Africa Fertilizer Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Form, Application Mode, Crop Type, and Country, 2026-2034

Africa Fertilizer Market Summary:

The Africa fertilizer market size reached USD 188.13 Billion in 2025. The market is projected to reach USD 247.02 Billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.07% during 2026-2034. The market is driven by expanding government-led fertilizer subsidy programs aimed at enhancing food security, accelerating investments in domestic fertilizer production capacity to reduce import dependency, and growing adoption of precision agriculture technologies that optimize resource efficiency. African Union's commitment through the Nairobi Declaration to triple fertilizer production and distribution by 2034 is catalyzing infrastructure development and creating new market opportunities. These combined factors are significantly expanding the Africa fertilizer market share.

Africa Fertilizer Market Outlook (2026-2034):

The Africa fertilizer market is poised for sustained expansion driven by continental commitments to agricultural transformation and food sovereignty. The tripling of domestic fertilizer production capacity by 2034, as pledged in the Nairobi Declaration, will fundamentally reshape supply dynamics and reduce vulnerability to global price shocks. Simultaneously, the integration of digital agriculture platforms and AI-powered precision farming tools will enable more efficient fertilizer utilization, particularly among smallholder farmers who represent the majority of agricultural producers. Government subsidy programs across major economies including Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia will continue supporting accessibility, while major industrial investments from companies like Dangote Group and OCP will enhance regional self-sufficiency throughout the forecast period.

Impact of AI:

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing fertilizer management across Africa through precision agriculture applications that optimize input efficiency and maximize crop yields. In order to provide personalized fertilizer recommendations based on particular field conditions, AI-powered platforms examine satellite imagery, soil health data, weather patterns, and crop conditions. Through focused application, these devices assist farmers in reducing fertilizer waste by up to 30% while also increasing output. Machine learning algorithms enable early detection of nutrient deficiencies, predict optimal application timing, and enhance supply chain efficiency. The technology is particularly transformative for smallholder farmers who gain access to agronomic expertise through mobile applications, democratizing precision farming practices previously available only to large commercial operations.

Market Dynamics:

Key Market Trends & Growth Drivers:

Government-Led Fertilizer Subsidy Programs Driving Accessibility and Adoption

African governments are implementing comprehensive fertilizer subsidy schemes to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food security across the continent. These policy interventions provide farmers with subsidized access to essential nutrients, significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs and encouraging higher adoption rates among resource-constrained smallholder farmers who dominate African agriculture. Millions of farming households that would not otherwise be able to buy commercial inputs benefit from the active fertilizer subsidy schemes in more than 30 African countries. While Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation Agency has created blended fertilizers especially suited to regional soil conditions, nations like Nigeria have introduced the National Fertilizer Quality Control Scheme to control distribution and enhance access. In order to enable maize production to exceed 80 million bags and show the direct impact of subsidy programs on agricultural output, Kenya's government raised the distribution of subsidized fertilizer from 6 million bags in 2023 to 12 million bags in 2024. Smallholder farmers continue to employ fertilizer as a result of Ghana's "Planting for Food and Jobs" effort, which is fostering favorable policy conditions for long-term market growth. The Nairobi Declaration was adopted by African heads of state during the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2024. By 2034, member nations of the African Union are required by this historic agreement to increase their domestic production and distribution of fertilizers of approved quality. The Declaration established the Soil Initiative for Africa and a 10-year Action Plan for Fertilizer and Soil Health, which will be implemented under the direction of the African Union Commission and African Union Development Agency and reported to the AU Assembly in February 2026.

Strategic Investments in Domestic Fertilizer Production Capacity

The Africa fertilizer market growth is being propelled by transformative investments in local manufacturing infrastructure designed to reduce the continent's overwhelming dependency on imported fertilizers. Major industrial complexes are being established across strategic locations, leveraging Africa's abundant natural resources including natural gas reserves, phosphate deposits, and other raw materials essential for fertilizer production. This shift toward domestic manufacturing addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: it stabilizes supply chains against global disruptions, creates employment opportunities, reduces foreign exchange pressures, and ensures more predictable pricing for farmers. Dangote Group's USD 2.5 Billion fertilizer complex in Lagos, Nigeria, produces 3 million metric tons of urea annually, twice the country's domestic demand, positioning Nigeria to become a net exporter rather than importer. The company's expansion plans include adding four new production units to increase total capacity beyond 8 million tons, while simultaneously constructing a USD 2.5 Billion plant in Ethiopia's Gode region that will serve regional markets across the Horn of Africa. Morocco's state-backed OCP Group represents Africa's most established fertilizer producer, controlling vast phosphate reserves and operating sophisticated production facilities. In September 2024, Morocco's OCP Group launched the Mzinda-Meskala Strategic Program to significantly increase fertilizer production capacity in the nation. This ambitious initiative targets a total fertilizer capacity increase of 9 million tons by 2028 through the development of two new industrial hubs in Youssoufia and Essaouira, incorporating renewable energy, desalinated water, and advanced automation technologies. The program aims to strengthen OCP's position as Africa's leading fertilizer supplier and enhance food security across the continent. These investments collectively represent a fundamental restructuring of Africa's fertilizer value chain, transitioning from import dependency toward regional self-sufficiency.

Digital Agriculture and Precision Farming Technology Integration

Technology-driven agriculture is transforming traditional farming practices across Africa as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and precision farming tools become increasingly accessible to farmers at all scales. These innovations enable data-informed decision-making around fertilizer application, moving away from blanket recommendations toward site-specific, crop-specific nutrient management strategies that optimize both productivity and resource efficiency. Satellite imagery, drone technology, and GPS mapping systems provide real-time monitoring of crop health, soil moisture levels, and nutrient status, allowing farmers to identify deficiencies early and respond with targeted interventions. AI-powered advisory platforms analyze complex datasets incorporating soil test results, weather forecasts, historical yield data, and current market prices to generate personalized fertilizer recommendations that maximize returns on investment. Mobile applications are democratizing access to agronomic expertise, particularly benefiting smallholder farmers in remote areas who previously lacked extension services. Yara International launched its digital farming program in Kenya in July 2024 with the launch of a mobile application driven by artificial intelligence (AI) that offers real-time fertilizer suggestions based on weather patterns and soil data. This digital platform analyzes complex datasets to optimize fertilizer application timing and quantities, enabling farmers to improve resource efficiency and crop yields while reducing environmental impact. The initiative represents a significant step toward integrating precision agriculture technologies into African farming systems. Research demonstrates that precision agriculture with geospatial intelligence and AI reduces pesticide and fertilizer use by up to 30% while conserving up to 50% of irrigation water, delivering both economic and environmental benefits. The African Union's Digital Transformation Strategy explicitly calls for integrating precision agriculture and data-driven tools into agricultural systems across the continent, recognizing technology as fundamental to achieving agricultural transformation goals. As smartphone penetration increases and internet connectivity improves in rural areas, digital agriculture platforms will continue expanding their reach, fundamentally altering how fertilizers are marketed, distributed, and applied across Africa.

Key Market Challenges:

High Dependency on Fertilizer Imports and Vulnerability to Global Price Volatility

Africa imports over 80% of its fertilizer requirements, creating acute vulnerability to international supply chain disruptions and price fluctuations that directly impact farmer affordability and food security outcomes. As evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical crisis in Ukraine, where fertilizer costs doubled between 2020 and 2022 in nations like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, this dependence exposes the continent to exogenous shocks beyond its control. Major African markets rely heavily on fertilizer supplies from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, regions that have experienced significant trade disruptions due to sanctions and conflict. Reduced supplies from these traditional sources led to acute shortages and unprecedented price spikes that pushed essential inputs beyond the reach of smallholder farmers. Sub-Saharan Africa uses less than 20 kilograms of fertilizer per hectare on average, compared to the global average of 146 kilograms, reflecting both affordability constraints and the persistent challenge of accessing inputs. Fertilizer prices in sub-Saharan Africa are typically four times higher than in Europe, creating a fundamental competitiveness gap that undermines agricultural productivity and perpetuates rural poverty. Even countries with some domestic production capacity often depend on imported raw materials; for example, Morocco's diammonium phosphate production requires imported ammonia, leaving the country partially exposed to global supply dynamics. The heavy reliance on imports also drains foreign exchange reserves, particularly problematic for countries facing currency depreciation and balance of payments pressures. Until Africa substantially increases local fertilizer manufacturing using domestically sourced raw materials, the continent will remain susceptible to external market forces that can rapidly undermine food security and agricultural development objectives.

Infrastructure and Logistics Barriers Limiting Distribution Efficiency

Inadequate transportation networks, insufficient port facilities, and limited storage infrastructure create severe bottlenecks in fertilizer distribution systems across Africa, increasing costs and preventing timely delivery to farming communities. Poor road connectivity hinders the movement of fertilizers from ports and production facilities to inland agricultural regions, with particularly acute challenges in landlocked countries that depend on transit through neighboring nations. Port congestion and inefficient customs clearance procedures cause delays and increase demurrage costs, directly impacting final prices paid by farmers. Many rural areas lack proper warehousing facilities, forcing farmers to transport fertilizers immediately upon purchase rather than storing them strategically for optimal application timing, which may not align with credit availability or planting schedules. The distance from seaports significantly affects fertilizer costs; farmers in interior regions often pay substantially more than those near coastal areas due to high inland transportation expenses. High inland transportation costs, distance from seaports, restricted access to seaports, inefficiencies resulting from inadequate infrastructure, restricted access to financing, and local restrictions on entry into fertilizer markets and distribution all have an impact on the cost and availability of imported fertilizers between nations. Infrastructure deficits are particularly pronounced in West and Central Africa, where road quality and connectivity remain below standards necessary for efficient agricultural value chains. Even where fertilizers reach rural markets, the lack of retail networks in remote villages means farmers must travel long distances to purchase inputs, adding time and transportation costs that reduce net profitability. These logistical challenges disproportionately affect smallholder farmers who operate with thin margins and limited resources, effectively limiting market penetration and constraining the overall growth potential of the fertilizer sector.

Limited Financial Access and Affordability Constraints for Smallholder Farmers

In sub-Saharan Africa, less than 25% of smallholder farmers have access to formal credit facilities, which significantly limits their capacity to invest in capital-intensive, productivity-boosting inputs like fertilizers. This financial exclusion stems from weak rural banking infrastructure, stringent collateral requirements that smallholders cannot meet, and the perceived riskiness of agricultural lending by financial institutions. Most smallholder farmers operate informally without documented land titles or other assets acceptable as collateral, effectively locking them out of traditional credit channels. Microfinance institutions and agricultural cooperatives provide some alternative financing, but their reach remains limited and interest rates are often higher than commercial bank lending. The timing mismatch between when farmers need credit for input purchases versus when they receive income from crop sales creates additional stress, as planting season arrives months before harvest revenues materialize. Fertilizer represents a significant cost factor relative to other farm inputs, and without financing mechanisms to spread payments over time, many farmers simply cannot afford optimal application rates. Government subsidy programs help address affordability but often suffer from implementation challenges including delayed delivery, inadequate allocation to meet demand, diversion of subsidized products into commercial channels, and exclusion of eligible farmers due to registration barriers or corruption. Women farmers, who perform up to 75 percent of farming work in some regions but own only 16 percent of registered land, face difficulties accessing credit and participating in input markets. Until financial inclusion improves through innovative delivery channels such as mobile banking, inventory credit systems, and targeted lending products designed for smallholder agriculture, affordability will continue limiting fertilizer adoption and constraining productivity growth across the continent.

Africa Fertilizer Market Report Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the Africa fertilizer market, along with forecasts at the country level for 2026-2034. The market has been categorized based on type, form, application mode, and crop type.

