Dutch Fertilizer Exports Plummet to $2.6B in 2023

Netherlands Fertilizers Exports

In 2023, the amount of fertilizers exported from the Netherlands dropped slightly to 6.3M tons, which is down by -4.3% against the previous year's figure. In general, exports showed a perceptible setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when exports increased by 18% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 9.1M tons. From 2017 to 2023, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, fertilizer exports reduced dramatically to $2.6B (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. Overall, exports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 with an increase of 51%. The exports peaked at $4B in 2022, and then contracted remarkably in the following year.

Exports by Country

Belgium (1.5M tons), France (1M tons) and Germany (783K tons) were the main destinations of fertilizer exports from the Netherlands, with a combined 53% share of total exports. the UK, Brazil, Poland, the United States and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 25%.

From 2013 to 2023, the biggest increases were recorded for Poland (with a CAGR of +8.2%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.

In value terms, the largest markets for fertilizer exported from the Netherlands were Belgium ($455M), France ($353M) and Germany ($351M), together comprising 45% of total exports. the UK, Brazil, Poland, Spain and the United States lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 24%.

Poland, with a CAGR of +8.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, in terms of the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports by Type

Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) (1.8M tons), urea (1.4M tons) and mixed phosphorus and potassium (PK) fertilizers (616K tons) were the main products of fertilizer exports from the Netherlands, together accounting for 60% of total exports. Ammonium sulphate, mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate in aqueous or ammoniacal solution, carnallite, sylvite and other crude natural potassium salts, potassium magnesium sulphate and mixtures of potassic fertilisers, potassium chloride (MOP), mixed nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers, superphosphates, nitrogenous fertilizers n.e.c., potassium nitrates, mixed nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) fertilizers, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), ammonium nitrate, potassium sulphate (SOP), sodium nitrate and phosphatic fertilizers other than superphosphates lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 40%.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the major product types, was attained by carnallite, sylvite and other crude natural potassium salts, potassium magnesium sulphate and mixtures of potassic fertilisers (with a CAGR of +25.8%), while the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, fertilizers with the largest exports in the Netherlands were calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) ($629M), urea ($536M) and mixed nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers ($320M), with a combined 58% share of total exports. Mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate in aqueous or ammoniacal solution, potassium chloride (MOP), mixed phosphorus and potassium (PK) fertilizers, ammonium sulphate, superphosphates, potassium nitrates, nitrogenous fertilizers n.e.c., mixed nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) fertilizers, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), carnallite, sylvite and other crude natural potassium salts, potassium magnesium sulphate and mixtures of potassic fertilisers, phosphatic fertilizers other than superphosphates, sodium nitrate, potassium sulphate (SOP) and ammonium nitrate lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 42%.

Phosphatic fertilizers other than superphosphates, with a CAGR of +73.5%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main product categories over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2023, the fertilizers price stood at $410 per ton (FOB, Netherlands), with a decrease of -33.3% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed measured growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2022 when the average export price increased by 81% against the previous year. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $614 per ton, and then shrank dramatically in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Spain ($602 per ton), while the average price for exports to Mexico ($294 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Ireland (+5.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform