Minmetals Securities·2025-07-10 02:45Investment Rating - The report rates the industry as "Positive" [6] Core Insights - Potassium is one of the three essential nutrients for crop growth, often referred to as "the grain of food" [2] - The global potassium fertilizer market is projected to reach USD 28.12 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9% expected until 2033 [27] - The supply of potassium is dominated by a few major players, leading to a clear oligopoly in the industry [2][44] Industry Overview - Potassium is essential for crop growth, with a market size exceeding USD 100 billion [15] - The potassium resource is divided into solid potassium ores and potassium brine, with solid potassium ores being the majority [28] - Global potassium resources are unevenly distributed, with China holding only 4% of the world's reserves, leading to significant reliance on imports [2][53] Demand Analysis - Global potassium fertilizer demand is expected to grow steadily due to population increases, with an average annual growth rate of 2.67% projected from 2024 to 2030 [3] - Key regions driving demand include China, Southeast Asia, and Brazil, with specific agricultural practices increasing potassium usage [3][18] - By 2030, global potassium fertilizer demand is anticipated to reach 85.2 million tons [3] Supply Analysis - Capital expenditures for greenfield potassium projects are substantial, with development cycles typically ranging from 7 to 10 years [4] - Major projects, such as BHP's Jansen project, are expected to significantly increase global potassium production capacity [4][20] - If current projects are completed on schedule, global potassium production could reach 90.9 million tons by 2030, with a CAGR of 2.35% from 2024 to 2030 [4] Price Trends - Short-term price trends for potassium fertilizers are expected to be strong, influenced by supply constraints and high demand in key markets [5] - The price of potassium fertilizers is projected to face upward pressure until 2026, after which it may stabilize as new projects come online [5][26] - The long-term price will be supported by marginal costs, despite potential oversupply in the future [5]