PRESENT SITUATION AND PROSPECTS FOR THE WORLD'S FERTILIZER USE

Since 1971(excluding years 1990～1993),the fertilizer consumption in the world has risen year after year. Over the past 20 years, the proportipn of urea and ammonium phosphate in the total consumption of nitrogen and phosphate has increased significantly, while the proportion of straight phosphate fertilizer and the NPK compound fertilizer decreased. There are different characteristcs of fertilizer types used in different countries. In recent years, the ratio of N:P2O5:K2O in the developed countrles has been adjusted to 1:0. 42:0. 42, whereas in the developing countries it is 1:0. 39:0. 26 due to the extremely low level of phosphate and, especially potassium. In 1995/ 1996, the USA and China produced the largest quantity of fertilizer in the world, both having a close output of fertilizer(17. 9% and 17. 5%,respectively, of the world's total fetrtilizer production). But the nitrogen and phosphorus consumption in China is 212% and 216%, respectively, of that of the USA. while the consumption of potassium is only 63% of that the USA. It is estimated that in 2001-2002 the annual growth rate of chemical fertilizers in the worid would be 2. 9%. The increase in fertilizer production in China and in the South Asian and Latin American countries will account for about 71% of the world's total increase. The world's output of nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers will meet the future needs, and there may be surplus of varylng degree.