World potash fertiliser demand (K₂O)
World agricultural use of potash was 38.3 Mt K₂O in 2024, 3.8% more than in 2023. Brazil was the largest user, with 8.9 Mt K₂O (23% of world use).
World demand, 1995-2024
Tonnes of K₂O, consumed in agriculture; hover for values.
kt K₂O.
| Year | World demand |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 38,330 |
| 2023 | 36,936 |
| 2022 | 35,848 |
| 2021 | 40,166 |
| 2020 | 38,811 |
| 2019 | 36,540 |
| 2018 | 37,965 |
| 2017 | 37,543 |
| 2016 | 36,763 |
| 2015 | 34,316 |
| 2014 | 36,211 |
| 2013 | 32,758 |
| 2012 | 31,337 |
| 2011 | 31,829 |
| 2010 | 29,432 |
| 2009 | 22,857 |
| 2008 | 26,802 |
| 2007 | 31,251 |
| 2006 | 27,422 |
| 2005 | 27,153 |
| 2004 | 27,510 |
| 2003 | 24,554 |
| 2002 | 23,289 |
| 2001 | 23,051 |
| 2000 | 22,600 |
| 1999 | 22,284 |
| 1998 | 21,932 |
| 1997 | 22,191 |
| 1996 | 20,858 |
| 1995 | 20,922 |
Latest 10 years shown. for the full history since 1995, every view and the table.
By region, 2024
Demand, tonnes of K₂O. UN M49 regions.
Largest consumers, 2024
Tonnes of K₂O, share of world demand, grade.
Data pack: World potash fertiliser market (K₂O)
World, every product containing K₂O (6 products): trade 1995-2025, exporters and importers, demand and supply by country with grades, trade balance, mining capacity by country and site, prices, list of producers.
- World tradeWorld trade of every product containing K₂O: volume (kt product) and K₂O content (kt K₂O).12 rows
- ExportersExporters of each product in the latest year: rank, volume, value, unit value, share of world.120 rows
- ImportersImporters of each product in the latest year: rank, volume, value, unit value, share of world.120 rows
- DemandAgricultural consumption of K₂O by country, kt K₂O.210 rows
- Demand gradesData quality grade of each value in "Demand".210 rows
- SupplyProduction of K₂O by country, kt K₂O.210 rows
- Supply gradesData quality grade of each value in "Supply".210 rows
- Trade balanceExports minus imports of K₂O, kt K₂O, by country and product family (raw materials and intermediates apart).505 rows
- Mining capacity by countryIdentified potash mining capacity at end-2024, kt K₂O a year, with production of 2024.16 rows
- Mining sitesMining sites at end-2024: operator, status, capacity as published and in nutrient, source.57 rows
- PricesWorld Bank benchmarks, monthly averages, nominal US dollars per tonne of product (gas per MMBtu).321 rows
- ProducersProducers with potash figures on FertRadar (their figures are in the Potash producers pack and in Pro).18 rows
Also in the file: a Read me sheet (contents, units, how to cite, terms of use), the Sources sheet with every source, its licence and address, and the Definitions sheet with grades and notes.
The full file
PROIncluded in your Pro subscription
6 products, 210 countries, 1995 to 2025
15 sheets, 2,009 rows. Formats: Excel (.xlsx) and CSV (one file per sheet, plus the same data in long form for databases and BI tools).
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Free sample: every sheet, column, source and definition, at most 3 rows of data in each sheet.
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About this data
MethodologyDefinitions2
- Demand
- Demand: agricultural consumption of fertiliser nutrients (N, P₂O₅, K₂O), in tonnes of nutrient. Industrial uses of nitrogen are not included. Official statistics where reported, otherwise graded FertRadar estimates (grades A to D).
- Grades
- A official or provisional, B FAO estimate or imputation, C FertRadar estimate anchored on independent data, D FertRadar statistical estimate.
Sources and reliability3
Official statistics and the producers' own documents only, cleaned and reconciled by FertRadar. Every figure keeps a reference to its document, and every correction to the customs data is documented one by one.
- FAO, FAOSTAT (CC BY 4.0)
- U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Minerals Yearbook (Public domain)
- United Nations Statistics Division, Standard country or area codes for statistical use
The document, page and date behind each figure are listed in the Pro data files. Sources and licences
Notes4
- FertRadar best estimate (FAOSTAT values as reported, gaps filled with graded FertRadar estimates). Grades: A official or provisional, B FAO estimate or imputation, C FertRadar estimate anchored on independent data, D FertRadar statistical estimate.
- Years as reported to FAO (some countries report fiscal or fertiliser years). No forecasts.
- Two kinds of production. Nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P₂O₅): fertiliser production, the nutrient contained in the fertiliser products made in the country. Potash (K₂O): mine output, all uses included. Production of raw materials for all uses (phosphate rock, ammonia, sulphur) is shown on the product and capacity pages.
- World production exceeds agricultural use (15% in 2024: N 12%, P₂O₅ 17%, K₂O 24%). The difference is non-agricultural use (industrial ammonia and urea, technical and feed phosphates, potash for chemicals and de-icing), changes in stocks and losses: USGS estimates that about 85% of US potash and 88% of US ammonia go to fertilisers. Production here counts potash at the mine and N and P₂O₅ in fertiliser products, so the same nitrogen or phosphate can be counted again in compounds made from imported straights.
How to cite
FertRadar (2026), "World potash fertiliser demand (K2O)", fertradar.com, https://fertradar.com/demand/potash/, Release 2026.10.