Water Soluble Fertilizers Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Sales Channel (Direct, Indirect), By End Use (Horticulture, Field Crops, Greenhouses, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 18.23 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.78%
Fastest Growing Segment	Greenhouses
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 27.02 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Water Soluble Fertilizers Market will grow from USD 18.23 Billion in 2025 to USD 27.02 Billion by 2031 at a 6.78% CAGR. Water soluble fertilizers are complex nutrient compounds capable of 100% dissolution in water, utilized primarily in fertigation and foliar application methods to deliver precise nutrition. The market is fundamentally driven by the imperative for enhanced nutrient use efficiency to boost yields per hectare and the growing necessity of water-saving precision agriculture techniques in arid regions. According to the 'International Fertilizer Association', in '2025', 'total global fertilizer consumption is forecast to reach 205 million tonnes of nutrients', reflecting a robust demand environment that underpins the growth trajectory of the specialty fertilizer sector.

A significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the high production and retail cost of these refined products relative to conventional granular fertilizers. This price premium often renders water soluble options economically unviable for low-margin field crops and restricts their application largely to high-value horticultural sectors, thereby limiting mass adoption in price-sensitive developing economies.

Key Market Drivers

The Rising Adoption of Precision Agriculture and Fertigation Systems is fundamentally reshaping the Global Water Soluble Fertilizers Market. As growers transition from conventional broadcasting to precise liquid delivery, the demand for high-purity, fully soluble nutrients has surged. This trend is driven by the capability of fertigation to deliver nutrients directly to the root zone, maximizing uptake and minimizing waste in resource-constrained environments. The impact of this technological shift is evident in the operational results of leading specialty producers. According to SQM, March 2025, in the '4Q2024 Earnings Release', sales volumes for its Specialty Plant Nutrition business line grew by approximately 17% in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 983,000 metric tons. This significant volume increase underscores the rapid integration of soluble products into modern farming protocols to support precision application methods.

Simultaneously, the Increasing Global Demand for High-Value and Horticultural Crops acts as a critical catalyst for market expansion. Intensive agriculture sectors, particularly in export-oriented regions like Latin America, are prioritizing premium inputs to secure higher yields and crop quality on limited arable land. This focus on value-added production has bolstered the profitability of distribution networks serving these high-intensity zones. According to The Mosaic Company, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results', operating earnings for its Mosaic Fertilizantes segment reached $238 million in 2024, reflecting the resilience of the intensive crop nutrition market. Reflecting the broader financial magnitude of the sector supporting these advanced strategies, according to Yara International, in 2025, the company reported full-year 2024 revenues of USD 13.9 billion.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary obstacle obstructing the widespread expansion of the Global Water Soluble Fertilizers Market is the significant price disparity between these refined nutrient compounds and conventional granular alternatives. Water soluble fertilizers require high-purity raw materials and undergo complex processing to ensure complete dissolution, which inevitably elevates production expenses. These higher costs are passed down the supply chain, resulting in retail prices that can be prohibitively expensive for farmers cultivating low-margin field crops such as cereals and grains. Consequently, adoption is largely confined to high-value horticultural sectors, effectively excluding a vast portion of the global arable land from this market's reach.

This economic barrier is particularly pronounced in developing regions where agricultural budgets are tight and price sensitivity dictates purchasing decisions. The reluctance to invest in premium inputs due to cost constraints curtails overall market volume. This trend is evident in broader consumption patterns; according to the 'International Fertilizer Association', in '2025', 'global potash use is expected to be 1% higher at 41 million tonnes', a modest figure that underscores how elevated input costs continue to force growers to rationalize their nutrient investments and limit the uptake of specialized fertilizer products.

Key Market Trends

The Incorporation of Bio-Stimulants into Formulations is rapidly emerging as a dominant trend, fundamentally altering product compositions beyond standard NPK ratios. Manufacturers are increasingly co-formulating water soluble fertilizers with biostimulants like amino acids and seaweed extracts to enhance abiotic stress tolerance and nutrient uptake efficiency. This convergence allows growers to maximize crop potential without increasing total fertilizer volume, a strategy now central to the financial outlook of major input providers. According to Nutrien, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results', the company issued a 2025 Retail adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $1.65 billion to $1.85 billion, a target explicitly predicated on the continued sales growth of its proprietary nutritional and biostimulant product lines.

