Australia is a small player in the global fertilizer market. The International Fertilizer Association estimates global fertilizer consumption (nutrient elements) at 100 million tonnes of nitrogen (Australia 1 million tonnes), 17 million tonnes of phosphorus (Australia 0.4 million tonnes) and 31 million tonnes of potassium (Australia 0.2 million tonnes). Australian consumption on a total nutrient (NPK) basis is therefore just over 1% of global consumption.

World trade in fertilizer products (tonnes of product) is around 200 million tonnes per annum meaning Australia’s imports are less than 2% of the total and exports less than 0.5%.

The major traded products to Australia and their points of origin are listed in the table below. The list is not exhaustive and suppliers change over time due to a range of commercial and political pressures.