Agricultural Chelates Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Agricultural Chelates Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The agricultural chelates market is projected to register a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period.

• The factors such as increasing demand for quality and higher crop yields, along with the rising micronutrient deficiency in the soil, are increasing their applicability. Furthermore, they are compatible with a wide variety of pesticides and liquid fertilizers, as they do not react with their components. Most chelates can be mixed with dry mixes and liquid fertilizers.
• Currently, micronutrient deficiencies are major constraints, in terms of crop production, in agricultural programs. Micronutrient fertilizers, such as chelates, are gaining popularity. During the forecast period, they are expected to play a major role in attaining stability and sustainability in the production of food grains, pulses, and oilseeds.
• With the growing demand for chelates in hydroponics, research in the development of bio-degradable chelates has accelerated over the years. Many researchers have suggested that imidodisuccinic acid (IDHA), a novel biodegradable agent, could be used as a micronutrient chelating agent in hydroponics and fertigation cultures instead of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The fully biodegradable chelate IDHA is expected to witness the fastest growth among agricultural chelates.
• As agriculture evolves worldwide, the usage of hydroponics and fertigation is increasing, particularly in areas with challenging agronomic conditions. The increasing demand for hydroponics is predicted to significantly boost the market for chelating agents in agriculture in the future. The rise in emphasis on sustainable approaches in agriculture in Europe and globally is driving the demand for IDHA chelating agents in agriculture.

• Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is one of the most extensively used synthetic chelating agents in agriculture and finds applications in both soil and foliar-applied nutrients. EDTA can also be used for open-field fertigation in the case of soils with a pH range of 6.0. Its wide application is a major reason behind its holding the largest share of the market.
• Also, EDTA chelates are widely preferred over other inorganic sources, as they are effective in the uptake of trace elements like iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) from the soil to the roots of the plant.
• As a micronutrient, zinc is crucial for plant hormone balance and auxin activity and is vital for plants’ growth. Organic chelated zinc sources, such as Zn-EDTA (which contains 12% of Zn), are generally considered to be superior to inorganic zinc sources. In the case of corn and bean crops, only half of the total is required if Zn-EDTA chelate fertilizer is the source rather than zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). EDTA chelates are comparatively less expensive and easily available compared to other commercial agriculture chelates available in the market.
• The major players in the market have a wide product portfolio for EDTA being used in agriculture inputs. For instance, Corteva has a wide range of EDTA chelating agents under the brand name VERSENOL and Crop Max, which have a high demand in the agriculture market. EDTA chelates are comparatively less expensive and easily available compared to other commercial agriculture chelates available in the market. Its ability to treat toxins such as mercury, cadmium, and lead in the soil drives the growth of EDTA chelates during the forecast period.

• The Asia-Pacific region has the highest market value for agricultural chelates, majorly led by China, India, and Japan. As the country with the largest population, China has one of the most booming agricultural industries globally.
• With a rapid increase in population and the increasing demand for food, farmers are forced to grow crops with a higher yield. These factors are increasing the demand for micronutrients and boosting the agricultural chelates market in the country. Metallic chelates are used in China as micronutrient fertilizers to supply plants with iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). The most common chelates used are ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA), and ethylenediamine-n n′-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid) (EDDHA).
• India is witnessing an incidence of micronutrient deficiencies, such as Zn 36.5%, Boron 24.2%, Fe 12.8%, Mn 7.1%, and Cu 4.2%. This has led to severe losses in the yield and nutritional quality of produce. In line with the nutrient deficiency in the soil and the effectiveness of chelates in combatting it, the demand for chelates is increasing in the country. The Indian market is estimated to grow at a moderate rate.
• Micronutrients play an essential role in ensuring balanced nutrition for crops, and the lack of these may limit crop growth. Hence, to accelerate crop yields to meet the rising demand for food, the country is expected to adopt the usage of this product in the coming years.

The global agricultural chelates market is moderately consolidated in nature. The major players in the market are Yara International ASA, BASF SE, Nouryan, The Andersons, Inc., and Haifa Negev technologies Ltd, among others. The greater market share of these players can be attributed to a highly diversified product portfolio and many acquisitions and partnerships taking place during the study period. These players are also focusing on R&D, increasing product portfolios, widening their geographical presence, and aggressive acquisition strategy.

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