Simultaneously, the Rise of Customized and Crop-Specific Nutrient Blends is displacing generic commodity-grade soluble fertilizers. Producers are shifting toward proprietary formulations designed to meet the precise phenological requirements of specific crops like berries and greenhouse vegetables. This strategy allows companies to decouple from volatile commodity pricing and offer value-added solutions that promise higher returns for farmers. This structural shift is significantly impacting financial performance; according to ICL Group, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results', the company's specialties-driven business segments contributed 70% of its total adjusted EBITDA of $1,469 million, highlighting the superior profitability of tailored nutrition solutions compared to standard commodity fertilizers.

Segmental Insights

The Greenhouses segment represents the fastest-growing category in the global water soluble fertilizers market, driven by the worldwide shift toward controlled environment agriculture. This growth is primarily attributed to the increasing need for precise nutrient management to maximize yields of high-value crops in protected structures. Growers are utilizing greenhouses to ensure year-round food production and mitigate the risks of unpredictable weather patterns. Consequently, the demand for fertilizers that dissolve completely in water is rising, as they are essential for the efficient irrigation systems used to optimize resource use in these intensive farming environments.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global water soluble fertilizers market, driven primarily by the extensive implementation of fertigation systems across the United States and Canada. Growers in this region increasingly prioritize precision agriculture to enhance productivity in high-value horticultural crops. This dominance is further reinforced by established agricultural infrastructure and strict environmental guidelines that promote efficient nutrient management to minimize runoff. Consequently, the high demand for specialty nutrients compatible with modern irrigation technologies ensures North America remains a central hub for industry activity and commercial growth.

Recent Developments

• In December 2025, Coromandel International Limited launched ‘Fertinex’, a next-generation water-soluble fertilizer developed specifically for fertigation applications. The company stated that this new product incorporates proprietary smart signalling technology designed to enhance the communication between plant roots and soil microbes, thereby improving nutrient uptake and crop resilience. The formulation was created through extensive in-house research and agronomic trials to support the growth of high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables. This product launch represented a strategic move to strengthen the company’s position in the specialty nutrient sector by offering solutions that maximize nutrient use efficiency.
• In August 2024, ICL Group announced the signing of a five-year distribution agreement valued at approximately $170 million with AMP Holdings Group Co. Ltd., a major agricultural distributor in China. This collaboration focused on the supply of specialty water-soluble fertilizers, which are essential for drip irrigation systems used in the cultivation of cash crops like apples, watermelons, and strawberries. The company noted that the agreement was intended to accelerate its expansion in the Chinese market, where the adoption of fertigation technology has been increasing rapidly. The partnership aimed to combine high-quality product offerings with an extensive local distribution network.
• In May 2024, Van Iperen International highlighted the commercial production start of GreenSwitch® Potassium Sulphate (SOP), a sustainable water-soluble fertilizer developed in partnership with Cinis Fertilizer. The company described this product as the first of its kind to be manufactured using a fossil-free, low-energy process that recycles industrial waste from electric vehicle battery manufacturing. This innovation was launched to provide growers with a high-purity, soluble nutrient source that significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with crop nutrition. The development underscored the industry's shift towards circular economy principles while maintaining high agronomic performance for fertigation.
• In April 2024, Haifa Group entered into a strategic collaboration with Mahadhan Agritech Limited, a subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, to expand its presence in the Indian market. The partnership was established to market and distribute high-performance specialty plant nutrition solutions, including advanced water-soluble fertilizers, across India. The companies agreed to pool their resources and expertise to promote precision farming practices and improve crop yields for local farmers. This alliance was designed to leverage the growing demand for efficient nutrient management systems and support the modernization of agriculture in the region.

Key Market Players

• Nutrien Ltd.
• Israel Chemical Company
• Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM)
• K+S Aktiengesellschaft
• Yara International ASA
• Haifa Chemicals Ltd.
• Coromandel International Ltd.
• The Mosaic Company
• Hebei Monband Water Soluble Fertilizer Co. Ltd.
• EuroChem Group AG

By Sales Channel	By End Use	By Region
Direct Indirect	Horticulture Field Crops Greenhouses Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Water Soluble Fertilizers Market, By Sales Channel:

• Direct
• Indirect

• Water Soluble Fertilizers Market, By End Use:

• Horticulture
• Field Crops
• Greenhouses
• Others

• Water Soluble Fertilizers 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