Top 10 Ag Retailers With the Most Fertilizer Revenue in 2024

CropLife Staff By CropLife Staff|February 3, 2025
Initiative Image

While fertilizer revenues for the nation’s leading ag retailer took a hit during the 2024 growing season, this alone doesn’t tell the whole story for the category. According to data collected in the 2024 CropLife 100 survey, the fertilizer category saw its overall revenues significantly decline. Sales dropped from $22.4 billion in 2023 to $19.9 billion this year – an 11% decrease, or $2.5 billion.

“However, looking at the revenue numbers only tells part of the story for the fertilizer category in 2024,” says Editor Eric Sfiligoj. “Indeed, according to many of the nation’s top ag retailers, their fertilizer volumes were almost identical to the ones they recorded during the 2023 growing season. Instead, the financial misfortunes for crop nutrients in 2024 stemmed from prices.”

For evidence that the drop in overall fertilizer prices caused the category’s woes during 2024, consider how difficult — or not —  the nation’s top ag retailers found selling macronutrients to their grower-customers was during the growing season, Sfiligoj says. “According to the 2024 CropLife 100 survey, potassium was the easiest sell for the year. Overall, 80% of respondents said convincing growers to purchase potassium was ‘not usually challenging.’ Seventeen percent said potassium sales in 2024 were ‘more challenging than usual.’ Only 3% found selling this product ‘very challenging.'”

Despite pricing challenges, fertilizer remained a significant revenue contributor for the top U.S. ag retailers. In total, the top 10 companies in fertilizer revenue generated $14 billion this past year, which comprised 70% of total CropLife 100 fertilizer revenue ($19.9 billion). To find out which companies made that list (in reverse order of sales), view the slideshow above.

Editor’s note: Companies included in the CropLife 100 listings were limited to independent dealerships and cooperatives that offer fertilizer, crop protection, seed, and custom application services. Figures do not include a host of services, such as data management, consulting/scouting, or grain elevator revenue. Dealerships and cooperatives are ranked in order by total sales in their respective sales group.

5

In today’s complex and fast-paced crop production sector, the team at CROPLIFE keeps 21,000 agricultural retailers, distributors and their suppliers up to date on such decidedly 21st century issues as seed technology, biotechnology, precision agriculture, customer service and retention, and business management. See all author stories here.

Advertisement