European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association
FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION IN THE EU IS STABLE, SAYS EFMA’s TEN-YEAR FORECAST Brussels, 14 December 2007
The use of nitrogen in the EU-27 is expected to increase by 3.6% while phosphorous and potassium in the European Union are expected to decline by 4.4% and 2.6.% respectively over the next ten years, predicts the European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA) in their annual publication, Forecast of Food, Farming and Fertilizer Use in the European Union. Fertilizer consumption of the new EU Members States (EU-12) will increase, reversing the overall negative trend for the EU-27. Contributing to this stabilisation is the increasing biofuels production. “The global demand for biofuels has taken a new pace this year”, says Christian Pallière, EFMA coordinator of the Forecast group. “This development, boosted by the high energy prices, is starting to impact the food area and food production and the foreseen increase of nitrogen consumption is a consequence”, he says. The general decrease of all nutrients in the EU-15 is counteracted by the increase of consumption in the EU-12. Although fertilizer consumption in the EU-27 is stable and actually more significant than was foreseen last year, it is still a substantial negative trend compared to the consumption peak of the Seventies and Eighties. For further information, please contact: Mr Christian Pallière Director, Agriculture & Environment chp@efma.be Tel. +32 (0)2 663 31 46 Mobile: +32 (0) 475 69 04 95 Notes to Editor: •
To access the EFMA Forecast of Food, Farming and Fertilizer Use in the European Union 2007-2017, please consult the EFMA website: www.efma.org
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The European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA) represents the major producers of nitrogen-based fertilizers in Europe. Its mission is to identify, support and manage the common interests of its members, to be the industry’s voice and sounding board and to provide members and the interested public with statistical information and studies.
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