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Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Robert Maier Robert Maier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: July 2024 WZ C20.15DE

Revenue

€5.7bn

2024

€5.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

11,484

Businesses

22

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

This industry is operating under difficult market conditions. This is primarily due to intensifying regulation, which is noticeably restricting the use of fertilisers by farmers and is particularly evident in the EU Fertiliser Products Regulation from 2019. In addition, changeable weather conditions are having a negative impact on the sector, at least in the short term. In the longer term, difficult growing conditions tend to favour the sale of fertilisers. The disruptions in supply chains in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and the conflict in Ukraine have led to a sharp rise in the prices of key input and energy products such as natural gas, which resulted in a significant increase in fertiliser prices worldwide between 2020 and 2022. Since 2023, the trend towards falling energy and commodity prices has seen a normalisation of sales development. Overall, industry turnover has risen by an average of 1.9% per year since 2019.Weak commodity prices and subdued European demand for fertilisers are likely to have a negative impact on industry sales in 2024. In addition, one of the industry's most important customer markets, the cultivation of cereals, pulses and oilseeds in Germany, is likely to record a decline in sales in the current year, not least due to the very wet weather conditions in the first half of 2024, which is likely to have a negative impact on demand for fertilisers. Compared to the previous year, industry turnover in 2024 is expected to fall by 16.5% to €5.7 billion.Despite the increasingly strict regulations on fertilisers and the expansion of organic farming in Germany, industry turnover is expected to grow by an average of 0.5% per year over the next five years. It is expected to reach 5.8 billion euros in 2029. Due to the high energy prices in Germany compared to other countries, competition from foreign suppliers is likely to intensify over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

  • The fertiliser industry is heavily regulated, which is why changes in regulations can have a major impact on the economic activity of companies. Increasingly strict limits for fertilisers, for example, mean that farmers are using less and less fertiliser.
  • Ammonia is the most important industry product, closely followed by urea. However, animal and vegetable fertilisers have recently gained in importance for the industry.
  • The northern region is home to the largest proportion of fertiliser manufacturers. The reason for this is the intensive agriculture in the region, which promotes the sale of fertilisers.
  • Competition in the production of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds is moderate. Only a few companies are active in the industry and fixed market structures have been established, which prevent a high level of competition.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €5.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The fertiliser industry is facing challenges due to stricter regulations and increased environmental awareness

  • As part of the chemical industry, the manufacture of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds is an essential supplier to the agricultural sector. Farmers use the fertilisers produced by industry players to increase the yield of crops such as cereals.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
Alfabank-Adres Logo Source: Alfabank-Adres

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Stricter regulations, organic farming and foreign competition are likely to affect sales growth

  • Only a slight increase in industry turnover is expected over the next five years. The low momentum in the industry is likely to be due to further regulations for fertilisers and the increasing importance of organic farming.

Biggest companies in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
K+S AG
1,886.0
SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH
853.0
Yara GmbH & Co. KG
691.0

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Products & Services Segmentation

Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
Alfabank-Adres Logo Source: Alfabank-Adres

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Ammonia, Urea and Fertiliser based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Ammonia is the largest segment of the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Ammonia is a versatile gas that is used in metal processing and fertiliser production

  • Ammonia is a colourless gas that is highly soluble in water.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this sector produce fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphate or potassium. The industry also produces nitrogen compounds that are either used as a raw material for fertiliser production or are used industrially. This sector does not include the production of pesticides, plant protection products and disinfectants.

What's included in this industry?

AmmoniaUreaFertiliser based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassiumAnimal or vegetable fertilisers

Companies

K+S AGSKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbHYara GmbH & Co. KG

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Related Terms

KÖNIGSWASSERNPK FERTILIZERHERBICIDEFUNGICIDEINSECTICIDEINHIBITOR

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 20.15 - Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The fertiliser industry is heavily regulated, which is why changes in regulations can have a major impact on the economic activity of companies. Increasingly strict limits fo...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Ammonia is the most important industry product, closely followed by urea. However, animal and vegetable fertilisers have recently gained in importance for the industry.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The northern region is home to the largest proportion of fertiliser manufacturers. The reason for this is the intensive agriculture in the region, which promotes the sale of ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition in the production of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds is moderate. Only a few companies are active in the industry and fixed market structures have been establi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

K+S AG has by far the largest market share in the production of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds. The product portfolio includes speciality and standard fertilisers, plant ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of K+S AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Yara GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for K+S AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Yara GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The sector is subject to the national fertiliser ordinance. In order to be considered a fertiliser, it must be proven to have added value for plant cultivation or the fertili...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin for the production of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds has fluctuated greatly recently. It is influenced by the demand for fertilisers and the associated ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

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What is the market size of the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany is €5.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 22 businesses in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing market in Germany are K+S AG, SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH and Yara GmbH & Co. KG

What does the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany include?

Ammonia and Urea are part of the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is K+S AG.

How competitive is the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Industrial Gas Manufacturing in Germany
  • Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in Germany
  • Organic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in Germany
  • Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in Germany

International industries

  • Global Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals Manufacturing
  • Fertilizer Manufacturing in the US
  • Fertilizer Manufacturing in Canada
  • Fertiliser Manufacturing in Australia
  • Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in the UK

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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