Fertilizer data in FAOSTAT

Acknowledgements:

The compilation of the fertilizer domain has been made possible by the cooperation of governments and industry experts. The Statistics Division wishes to thank all governments and industry experts for their co-operation and support of our work in supplying and refining data and their advice. Any suggestions from users are welcome.

Introduction:

The new Fertilizer datasets have been prepared using a revised methodology and new dissemination formats. These explanatory notes provide detailed methodology notes on the new fertilizer dataset in FAOSTAT. The previous fertilizer data collection series in FAOSTAT is continued with this data release.

The fertilizer statistics data received from individual countries in product format through the new FAO fertilizer resources questionnaire are converted to nutrients and validated for consistency regarding summary totals of production, imports, exports, consumption and including domestic availability for the three types of straight fertilizers (N), phosphates (P₂0₅), potash (K₂0) and including complex fertilizers(NP, NPK). In addition, the fertilizer data is reviewed with regard to the quantities allocated for non- fertilizer use, fertilizer used for crop production, fertilizer used to manufacture other NPK compounds or blends among others.

Methodology:

1. Concepts and definitions
Used for crop production concept refers to the total quantity of fertilizers that has been applied to the soil to increase crop yields. Used for crop production is here referred to as ‘Actual Consumption’ and is defined as actual deliveries to agriculture by the manufacturers or actual quantity consumed by a country for agriculture production.

Fertilizer Resource Utilization Account (FRUA):
The Fertilizer Resource Utilization Account format provides a summary of: Production, Imports, Exports, Non-Fertilizer use and Consumption for the three plant nutrients nitrogenous (N), phosphate (P₂0₅) and potash. (K₂0) The equation used in the accounting format is seen below:

2. Production (P) + Imports (M) - Exports (X) - Non-Fertilizer use (NF)= Consumption (C)
P + M – X – NF = C

When data is not known for either fertilizer production or consumption, then the other items are used to derive the residual data. When this occurs, the data is labelled as apparent (e.g. apparent production). When the import or export data are not available, then mirror trade flows are used to estimate the data (see Trade flow matrix section).

The summary N, P₂0₅, and K₂0 totals for the items in the Fertilizer Resource Utilization Account are based on the following scenarios:

1. Production P = (– M) + X + NF + C
   Production = less Imports + Exports + Non fertilizer use + Consumption
   
   When the data of a country are all available then P = the country actual production; M = actual imports, X = actual exports, C =actual consumption and NF = actual non fertilizer use.
   
2. Production with mirror imports P = (less mM) + X + NF + C
   Production = less Mirror imports (– mM) + Exports + Non fertilizer use + consumption
   
   The concept of mirror imports is applied as proxy for a country actual imports figures, for example, when all the characteristics of the variables satisfying the equation are official data (as is formulated in equation A) but the reported information on a given year for imports is not in harmony with current trend. In such a case, all countries exporting such a commodity to that country will be recorded, reviewed and analysed. The result is referred to as mirror imports (mM).
   
3. Production with mirror exports P = less M + mX + NF + C
   Production = ess Imports + Mirror exports (mX) + Non fertilizer use + Consumption
   
   The concept of mirror exports is applied as a proxy for a country actual exports figures, for example, when all the characteristics of the variables satisfying the equation are official data (as is formulated in equation A) but the reported information on a given year for exports is not in harmony with current trend. In such a case, all countries importing such a commodity from that country will be recorded, reviewed and analysed. The results of such analysis are referred to as mirror exports (mX).
   
4. Apparent Consumption AC = P + M – (NF + X)
   Apparent consumption = production + imports - (non-fertilizer use + exports).
   
   Apparent consumption figures are developed based on the underlying assumption that supply equals consumption. However, actual apparent consumption may be underestimated due to the following:
   
   • Non-fertilizer use assumed to be zero in the absence of data;
   • Stocks of fertilizer assumed to be zero or stable;
   • Country imports or exports of fertilizer data not available and assumed to be zero.
   
   Due to diverse country practices on the collection, compilation and reporting of fertilizer data, the application of the apparent consumption equation in the FRUA may occasionally produce a negative balance. In such cases it is assumed that country consumption depended on available fertilizer stocks. If country consumption results into a negative balance the negative balance is set to zero“0” with a note attached indicating the adjustment. It is normal practice for countries not to disclose data on stocks, so they are assumed to be stable. For example, a non producing country imports for a calendar year may be of a low magnitude but at the same time reporting high consumption. In such a scenario, it is assumed that country consumption is depended on stock of some mineral fertilizers that have not been used previously.
   
5. Apparent Production AP = X + C - (NF + M)
   Apparent production = exports + used for crop production (actual consumption) - (non-fertilizer use + imports)
   
   When consumption data is available for a country, but actual production is not available or is not considered reliable, the apparent production data is derived.
   
   Apparent consumption figures are developed based on the underlying assumption that actual consumption and movement in trade equals the availability of domestic production. Reasons for distortion in the actual apparent production calculated may be due to the following:
   
   • Non-fertilizer use assumed to be zero (in the absence of data).
   • Stock assumed to be zero or stable.
   • Production data for the years under review not available.

