Metal Chelates Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Primary nutrients, Secondary nutrients, Micronutrients, Others), By Crop type (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds & Pulses, Fruits & Vegetables, Other crops), By Mode of Application (Soil, Foliar, Fertigation, Others), By Region, and By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 638.73 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.57%
Fastest Growing Segment	Micronutrients
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1046.11 Million

Market Overview

The Global Metal Chelates Market will grow from USD 638.73 Million in 2025 to USD 1046.11 Million by 2031 at a 8.57% CAGR. Metal chelates are specialized chemical compounds formed by the coordination of a metal ion with an organic ligand, designed to protect the nutrient from precipitation and ensure its bioavailability for plant uptake. The market is primarily propelled by the intensifying global demand for high-yield agricultural production and the urgent need to correct micronutrient deficiencies in depleted soils to ensure food security. Additionally, the structural shift towards precision agriculture necessitates these highly efficient nutrient delivery systems to maximize crop quality, distinguishing these fundamental drivers from transient market trends.

Despite the positive outlook, the sector faces a significant challenge regarding the environmental persistence of synthetic agents like EDTA, which has triggered stringent regulatory scrutiny and could impede expansion for manufacturers relying on non-biodegradable formulations. This pressure creates a complex compliance landscape for industry participants. According to the International Fertilizer Association, in 2024, global fertilizer use was forecast to increase by 2.5 percent, a recovery in nutrient consumption that directly underpins the growing necessity for stable micronutrient solutions in modern agronomy.

Key Market Drivers

Rising Global Demand for High-Efficiency Agricultural Fertilizers and Agrochemicals serves as the primary catalyst for the metal chelates market, driven by the imperative to maximize crop yield in nutrient-depleted regions. As intensive farming practices strip arable soils of essential trace elements like zinc, iron, and manganese, the adoption of chelated micronutrients has become critical for ensuring bioavailability and preventing nutrient "lock-up" in the soil. This trend is reinforced by substantial commercial activity in the crop nutrition sector; for instance, according to Nutrien, in its February 2024 annual report, the company projected global potash shipment volumes to recover to a range of 68 to 71 million tonnes in 2024, signaling a robust rebound in broad-spectrum fertilizer application that directly correlates with increased micronutrient inclusion. To support this expanding need for agricultural inputs, governments are also stepping in to fortify supply chains. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in October 2024, the agency awarded $120 million to six fertilizer production projects to expand domestic manufacturing capacity and foster competition in the nutrient sector.

The Regulatory Shift Toward Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly Chelating Agents represents the second transformative driver, fundamentally reshaping product portfolios away from persistent chemistries like EDTA. Stringent environmental regulations in Europe and North America regarding non-biodegradable accumulation in waterways are compelling manufacturers to innovate with green alternatives such as GLDA and MGDA. This transition is not merely compliance-driven but is becoming a core competitive strategy for major chemical suppliers. According to Nouryon, May 2024, in the '2023 Sustainability Report', 74 percent of the company’s research and development product pipeline was specifically focused on solutions with a sustainability benefit, underscoring the industry-wide pivot toward environmentally benign chelation technologies. This evolution ensures long-term market viability by aligning high-performance agronomic results with escalating ecological standards.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary challenge hampering the growth of the Global Metal Chelates Market is the environmental persistence of synthetic chelating agents, specifically compounds such as EDTA. Unlike biodegradable alternatives, these synthetic agents do not decompose rapidly, leading to the accumulation of heavy metals and chemical residues in soil and water systems. This resistance to degradation creates a severe ecological liability, prompting environmental agencies to enforce rigorous compliance protocols. This regulatory pressure restricts the operational flexibility of manufacturers, forcing them to divert significant capital toward reformulating products and navigating complex approval processes rather than expanding production capacity.

The market impact is further intensified by the unpredictability of these legislative frameworks, which creates a volatile business environment for industry participants. Companies facing this scrutiny must manage higher operational costs associated with meeting evolving standards, which directly impedes their ability to scale non-biodegradable product lines. This friction is substantiated by industry sentiment regarding the difficulty of the current compliance landscape. According to The Fertilizer Institute, in 2024, 51 percent of industry respondents characterized government policy and regulations as very challenging. This high level of regulatory burden acts as a significant bottleneck, slowing the overall trajectory of the market as manufacturers grapple with these stringent requirements.

Key Market Trends

The Growing Integration of Chelated Minerals in Animal Feed Supplements is emerging as a critical trend, driven by the sector's shift toward maximizing nutrient bioavailability and enhancing gut health in livestock. Unlike inorganic minerals, which often suffer from poor absorption and high excretion rates, metal chelates offer superior stability and digestibility, directly contributing to improved animal performance and reduced environmental impact. This adoption is being accelerated by the overall recovery and expansion of the global feed industry, creating a larger addressable market for these advanced additives. According to Alltech, April 2025, in the '2025 Agri-Food Outlook', global feed production increased by 1.2 percent to reach 1.396 billion metric tons in 2024, signaling a robust volume growth that directly supports the scaling of chelated mineral inclusion in modern nutritional formulations.

