Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizers Market Overview, 2031

Key Insights

• Argentina’s sole large‑scale urea producer, Profertil, experienced multiple operational setbacks in 2025, including a temporary shutdown due to a severe storm in Bahía Blanca and a planned technical maintenance outage that lasted several weeks. In December 2025, Canadian multinational Nutrien sold its majority stake in Profertil for $600 million, leaving control in the hands of Adecoagro and Argentine farmer cooperatives. Profertil produces roughly 1.3 million tonnes of urea annually and supplies about 60% of the country‘s urea demand.
• The closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran conflict hit Argentina's domestic market almost immediately. Urea prices rose more than 40% within a few weeks of the war breaking out, climbing from $483/t FOB to $685/t. By late April 2026, spot urea had reached around $1,000/t nearly double the level of early February. In Argentina, nitrogen fertiliser prices rose between 60% and 65% from February onwards, while wheat prices increased by only about 30%. This price‑cost decoupling has caused a severe margin squeeze for farmers ahead of the winter wheat season.
• The Argentine government has moved decisively to protect food security. In April 2026, the cabinet declared that fertilisers are an “essential good” under the Supply Law, enabling the Ministry of Economy to regulate stocks, impose price controls, and force producers to prioritise domestic supply. The government also announced a 400 billion peso (≈US$1.8 billion) support line for small and medium‑sized producers, with preferential rates to finance fertiliser and fuel purchases.

Market Outlook

• According to the research report, "Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market Outlook, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market is anticipated to grow at more than 9.26% CAGR from 2026 to 2031.
• Domestic fertiliser stocks are adequate for 30 to 60 days, according to an April 2026 assessment by the Rosario Board of Trade. This buffer gives the government some breathing room, but any prolongation of the conflict beyond that window will create acute physical shortages for the winter wheat season, which typically begins in May and peaks in June–July.
• Argentina uses roughly 2.5 million tonnes of urea annually, with wheat and corn as the largest consumers. Farmers are calculating that fertiliser now accounts for as much as 40% of their variable costs for wheat, compared with a more normal share of around 25%. Several major growers‘associations are advising members to reduce application rates by 20‑30% or to switch entirely to less nitrogen‑intensive crops, such as barley, oats or even sunflowers.
• Soybean and corn demand for fertiliser will be affected later, but the immediate impact falls on winter wheat. The 2026/27 wheat area could shrink by 10‑15% if current price levels persist. Argentina is one of the world’s top wheat exporters, and any contraction in planted area will tighten global grain supplies at a time when other major exporters are also under pressure.

Policies

• Fertilisers are now legally classified as an “essential good”. Resolution 2026‑150/E, published on 4 April 2026, amended Law 20.680 to explicitly include nitrogenous fertilisers, phosphates and potash. This allows the Secretariat of Domestic Trade to set maximum retail prices, compel producers to maintain minimum inventories, and requisition supply if necessary. The measure is designed to prevent hoarding and speculative price gouging.
• A 400 billion peso financing line for small and medium‑sized farmers was launched on 10 April 2026 through the Banco de la Nación Argentina. The credit carries a fixed annual interest rate of 15% and a six‑month grace period, with repayment scheduled to begin after the wheat harvest. The facility is specifically ring‑fenced for the purchase of fertiliser and agricultural diesel.
• Prolonged tax relief for fertiliser imports was confirmed on 20 April 2026. The government extended until 31 December 2026 the suspension of the 6% advance income tax and the 3% statistical tax on all imported fertiliser raw materials (urea, ammonia, AS, MAP, DAP, potash). The waiver applies to both finished fertilisers and inputs destined for local blending plants.
• The fertiliser quality control framework was modernised in early 2026. Resolution 458/2025 (effective 5 January 2026) simplified the registration process for new fertiliser products, shortened approval times and expanded acceptance of foreign research and trial reports. Producers need only submit a sworn statement to commence manufacturing, subject to subsequent oversight by SENASA (National Agri‑Food Health and Quality Service).

