South Africa Fertilizer Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Product Type, Product, Product Form, Crop Type, and Province, 2025-2033

South Africa Fertilizer Market Overview:

The South Africa fertilizer market size reached USD 1.28 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to reach USD 1.50 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 1.62% during 2025-2033. The market is driven by government commitments to enhance soil health and triple fertilizer production capacity, adoption of precision agriculture technologies that optimize nutrient application efficiency, and growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices including the shift toward biofertilizers and environmentally conscious solutions. These combined drivers are strengthening the South Africa fertilizer market share.

South Africa Fertilizer Market Trends:

Government Commitments to Triple Fertilizer Production and Enhance Soil Health

South African agricultural development is being profoundly shaped by continental initiatives addressing soil degradation and fertilizer accessibility challenges. In May 2024, African Heads of State and Government endorsed the Nairobi Declaration at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, committing African nations to triple domestic production and distribution of certified quality organic and inorganic fertilizers by 2034 to improve access and affordability for smallholder farmers. South Africa, as the leading fertilizer market in the African continent, plays a crucial role in achieving these ambitious goals through its established manufacturing infrastructure and technical expertise. The government's support through the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development for conservation agriculture and precision nutrient management initiatives strengthens South Africa's position as a regional leader capable of supporting continental food security objectives.

Growing Focus on Sustainability and Biofertilizer Development

Environmental sustainability has emerged as a defining priority reshaping fertilizer consumption patterns across the country’s agricultural sector, which is fueling the South Africa fertilizer market growth. The growing preference for organic fertilizers and biofertilizers among South African farmers stems from increasing awareness about soil degradation, water pollution risks, and the need to reduce agriculture's carbon footprint while maintaining long-term soil productivity. Leading fertilizer manufacturers are responding to this market shift by expanding their portfolios to include microbial inoculants, biostimulants, and organic nutrient sources that enhance soil biology and plant resilience. PhosAgro Group, a leading global producer of phosphate-based fertilizers, expanded its mineral fertilizer shipments to African nations by 33% in 2024. Total exports to the continent surpassed 730,000 tonnes, up from 548,000 tonnes in 2023. South Africa ranked among the top five importers, recording a 10% increase in fertilizer deliveries. Research institutions and agribusiness companies are collaborating to develop locally adapted biofertilizer solutions that can thrive in South Africa's diverse soil and climatic conditions ranging from the Mediterranean climate of Western Cape to the subtropical conditions of KwaZulu-Natal. Major agricultural cooperatives and retailers are actively promoting integrated nutrient management approaches that combine conventional fertilizers with organic amendments to achieve balanced nutrition while improving soil health indicators such as organic matter content and beneficial microbial populations.

South Africa Fertilizer Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and provincial levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on product type, product, product form, and crop type.

Product Type Insights:

• Chemical Fertilizer
• Biofertilizers

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product type. This includes chemical fertilizer and biofertilizers.

Product Insights:

• Straight Fertilizers
  • Nitrogenous Fertilizers
    • Urea
    • Calcium Ammonium Nitrate
    • Ammonium Nitrate
    • Ammonium Sulfate
    • Anhydrous Ammonia
    • Others
  • Phosphatic Fertilizers
    • Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (MAP)
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
    • Triple Super Phosphate (TSP)
    • Others
  • Potash Fertilizers
    • Muriate of Potash (MoP)
    • Sulfate of Potash (SoP)
  • Secondary Macronutrient Fertilizers
    • Calcium Fertilizers
    • Magnesium Fertilizers
    • Sulfur Fertilizers
  • Micronutrient Fertilizers
    • Zinc
    • Manganese
    • Copper
    • Iron
    • Boron
    • Molybdenum
    • Others
• Complex Fertilizers

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product have also been provided in the report. This includes straight fertilizers [nitrogenous fertilizers (urea, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, anhydrous ammonia, and others), phosphatic fertilizers (mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), single super phosphate (SSP), triple super phosphate (TSP), and others), potash fertilizers [muriate of potash (MoP) and sulfate of potash (SoP)], secondary macronutrient fertilizers (calcium fertilizers, magnesium fertilizers, and sulfur fertilizers), and micronutrient fertilizers (zinc, manganese, copper, iron, boron, molybdenum, and others)] and complex fertilizers.

Product Form Insights:

• Dry
• Liquid

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product form. This includes dry and liquid.

Crop Type Insights:

• Grains and Cereals
• Pulses and Oilseeds
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Flowers and Ornamentals
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the crop type have also been provided in the report. This includes grains and cereals, pulses and oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, flowers and ornamentals, and others.

Provincial Insights:

• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Western Cape
• Mpumalanga
• Eastern Cape
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major provincial markets, which include Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Africa Fertilizer Market News:

• In August 2025, Southern Africa officially launched the SADC Soil Health and Fertilizer Hub (SADC SHFH) in Johannesburg, South Africa, to drive sustainable agriculture and food security in the region. The Hub aims to combat soil degradation and limited fertilizer access by coordinating knowledge exchange, harmonizing policies, and mobilizing investments, with a focus on building resilient agro-food systems. The initiative is backed by multiple stakeholders, including 16 member states, research institutions, and the private sector, and is set to implement the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan to meet regional food security goals by 2030.
• In May 2025, Afreximbank announced plans to raise USD 1.7 Billion to finance the Suiso Plant’s coal-to-fertilizer transformation project in Kriel, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The initiative, led by Afreximbank’s Advisory and Capital Markets department, aims to convert coal into fertilizer using advanced gasification technology, reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

South Africa Fertilizer Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Africa fertilizer market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa fertilizer market on the basis of product type?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa fertilizer market on the basis of product?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa fertilizer market on the basis of product form?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa fertilizer market on the basis of crop type?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa fertilizer market on the basis of province?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Africa fertilizer market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Africa fertilizer market?
• What is the structure of the South Africa fertilizer market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South 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 South Africa fertilizer market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South 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 South 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.