Trade flow matrix:

A Trade flow matrix is a statistical cross tabulation of all trade flows (imports and exports) between trading partners. For example, the imports of mineral fertilizers for a country are equal to the exports of countries that exports mineral fertilizers to it When data is missing for imports or exports for a country, then the counterpart country trade flow data (imports or exports) are used as estimates.

3. Mirror trade (Mirror imports, Mirror exports)
Mirror trade information, as indicated in FRAU 2 equation b and c, is used as proxy in order to adjust imports or exports data for those countries reporting figures that are inconsistent, low or high and missing data.

1. Mirror imports (mM) - the estimation of mirror imports for any particular commodity- for example, all countries exports figures for such a commodity to country X are analysed and summed as a proxy for country X total imports.
   
2. Mirror exports mX) - the estimation of mirror exports for any particular commodity - for example, all countries imports figures for such a commodity to country X are analysed and summed as a proxy for country X total exports.
   
   The derived mirror imports figures or exports figures are used to adjust the actual imports or actual exports data for a country or to fill in missing gaps for trade information.

Specific issues in fertilizer statistics:

4. Commodity aggregates (totals)
As far as possible the data provided by individual countries through the fertilizer resources questionnaire are considered official for computing and summarizing the various level aggregates such as: Gross production, Trade and Consumption. The summary of the aggregates are given in nutrient terms. In the case where official data are not available from the country for certain products, reliable information from other sources are used for the period not covered by official data. The details of individual countries data are analysed for building a harmonized trend in the time series on total production, imports, exports, and consumption in nutrients contents for the three types of straight fertilizers - N, P₂0₅ and K₂0.

When a country reports only total of the product Super phosphate without a breakdown, a standard coefficient of 46% is applied to derive the nutrient content.

1. Double counting and intermediate use
   Country fertilizer data is carefully scrutinized in an attempt to eliminate any products intended for intermediate use and not the final fertilizer product. Straight fertilizers and ammonium phosphate domestically produced or imported are often used to manufacture other fertilizers. Country data is examined to ensure that when finished fertilizer materials are produced, they are not included in the production data - thus avoiding double counting. For example when a commodity such as urea is imported or procured from other domestic production, it is subsequently excluded from Nitrogen total of a country – thus avoid double counting.
   
   Ammonia which is sometimes exported may be at times being incorporated in the production figures of the country. The same scenario is also true for Phosphoric acid exported, as it may sometimes be included in total production figures for some countries. Country data is further examined to identify and eliminate from its production data, such imports that would otherwise inflate overall country production figures.
   
   In principle, only ‘Rock phosphate and Ammonium’ reported for direct application is included in the fertilizer totals. Rock phosphates and Ammonium reported by individual countries as raw material are eliminated from the country summary totals.
   
2. Technical grade potash
   Technical grade potash: A non-producing country may sometimes import this commodity and then re-export part of it, thus appearing as a producer. When such instances occur, country production figures are reviewed and adjusted.

Data sources:

5. The main source of data is the FAO Fertilizer questionnaires sent to countries and is located at the given website.
http://www.fao.org/es/ess/questionnaires/default.asp

Additional sources include: national statistical publications, country project reports, studies available in other FAO Divisions, economic journals, national statistics Internet websites and country trade data received from custom departments and industry experts.

The main source of trade data is the United Nations Statistics Division Comtrade database http://comtrade.un.org The United Nations COMTRADE database is used to obtain imports and exports information when available.

Reference period:

The review and analysis starts from 2002. Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others are on a split-year basis. For the purpose of data dissemination, the concept of a calendar year (January to December) has been adopted. Fertilizer data reported by a country following a split year basis will be treated on a calendar year basis, January to December. If a country data was reported produced, imported, exported or consumed, for example, in June 2004/July 2005, but actual activity occurred in half year June 2004, the half year 2004 will be recorded to represent the calendar year 2004.

Units of measurement:

All figures are calculated in metric tons of plant nutrients: N, P₂0₅, K₂0. Nitrogen is generally expressed in the elemental form; N. Phosphates and
potash are expressed as the oxide form, P₂0₅ and K₂0.

Conversion factors:

The following table of commonly used fertilizers are the basis for data collection in the FAO fertilizer resources questionnaire. It should be noted that nutrient contents might vary from country to country. The percentages given in the table below regarding commodity weight for individual fertilizers is a default technical conversation factors used in the case a country has failed to provide information on the process and utilization of data reported. Countries are requested to provide their specific technical conversation factors if they differ from the default value.

Commodity	Conversion factor used if no information is provided by the country
Ammonia, anhydrous	82% N
Ammonium nitrate	33% N
Ammonium sulphate	21% N
Calcium ammonium nitrate	21% N
Urea	46% N
Urea and ammonium nitrate solutions	32% N
Superphosphate above 35%	46% P205
Superphosphate, other	18% P205
Phosphate rock	30% P205
Potassium chloride (Muriate of potash)	60% K20
Potassium sulphate	50% K20
Diammonium phosphate (DAP)	18% N and 46% P205
Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)	11% N and 52% P205
Other NP compounds	20% N and 25% P205
NPK complex	15% N, 15% P205 and 15% K20
NPK blends	15% N, 15% P205 and 15% K20
PK compounds	20% P205 and 25% K20
Potassium nitrate	13% N and 45% K20