Analysis by Type:

• Complex
• Straight
  • Micronutrients
    • Boron
    • Copper
    • Iron
    • Manganese
    • Molybdenum
    • Zinc
    • Others
  • Nitrogenous
    • Ammonium Nitrate
    • Urea
    • Others
  • Phosphatic
    • DAP
    • MAP
    • SSP
    • TSP
  • Potassic
    • MoP
    • SoP
  • Secondary Macronutrients
    • Calcium
    • Magnesium
    • Sulfur

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes complex and straight (micronutrients (boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and others), nitrogenous (ammonium nitrate, urea, and others), phosphatic (DAP, MAP, SSP, and TSP), potassic (MoP and SoP), and secondary macronutrients (calcium, magnesium, and sulfur)).

Analysis by Form:

• Conventional
• Speciality
  • CRF
  • Liquid Fertilizer
  • SRF
  • Water Soluble

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the form have also been provided in the report. This includes conventional and speciality (CRF, liquid fertilizer, SRF, and water soluble).

Analysis by Application Mode:

• Fertigation
• Foliar
• Soil

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application mode. This includes fertigation, foliar, and soil.

Analysis by Crop Type:

• Field Crops
• Horticultural Crops
• Turf and Ornamentals

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the crop type have also been provided in the report. This includes field crops, horticultural crops, and turf and ornamentals.

Analysis by Country:

• South Africa
• Morocco
• Nigeria
• Tunisia
• Kenya
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major country markets, which include South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive structure of the fertilizer industry in Africa is moderately fragmented, with both established global firms and up-and-coming regional players pursuing a variety of growth strategies. Competition centers on production capacity expansion, strategic partnerships with governments for subsidy program implementation, and investments in distribution infrastructure to reach underserved agricultural regions. Leading market participants are pursuing vertical integration strategies that encompass raw material sourcing, manufacturing, blending, and retail distribution to enhance control over supply chains and improve margins. International players leverage technical expertise, access to capital, and established brand recognition, while domestic companies capitalize on local market knowledge, government relationships, and proximity to end users. Competitive dynamics are shifting as major industrial groups construct large-scale production facilities that threaten to disrupt traditional import-dominated market structures, intensifying rivalry and potentially triggering price competition as new capacity comes online and producers seek market share.

Africa Fertilizer Industry Latest Developments:

• November 2025: Dangote Fertilizer Limited signed a licensing agreement with Germany's thyssenkrupp Uhde to expand urea production capacity at its Lagos facility. The partnership will add four new urea granulation units, each producing 4,235 metric tons per day, raising total annual output from 2.65 million tons to over 8 million tons. The expansion utilizes fluid bed granulation technology with energy-efficient scrubbing processes and Ammonia Convert Technology for cleaner, more sustainable production, positioning Dangote as Africa's largest fertilizer producer.
• October 2025: The Dangote Group and Ethiopian government officially launched construction of a USD 2.5 Billion fertilizer plant in Gode, Ethiopia. The facility will produce three million metric tons of urea annually using Ethiopia's natural gas reserves from the Ogaden Basin as feedstock. This project represents one of the largest fertilizer production complexes globally and aims to transform Ethiopia from a major fertilizer importer to a regional supplier, creating thousands of jobs and enhancing food security across the Horn of Africa.
• August 2025: Morocco's OCP Group announced that its TSP (Triple Superphosphate) production capacity will reach 7 million tons by the end of 2025 through the commissioning of two new production lines at the Jorf Lasfar industrial platform. Each new line contributes 500,000 tons annually to current output exceeding 5 million tons, strengthening OCP's position as a global leader in phosphate-based fertilizers and enabling delivery of high-phosphorus inputs tailored to specific soil and farmer needs worldwide.

Africa Fertilizer Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the Africa fertilizer market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the Africa fertilizer market on the basis of type?
• What is the breakup of the Africa fertilizer market on the basis of form?
• What is the breakup of the Africa fertilizer market on the basis of application mode?
• What is the breakup of the Africa fertilizer market on the basis of crop type?
• What is the breakup of the Africa fertilizer market on the basis of country?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the Africa fertilizer market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the Africa fertilizer market?
• What is the structure of the Africa fertilizer market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the Africa fertilizer market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC's industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the Africa fertilizer market from 2020-2034.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Africa fertilizer market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the Africa fertilizer industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.