As yet these are small but growing. The industry has suffered a turbulent recent history as it has adjusted to the demand for lower levels of active ingredients in farming. The industry has been hit by low cost imports of fertilizers from Eastern Europe. Research is less prominent than in pesticide development, but still has a part to play as optimum levels of application are sought out. The UK and Western European markets will contract further in the short and medium term.
Some companies are likely to pull out of the industry or become part of a merger or takeover.
Elsewhere in the world demand in the long term looks set to improve and those companies which survive the next five years look to have an assured future.