Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizers Market Overview, 2031

Key Insights

• Saudi Arabia is among the world’s largest fertilizer exporters, supplying approximately 35% of global urea exports, 47% of global sulphur exports, and 24% of global ammonia exports making it a linchpin in global food supply chains. Between January and September 2025, total fertilizer exports across all categories reached 11.5 million tonnes, a 181% increase compared to the same period in 2020.
• The national fertilizer industry is structured around two giant players. SABIC Agri-Nutrients has an annual production capacity exceeding 4.9 million tonnes, spanning urea, ammonia, MAP, DAP, and phosphate-based products. Ma‘aden, the state-owned mining company, produces approximately 12 million tonnes of fertilizer and is one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate fertilizers.
• The closure of the Strait of Hormuz through which approximately 21% of global urea exports normally pass directly threatens Saudi Arabia‘s export capacity. In response, Saudi producers have quickly pivoted to using their Red Sea ports as alternative shipping routes, trucking products across the country to bypass the blocked Gulf.

Market Outlook

• According to the research report, "Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market Outlook, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market is anticipated to grow at more than 8.96% CAGR from 2026 to 2031.
• The effective closure of the Strait has forced a dramatic logistical pivot toward the Red Sea. SABIC has been producing urea at its Jubail complex on the east coast and loading vessels there since the war began, with at least 15 vessels loaded with Saudi urea currently anchored in the Gulf waiting to navigate the strait. In May 2026, SABIC completed the first bulk loading of urea on the country‘s west coast at Yanbu, a 25,000 tonne shipment bound for Bangladesh under a long‑term government‑to‑government contract.
• Phosphate exports have also been redirected. Fellow Saudi producer Ma‘aden trucked phosphates from its Ras Al‑Khair site to Yanbu for export in March following the conflict. However, these alternative routes are economically punishing: the trucking of urea from Jubail to Yanbu requires approximately 1,250 truckloads of 20 tonnes each for a single medium‑sized cargo, significantly raising logistics costs.

Policies

• Saudi Arabia’s entire fertilizer strategy is anchored in Vision 2030’s economic diversification agenda. Fertiliser exports particularly urea, DAP, and MAP have become an increasingly important pillar of the Kingdom‘s diversification away from oil. At the heart of this model are SABIC, SALIC (the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company), and the national carrier Bahri, which provides priority vessel access to ensure alignment with food security objectives.
• The government is actively building diplomatic ties to secure the fertilizer sector‘s global position. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, recently met with India‘s Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers to discuss enhancing cooperation in the fertilizer sector and strengthening supply chains.
• Saudi Arabia’s domestic food security strategy increasingly focuses on reducing chemical fertilizer reliance. The Kingdom emphasizes modern agriculture that minimizes the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, mitigating climate change impacts on crops. To date, Saudi Arabia has restored more than 500,000 hectares and planted over 151 million trees as part of a plan to expand vegetation cover and combat desertification by 2030.

Industry News

• Ma’aden’s Fourth Phosphate Project is also moving forward. Approved in December 2025, the project will produce 1.1 million tonnes of ammonia and increase production of phosphate and specialty fertilizers by approximately 2.5 million tonnes annually, bringing Ma’aden‘s total fertilizer production capacity to nearly 12 million tonnes per year.
• The NEOM Green Hydrogen Complex, the world‘s largest green ammonia facility, is expected to become operational in late 2026. The US$8.4 billion facility will produce up to 1.2 million tonnes per year of green ammonia for export. However, Saudi Aramco has significantly scaled down its broader low‑carbon ammonia production target from 11 million tonnes per annum to just 2.5 million tonnes by 2030, citing high costs and low demand.
• Logistical innovation is being deployed to counter the Hormuz blockade. In May 2026, SABIC completed the first bulk loading of urea from Saudi Arabia‘s west coast at Yanbu. The 25,000‑tonne shipment destined for Bangladesh under a government‑to‑government contract was trucked from Jubail on the east coast to Yanbu, requiring approximately 1,250 truckloads of 20 tonnes each. A second cargo was scheduled to load later in May.

Segment Analysis

Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Product Type • Ammonium nitrate in Saudi Arabia is primarily industrial, used in mining, explosives, and chemical applications rather than agriculture due to regulatory controls. Annual production is estimated at 250,000-600,000 tons, supported by 2-3 industrial chemical facilities. Manufacturing capacity ranges from 400,000-800,000 tons/year, with ammonia feedstock consumption of 150,000-300,000 tons annually.
• Ammonium sulfate is produced largely as a by-product of petrochemical and gas processing operations. Annual production is estimated at 600,000-1.2 million tons, supported by 3-6 recovery and chemical processing units. Manufacturing capacity is approximately 800,000-1.5 million tons/year, with ammonia feedstock equivalent consumption of 300,000-700,000 tons annually.

Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Form
• Solid nitrogen fertilizers are handled through large export-oriented logistics hubs. The system includes around 8-12 bulk storage facilities and 5-7 major fertilizer handling terminals, concentrated in Jubail, Yanbu, and Dammam industrial zones. Annual product movement is estimated at 6.0-8.5 million tons, supported by 30,000-45,000 truck and rail shipments per year.
• Liquid nitrogen fertilizers are used in precision irrigation systems for greenhouse vegetables, date palms, and landscaping. The country operates 10-16 storage facilities and 5-8 liquid handling terminals, with total storage tank capacity of 200,000-450,000 m³.

Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Crop Type
• Cereal production in Saudi Arabia is supported by highly mechanized, irrigated desert agriculture. Cultivated area is estimated at 80,000-150,000 hectares, with harvested area of 75,000-140,000 hectares annually. Production volume ranges from 300,000-800,000 tons, supported by around 8,000-15,000 farms, including large-scale agribusiness holdings.
• Fruits and vegetables represent a key high value agricultural segment in Saudi Arabia, driven by greenhouse farming and controlled irrigation systems. Cultivated area is estimated at 120,000-200,000 hectares, with harvested area of 130,000-230,000 hectares due to multiple cropping cycles. Production volume ranges from 2.5-4.5 million tons, supported by approximately 20,000-35,000 farms, including greenhouse operators and commercial horticulture farms.

Saudi Arabia Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Application • Foliar application is primarily used in high-value horticultural crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy vegetables grown in greenhouses. Annual nitrogen fertilizer applied via foliar sprays is around 25,000-40,000 tons, treating 60,000-100,000 hectares. Most crops receive 3-6 spray events per season, with nutrient doses averaging 10-25 kg N/hectare per event. The country operates approximately 8,000-12,000 spray equipment units, mainly in commercial greenhouse farms.
• Fertigation is widespread in irrigated areas with drip and center pivot systems, including fruits, vegetables, and forage crops. The annual application volume is 50,000-90,000 tons, covering 150,000-220,000 hectares of irrigated farmland. Saudi Arabia has around 3,500-5,000 fertigation installations, delivering nitrogen at 80-180 kg N/hectare per crop cycle. Liquid fertilizer tank capacity supporting fertigation systems is estimated at 20,000-35,000 m³, allowing 2-4 fertigation events per season depending on crop type.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
•Nitrogenous Fertilizers Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By product Type
• Urea
• Ammonium Nitrate
• Ammonium Sulfate
• Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
• Others(UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate Solutions), Ammonia (Anhydrous Ammonia), Methylene Urea)

By Form
• Solid (Granular / Prilled)
• Liquid
• Gas (Anhydrous Ammonia)

By Crop Type
• Oilseeds and Pulses
• Cereals and Grains
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Others

By Application
• Soil
• Foliar
• Fertigation
• Others