 10 countries, main consumers are Egypt, South Africa and Morocco.

It is expected that North America will continue to be a net importer of nitrogen and that the region will move into increasing phosphate deficit while remaining a primary supplier of potash.

Asia is expected to produce a rapidly increasing surplus of nitrogen, but will continue to import phosphate and potash.