Global consumption of fertilizers 2021, by country
Fertilizer consumption in China
China’s agriculture relies heavily on fertilizers to meet the food demand of its large population, as well as to support its exports of agricultural products.China’s demand for fertilizers has grown rapidly since the 1960s, driven by the expansion of cultivated land, the intensification of farming practices, the improvement of crop varieties, and the subsequent increase of agricultural output. Over this time China’s fertilizer consumption per hectare of arable land has increased from only seven kilograms in 1961 to over 383.3 kilograms in 2020. China’s fertilizer consumption is dominated by nitrogen-based fertilizers, accounting for 55 percent of the total nutrient consumption, followed by phosphate fertilizers and potash fertilizers.