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Story: Fertiliser industry

Fertiliser market, 1979–2003

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Fertiliser market, 1979–2003

In 1979 the total fertiliser sold was 354,671 tonnes, with superphosphate at 326,296 tonnes, or 92%. By 2003 total tonnage had increased to 1.638 million, and superphosphate to 900,952 tonnes – but this now formed only 55% of the market. The nitrogen-containing fertilisers urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) now formed 28% of the fertilisers used.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers Association

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How to cite this page

Ants Roberts, Fertiliser industry – The industry today, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/15845/fertiliser-market-1979-2003 (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Ants Roberts, published 1 March 2009.