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World production (and apparent consumption) of triple superphosphate declined
by 57% between 1990 and 2002. Approximately 80% of that decline occurred between
1990 and 1993. Between 1993 and 2002, production continued to decline, but
at a much more moderate rate. Overall, the decline was due largely to the economic
demise of the Eastern bloc in the early 1990s. However, the world triple superphosphate
industry had already been depressed as a result of a slowdown in the growth
of world phosphate fertilizer consumption. In addition, TSP had been losing
market share to ammonium phosphates, which have accounted for essentially all
of the growth in world phosphate fertilizer consumption for many years. Although
TSP has a similar phosphate analysis to ammonium phosphates, it contains no
other nutrients. Ammonium phosphates, on the other hand, also contain a significant
amount of the most commonly used nutrient, nitrogen. Thus the transportation
cost per unit of total nutrient is higher for TSP.
World TSP production is concentrated in the developing world. Africa, the
Middle East, Socialist Asia and Central/South America are the primary producers,
together accounting for about 67% of world production in 2005. Several other
regions are also large producers. Much of the decline from the industry’s
historical peak occurred in the former USSR and Eastern Europe. Large losses
also occurred in Western Europe, Southeast Asia and the United States. Since
2002, major increases in production have occurred in Socialist Asia and the
Middle East. World production is projected to remain at about the 2005 level
during the forecast period.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of triple superphosphate:
Since 2002, the world market for TSP has recovered by more than 20%, almost
back to the level recorded in 1993. The only significant market for triple
superphosphate is fertilizer use. The 20% decline between 1993 and 2002 was
broadly based, with only Central/South America, the Middle East and Southwest
Asia posting gains. Central/South America, Southwest Asia and the Middle East
have led the recovery since 2002, with several other regions posting smaller
gains. Triple superphosphate accounted for an estimated 14% of world phosphate
fertilizer consumption in 1990, 9% in 1993, 7% in 2000, about 8% in 2005, and
is projected to decline to about 7% in 2010.
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