Current World Fertilizer Situation And Outlook

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 43 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (79 download)

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Download or read book CURRENT World Fertilizer Situation and Outlook 1996/97-2002/03 written by and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 43 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1996/97 world fertilizer consumption increased by 2.9%, or by about 3.8 million tonnes. This was the result of the growth in consumption recorded in all regions. World fertilizer production rose 3.3% in 1996/97. In particular, in Asia production increased by about 2.7 million tonnes. World phosphate rock production, an essential raw material for phosphatic fertilizer manufacturing, has started to rise in 1996/97 by 1.1% or 3 million tonnes. Sulphur production increased by 8.1% to 40 million tonnes. Total world fertilizer trade fell by 1.5 million tonnes in 1996/97, with nitrogen fertilizers down 2.8%, phosphate 1.3% and potash 4.8%. There was no change in the composition of the World's largest exporting countries of nitrogen, phosphatic and potash fertilizers. Fertilizer prices been generally increasing since mid-1994 and but started to decline from 1996. Price fell drastically. The demand for fertilizers is expected to increase at an average rate of 1.7% per year. Demand and suplly balances show that potencial fertilizer suplly capacity will increase by 2002/03 with phosphat demand forecast to grow by 2.8% and that for nitrogen and potash to average 1.5%. With growth in manufacturing capacity forecast to exceed growth in demand, an increasing nitrogen surplus appears likely. A substantial increase in phosphate suplly capacity is also forescat resulting in a marginal phosphate surplus. The rather large potash surplus is expected to be cut in two. At regional and sub-regional level of analysis, in 1996/97 Africa increased its overall fertilizer consumption by 5.4% and its production by 5.3%. In North America fertilizer production increased by 3.9% (eith an increase of 5.5% in phosphate fertilizer production), . while overall consumption increased by 5.7% and importes showed a decline of 5.9% Latin America's fertilizer consumption increased by 12.5% as a result of favourable price relationships in government support for agricultural production in Mexico. Fertilizer production rose by 5.8%. The exports, however, did not increase. Fertilizer consumption in West Asia increased by 2.7% mainly due to a 5% increase in consumption in Turkey. Exports fell by 4.3% resulting from a 12% decrease of potash export in Israel, while imports declined by 14% decrease of potash exporte in Israel, while imports declined by 14%. The sub-region's fertilizer production increased again by 6%. South Asia increased its nitrogen consumption, while phosphate and potash consumptional continued to fall. Fertilizer production in the sub-region decreased by 1.5%, as did imports by 33%. In East Asia the developing countries increased their fertilizer consumption by 4.7% and their production by 10%, while in the developed countries in the sub-region consumption, production and imports fell by 4%, 0,5% and 9% respectively. In East Europe fertilizer consumption rose by 11.8% overall, though the recovery was not uniform throughout the sub-region. The sub-region recorded a 33% rise in fertilizer production, a 3% drop in exports and 20% increase in imports. In 1996/97 West Europe recorded a 2.3% increase in fertilizer conmption and production and exports rose 0.6% and 4% respectively. In the FSU fertilizer consumption rose by almost 20%, the first increase since 1989/90. The sub-region recorded a slight drop in production and a 7.7% decrease in exportes. Oceania's fertilizer consumption rose 1.6% in 1996/97, production by 1.7% and imports by 4.7%. The Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI), launched at the World Food Summit, aims to develop a strategy for the restoration and enhancement of soil fertility in a medium and long term perspective. It will address technological aspects as well as policy issues. Soil and water conservation form an essential part of SFI. SFI practices have to be made profitable to the farmers in order to be adopted. The major constraint for the farmes is limited cash avaibality. Investment in fertilizers can acumulate cash in the short term. Fertilizer applications combined with other improved practices will ensure a maximum return for the farmer and enhance soil fertility.