Industry News

• 2025 was a record‑breaking year for Argentina’s fertiliser imports. The country purchased 4.1 million tonnes of fertiliser, the second‑highest volume of the century and a 28% increase over 2024. Nitrogenous fertilisers accounted for 2.10 million tonnes (52%), followed by phosphates with 1.87 million tonnes (46%) and potash with 0.085 million tonnes (2%).
• Total domestic consumption of fertiliser in 2025 is estimated at 5.1 million tonnes, the third‑highest on record and the third consecutive year of recovery. The record wheat area (6.4 million hectares) and near‑record maize area (8.9 million hectares) drove demand.
• Profertil’s operational troubles amplified import requirements. The plant suffered two major interruptions in 2025: a one‑week shutdown in March due to a storm in Bahía Blanca that cut gas supply, and a multi‑week maintenance stoppage later in the year. The lost domestic output was compensated by increased imports.
• Urea imports in early 2026 fell sharply. In January 2026, urea import volume dropped 67.6% year‑on‑year to just 15,856 tonnes, while import value fell 65.1%. The main trading partners in the first month were Nigeria, Russia, Algeria, Bolivia and Brazil. The sharp decline reflects both price‑induced demand suppression and the impact of the Hormuz closure.
• Import origin concentration in nitrogen fertilisers remains high. In 2025, 39.3% of Argentina’s nitrogenous fertiliser imports came from Gulf nations (primarily Qatar, Oman and the UAE). Russia supplied a growing share, while Nigeria and Algeria are the other major non‑Gulf sources. China has also increased shipments of blended fertilisers.

Segment Analysis

Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Product Type • Urea is the dominant nitrogen fertilizer in Argentina, strongly driven by soybean, maize, and wheat production systems in Pampas regions. Annual consumption is estimated at 2.5-4.0 million tons, while domestic production is limited to 0.6-1.2 million tons, supported by 2-4 ammonia-urea integrated plants. Imports account for 1.8-3.0 million tons annually, mainly routed through ports such as Bahía Blanca, Rosario, and Quequén.
• Ammonium nitrate usage in Argentina is limited due to regulatory restrictions and its primary association with industrial and mining applications rather than agriculture. Annual production is estimated at 0.3-0.7 million tons, supported by 1-3 industrial chemical facilities integrated with explosives and mining supply chains. Imports range from 0.1-0.3 million tons annually, while exports are minimal at 20,000-80,000 tons.

Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Form • Solid nitrogen fertilizers in Argentina are heavily centered on urea and ammonium sulfate distribution for soybean, maize, wheat, and sunflower production in the Pampas region. Annual product movement is estimated at 2.8-4.5 million tons, supported by around 250-500 storage and warehouse facilities concentrated in Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, and Entre Ríos provinces. The country operates approximately 25-45 bulk handling terminals, mainly linked to export/import ports such as Rosario, Bahía Blanca, and Quequén.
• Liquid nitrogen fertilizers are increasingly used in precision agriculture systems in Argentina’s Pampas and irrigated northern regions. Annual liquid fertilizer movement is estimated at 0.8-1.8 million tons, supported by approximately 120-250 liquid storage facilities and 10-20 dedicated liquid handling terminals.

Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Crop Type • Oilseeds dominate Argentina’s agricultural structure, led by soybean with smaller contributions from sunflower, peanuts, and pulses. Total cultivated area is estimated at 25-33 million hectares, with harvested area of 24-32 million hectares annually. Production volume reaches approximately 90-125 million tons, supported by around 250,000-400,000 farms, largely concentrated in Pampas provinces.
• Cereals and grains include maize, wheat, barley, and sorghum, with maize and wheat dominating production systems. Total cultivated area is estimated at 18-24 million hectares, with harvested area of 17-23 million hectares. Annual production volume reaches 85-115 million tons, supported by approximately 220,000-350,000 farms, mainly in Pampas and northern expansion zones.
• Fruits and vegetables include grapes, apples, pears, citrus, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and leafy vegetables, concentrated in Mendoza, Río Negro, San Juan, and northern irrigated zones. Total cultivated area is estimated at 1.5-3.0 million hectares, with harvested area of 1.8-3.5 million hectares due to multiple cycles in horticulture. Annual production volume ranges from 25-45 million tons, supported by approximately 180,000-350,000 farms, including smallholder horticulture and commercial orchards.

Argentina Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market By Application • Soil application dominates nitrogen fertilizer use in Argentina, with annual application volume of 5.5-8.0 million tons of nitrogen nutrients across broadacre farming systems. It covers about 50-65 million hectares, mainly soybean, maize, wheat, and pasture land in the Pampas region. Farmers typically apply fertilizers 1-3 times per season, increasing to 4 in intensive double cropping systems.
• Fertigation is a growing method in Argentina, especially in irrigated horticulture, vineyards, and high value fruit production areas like Mendoza and San Juan. Annual nitrogen fertilizer use through fertigation is estimated at 250,000-600,000 tons, covering 1.0-2.0 million hectares of irrigated farmland. Adoption is higher in water managed agricultural zones.


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