Concurrently, the Increasing Utilization of Foliar Sprays and Fertigation for Micronutrient Delivery is gaining traction as a precision agriculture strategy designed to bypass soil fixation issues inherent in traditional fertilization. By applying chelated micronutrients directly to plant leaves or through irrigation systems, growers can ensure immediate uptake and correct deficiencies more rapidly than soil applications allow, particularly in high-value horticultural crops. This method aligns with the broader industry trajectory toward resource efficiency and targeted crop nutrition. This market momentum is reflected in the strong financial performance of leading crop nutrition providers; according to Yara International, March 2025, in the '2024 Integrated Report', the company reported revenues of USD 13.9 billion, underscoring the substantial commercial scale of the sector currently adopting these specialized application technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Micronutrients segment is currently establishing itself as the fastest-growing category within the Global Metal Chelates Market, primarily driven by the escalating demand for high-efficiency agricultural inputs. As global soil degradation intensifies, agricultural producers are increasingly relying on chelated iron, zinc, and manganese to correct mineral deficiencies and ensure optimal crop yields. This expansion is further supported by directives from institutions like the Food and Agriculture Organization, which emphasize balanced plant nutrition to maintain food security. Consequently, the superior bioavailability of chelated minerals compared to inorganic alternatives continues to accelerate their adoption across the agricultural sector.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global metal chelates market, driven primarily by the extensive application of micronutrients in the agricultural sector. Farmers utilize these compounds to address soil deficiencies and improve crop yield quality. Additionally, the region benefits from strong demand within the pulp and paper industry for bleaching applications. The United States Environmental Protection Agency plays a critical role by enforcing guidelines that promote the usage of environmentally safe and biodegradable chelating agents. This regulatory support, combined with established industrial infrastructure, secures the region's leading status.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Jungbunzlauer expanded its mineral portfolio by launching a fully-reacted magnesium bisglycinate at the SupplySide Global event. This new product was developed to meet the rising global demand for highly bioavailable organic mineral salts in the functional food and supplement sectors. The launch featured a fully chelated mineral form designed to offer superior solubility and stability compared to traditional inorganic salts, catering to the specific formulation needs of manufacturers seeking high-performance ingredients for premium health and wellness products.
• In April 2025, the Care Chemicals division of BASF launched Trilon G, a new sustainable chelating agent based on glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA) chemistry. This product was designed to complement the company's existing portfolio of chelating agents by providing a readily biodegradable alternative with a high renewable carbon content. The launch aimed to enhance cleaning performance in home care and industrial applications by improving surfactant efficiency and water softening, while simultaneously addressing the industry's need for environmentally responsible solutions that balance performance with sustainability.
• In January 2025, Nouryon announced that its manufacturing site in Herkenbosch, the Netherlands, received the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS. This certification covers the production of biodegradable chelates using bio-based and bio-circular feedstocks, enabling the company to offer products with up to a 100% renewable carbon index. This development aligns with the company's commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its specialty chemicals and meeting the increasing demand for sustainable ingredients in the household, industrial, and institutional cleaning markets.
• In October 2024, Innophos presented new in vitro research findings at the SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas, demonstrating the superior absorption of its chelated magnesium products compared to standard magnesium oxide. The study highlighted that the company's chelated magnesium bisglycinate offers significantly higher bioavailability, addressing the growing consumer demand for effective nutritional supplements. This research release was part of the company's strategy to validate the performance of its premium chelated minerals through rigorous scientific testing, thereby supporting manufacturers in developing high-quality dietary supplements that ensure optimal nutrient uptake.

Key Market Players

• BASF SE
• Akzo Nobel N.V.
• Aries Agro Limited
• Deretil Agronutritional SL
• Haifa Group's
• Nufarm Limited
• Protex International
• Syngenta AG
• Valagro SPA
• Van Iperen BV

By Type	By Crop type	By Mode of Application	By Region
Primary nutrients Secondary nutrients Micronutrients Others	Cereals & Grains Oilseeds & Pulses Fruits & Vegetables Other crops	Soil Foliar Fertigation Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Metal Chelates Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Metal Chelates Market, By Type:

• Primary nutrients
• Secondary nutrients
• Micronutrients
• Others

• Metal Chelates Market, By Crop type:

• Cereals & Grains
• Oilseeds & Pulses
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Other crops

• Metal Chelates Market, By Mode of Application:

• Soil
• Foliar
• Fertigation
• Others

• Metal Chelates Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE