Terra Industries - Competitors

Terra Industries Competition

Now Viewing Terra Industries's competition in: Chemical Manufacturing - Agricultural (primary)

Recent Developments

Imports, Exports Rise - US exports of agricultural chemicals increased nearly 71 percent in the first six months of 2008 compared to a year earlier; imports of agricultural chemicals increased nearly 47 percent. US agricultural chemical shipments to India grew almost 600 percent, driven by the country's large population and rapidly developing economy. US imports of agricultural chemicals rose significantly from China and Russia.

Value of Shipments Increases - The value of US shipments of pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals rose more than 29 percent in the first six months of 2008 compared to the previous year. The global need for increased food production is driving demand for agricultural chemicals. Demand has proven strong despite falling commodities prices, particularly in rapidly developing markets such as India and China.

Agricultural Chemicals Prices Rise - US producer prices for mixed fertilizers rose nearly 50 percent in June 2008 compared to a year earlier. Prices for superphosphate and other phosphate fertilizer materials rose more than 113 percent; producer prices for other agricultural chemicals grew almost 8 percent. Prices for agricultural chemicals, especially fertilizer, are rising on increased demand and higher prices for raw materials like natural gas and oil.

Competitive Landscape

Demand for agricultural chemicals depends mainly on demand for various crops, which in turn depends on crop prices. The profitability of individual companies is linked to efficient operations and marketing. Big producers have large economies of scale in production. Smaller companies can compete effectively by making specialty chemicals or fertilizer mixtures for local markets. Operations are capital-intensive and highly automated: annual revenue per employee at a large plant is close to $700,000.

Full Industry Overview For Chemical Manufacturing - Agricultural

Chemical Manufacturing - Agricultural Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US agricultural fertilizers and chemicals is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 4.2 percent between 2008 and 2013.

Agricultural Chemicals Growth Dips but Improves

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.