Socialist Asia

Mainland China accounts for 95% of the consumption in this region, Vietnam for most of the rest.

China is the world's largest consumer of fertilizers accounting for about a quarter of total world consumption.

Fertilizer consumption in China has been increasing for the past 30 years, in line with the growth of population and economic progress. Periods of relative stability have been followed by periods of strong increases, largely influenced by progress in domestic production as new plants have come on stream.

With substantial investment in nitrogen production facilitates the ratio between the nutrients became unbalanced and this is gradually being corrected. The N:P2O5:K2O ratio in China changed from 1:0.2:0.02 in 1985 to 1:0.39:0.16 in 2001.

In Vietnam the agricultural sector contributes about 40% of GDP and export earnings, and provides a livelihood for three quarters of the population. Fertilizer consumption has progressed strongly during the past decade.