Potassium sulphate (SOP) is one of the essential fertilizers that is used in the agricultural industry, as it provides one of the essential nutrients to plants such as Potassium. For instance, according to the Fertilizers Institute, Washington, potassium plays an important role in the plant nutrition process and is termed as “Big 3” primary nutrient. The increasing demand for potash fertilizers in the agriculture sector is expected to drive growth of the global potassium sulphate market over the forecast period. Moreover, potassium sulphate offers advantages such as prevention of infection of plants from pests and other microbes. Potassium sulphate also helps the plant to adapt to unfavorable weather conditions and aids plants in absorbing more minerals from the soil, and also strengthens the tree stalks. In addition, other end uses industries of potassium sulphate include industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food & beverages, and others.
The global potassium sulphate market was valued at US$ 4,043.7 Mn in 2019 and is expected to reach US$ 5,656.0 Mn by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.3% over the forecast period (2020-2027).
Figure 1. Global Potassium Sulphate Value Market Share (%), By Region, 2019

Among regions, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest revenue share of around 51.8% in the global potassium sulphate market in 2019. This is attributed to increasing population and growing demand for food grains, which is boosting growth of potassium sulphate use as a fertilizer in the region. For instance, according to an article published by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asia Pacific is expected to account for around 1/3rd of the estimated 2,600 million increase in global population during the period of 2010 and 2050, thus requiring additional efforts to increase productivity of crops to cater to rising population in the region.
Figure 2. Global Potassium Sulphate Market Share (%) in Terms of Value, By Form, 2019

Moreover, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region over the forecast period, owing to increasing demand of food grains from the emerging economies such as China and India. For instance, according to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), food grain production in India was 283 million tons in 2018 and the government estimated the production to reach 291 million tons in 2019.
Among the forms, solid segment accounted for a major market share of 89.6%, in 2019. SOP provides essential nutrients to the plant and aids in improving the yield of the food grains and vegetables. For instance, according to the research article published by International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR), in 2015, SOP increased the yield of sugarcane, wheat, cotton, and rice by 13.55%, 4.8%, 27.5%, and 2.9% respectively.
Agriculture end-use amounted for the largest demand for potassium sulphate globally, owing to increasing demand for food grains and cereals. For instance, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world production of cereals reached a record high of 2,715 million tons in 2019, which increased by 2.3% from 2018.
Major restraints for potassium sulphate market include increasing usage of natural fertilizers such as neem fertilizers in organic farming operations. For instance, according to a research article published by University of Calabar, the combination of neem with NPK significantly increased the yield of Okra during the research studies.
Major players operating in the global potassium sulphate market include Tessenderlo Group, K+S KALI GmbH, Compass Minerals International Inc., SQM SA, Sesoda Corporation, Migao Corporation, The Mosaic Company, Yara International ASA, SOPerior Fertilizer Corp., and Interpid Potash, Inc.
Potassium sulphate are amongst widely used chemical fertilizers, globally along with urea and phosphate fertilizers. Amongst the major End-use Industry, global potassium sulphate market is segmented into agriculture, industrial, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food & beverages, and others. Agriculture segment accounted for the largest market share of 79.9% and accounted for US$ 3,231.5 million in 2019.
In the agriculture industry, potassium sulphate is utilized as a fertilizer for crops that are sensitive to chlorine. Chlorine sensitivity is predominantly observed in crops such as potatoes, tobacco, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. The increasing production of these crops across the world has bolstered growth of the agriculture segment in the global potassium sulphate market. For instance, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), China, India, and Russia were among the largest producers of potato with a combined production of around 170 Mn tons in 2015.
Market Dynamics
North America potassium sulphate market growth is mainly driven by presence of major market players and their strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, product launches, and partnerships with fertilizer manufacturers. For instance, in 2016, compass minerals launched Potassium+ Organic. It is an organic sulphate of potash (SOP), which offers high potassium and plant-available sulphate sulfur. This product is approved for organic food production by various organization such as the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
Latin America is a major consumer of potassium sulphate, owing to the presence of emerging economies such as Argentina and Brazil among others. The rising population in the region has resulted in need to increase agricultural yield from available farmland. For instance, according to the World Bank data, the population of Brazil and Argentina is expected to grow at a rate of 0.8% and 1.0%, respectively. The fertilizer consumption per hectare in Argentina and Brazil was pegged at 36.0 kg/ha and 175.2 kg/ha, respectively.
Key features of the study:
- This report provides in-depth analysis of potassium sulphate market ,market size (US$ Million and Kilo Tons), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR %) for the forecast period (2020-2027), considering 2019 as the base year
- It elucidates potential revenue opportunity across different segments and explains attractive investment proposition matrix for this market
- This study also provides key insights into market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approval, regional outlook, and competitive strategies adopted by the leading players
- It profiles leading players in the global potassium sulphate market based on the following parameters – company overview, financial performance, product portfolio, geographical presence, distribution strategies, key developments and strategies, and future plans
- Key companies covered as a part of this study include K+S KALI GmbH, Compass Minerals International Inc., Tessenderlo Group, SQM SA, Sesoda Corporation, Migao Corporation, The Mosaic Company, Yara International ASA, SOPerior Fertilizer Corp., and Interpid Potash, Inc.
- Insights from this report would allow marketers and the management authorities of companies to make informed decision regarding their future product launches, technology up-gradation, market expansion, and marketing tactics
- The global potassium sulphate market report caters to various stakeholders in this industry including investors, suppliers, potassium Sulphate manufacturers, distributors, new entrants, and financial analysts
- Stakeholders would have ease in decision-making through various strategy matrices used in analyzing the global potassium sulphate market
Detailed Segmentation:
- Global Potassium Sulphate Market, By Form:
-
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- Global Potassium Sulphate Market, By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- Global Potassium Sulphate Market, By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Global Potassium Sulphate Market, By Region:
- North America
- U.S.
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Canada
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Europe
- U.K.
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Germany
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Italy
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- France
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Russia
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Rest of Europe
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Asia Pacific
- China
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- India
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Japan
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- ASEAN
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Australia
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- South Korea
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Latin America
- Brazil
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Mexico
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Rest of Latin America
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Middle East
- GCC
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Israel
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Rest of Middle East
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Africa
- North Africa
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Central Africa
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- South Africa
- By Form:
- Solid (Standard & Granular)
- Liquid (Soluble SOP)
- By Process:
- Mannheim Process
- Sulphate Salts Reaction
- Brine Processing
- Others
- By End-use Industry:
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Food & Beverages
- Others
- Company Profiles
- K+S KALI GmbH*
- Company Overview
- Product Portfolio
- Financial Performance
- Key Strategies
- Recent Developments
- Future Plans
- Compass Minerals International Inc.
- Tessenderlo Group
- SQM S.A.
- Sesoda Corporation
- Migao Corporation
- The Mosaic Company
- Yara International ASA
- SOPerior Fertilizer Corp.
- Interpid Potash Inc.
“*” marked represents similar segmentation in other categories in the respective section.