The Fertilizer Market Faced Many Difficulties at the Beginning of 2023

According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs, the fertilizer industry faced many difficulties in both export and import activities in the first quarter of 2023.

1. An overview of fertilizer import and export in 2022

1.1. The global fertilizer market situation

In 2022, the global fertilizer market, including supply and prices, was affected by the tense situation caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In Europe, soaring energy prices have forced many industries, including fertilizer production, to scale back or even temporarily shut down. This supply shortage has led to significant fluctuations in fertilizer prices worldwide.

As a result, fertilizer demand in 2022, according to statistics from the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), reached only 193 million tons, a decrease of 3.8% compared to 2021. This is the largest decrease since the 2008 financial crisis.

1.2. The fertilizer market situation in Vietnam

In 2022, Vietnam exported 1.75 million tons of fertilizer, generating revenue of US$1.09 billion. Compared to 2021, this represents a 29.4% increase in volume and a 95.9% increase in value. The average export price reached US$625.2 per ton, a 34% increase compared to the previous year. The main markets are countries in Southeast Asia. Cambodia is the largest and most traditional market, accounting for 27.63% of total fertilizer exports; followed by Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, and others.

Meanwhile, Vietnam imported 3.4 million tons of various types of fertilizers from 51 countries in 2022. Specifically, import value reached US$1.6 billion, a decrease of 25.86% in volume and an increase of 10.1% in value compared to 2021. The average import price was 48.5% higher than last year, reaching US$477/ton (due to the impact of the global situation as mentioned in section 1). China remains the largest supplier of fertilizers to Vietnam, accounting for 50.35% of the total fertilizer import volume and 45.11% of the total fertilizer import value of the country.

2. Fertilizer import and export situation in Vietnam in the first quarter of 2023

In the first quarter of 2023, the country’s fertilizer imports reached 612,900 tons, worth over $237.52 million, with an average price of $387.5 per ton. Compared to the same period in 2022, the volume decreased by 34%, revenue decreased by 46.2%, and the price decreased by 18.5%.

The first quarter of 2023 also saw a 40.2% decrease in Vietnam’s fertilizer exports in terms of value. In the early months of 2023, the fertilizer market was sluggish, with low fertilizer prices. Fertilizer manufacturers faced difficulties and accumulated large inventories. In comparison to 2022, when fertilizer prices were high, trading was booming, and businesses reaped significant profits, this represents a significant decline.

Therefore, experts believe that the fertilizer industry will face more challenges in the first quarter and throughout 2023 than in previous years.