Agricultural Chemical Manufacturers

The 770 agricultural chemical manufacturers in the US produce fertilizers, pesticides, and repellents, herbicides and fungicides, soil amendments, plant growth regulators, and seed treatments. Customers include chemical distributors, farms and ranches, seed producers, nurseries and greenhouses, farm support services, pest control firms, veterinary practices, landscaping firms, golf courses, home improvement and garden stores, and consumer retail.

Seasonal Demand Dependent on Weather

Demand for agricultural chemicals is tied to weather conditions and the seasonality of farming.

Chemical Regulation and Liability

Agricultural chemical manufacturing is highly regulated to protect workers, the environment, and product users.

Jul 18, 2026 - USDA Moves to Expand US Fertilizer Production

• The USDA in July launched the $500 million Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) program to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The initiative will fund construction and expansion of facilities producing nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulfur and other essential crop nutrients, with grants ranging from $15 million to $150 million for shovel-ready projects. For the agricultural chemical industry, the program is expected to stimulate investment in domestic fertilizer production, strengthen supply chain resilience, and increase competition among manufacturers. The initiative complements recent federal actions to improve fertilizer availability, including suspending duties on some phosphate imports, designating phosphate and potash as critical minerals, and addressing anti-competitive practices. The department expects the program to expand production capacity, improve long-term fertilizer availability, and help stabilize input costs for US farmers.
• Geopolitical tensions involving Iran are disrupting global fertilizer supply chains and driving fertilizer prices sharply higher just weeks before US spring planting, AgWeb reports. Shipping concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical global energy and fertilizer transport route, have triggered rapid price increases and market volatility. Retailers report frequent price changes, with urea rising $140 per ton, ammonia (NH3) up $100 per ton, and UAN up $100 per ton within two weeks. For US fertilizer manufacturers, the disruptions highlight the vulnerability of global supply chains, as the Middle East accounts for about 49% of global urea exports and 30% of ammonia exports. While reduced reliability of international supply could increase reliance on domestic production, potentially creating short-term demand opportunities for US manufacturers, the volatility also raises pressure from farmers and industry groups for government action to stabilize supply and prices.
• The 2026 outlook for the chemical industry is cautiously optimistic, with the sector showing resilience despite weak demand, trade uncertainty, and uneven industrial recovery, Chemical Processing reported in January. US chemical production grew only 0.7% in 2025 and is expected to rise just 0.4% this year, reflecting flat volumes across most segments. Specialty and agricultural chemicals were bright spots in 2025, while consumer chemicals and plastic resins declined. Global growth remains moderate, and supply‑chain regionalization continues to reshape trade flows, contributing to falling US chemical exports and imports. High borrowing costs and tariff‑driven uncertainty are slowing capital spending, though long‑term investment is expected to accelerate after 2027. Key end‑use markets, including autos, housing, and construction, remain soft, limiting near‑term demand. Even so, the industry benefits from strong US feedstock advantages, advanced manufacturing investment, and rising demand for high‑value materials.
• Producer prices for pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemical manufacturers climbed 11.1% in June compared to a year ago, after posting a 5.7% rise in the previous June-to-June annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Industry producer prices have rebounded after falling sharply from their highs in 2022, when Russia’s war in Ukraine triggered global supply disruptions in the fertilizer market. Now the Iran war is disrupting global fertilizer and agricultural chemical supply chains. Employment by makers of agricultural chemicals remained flat year over year in May, while the average industry wage rose 3.6% YoY in June to $32.56 per hour, easing from its peak in May, BLS data show.

Industry size & Structure

The typical agricultural chemical manufacturer operates from a single location, employs 50 workers, and generates $68.2 million annually.

• The agricultural chemical manufacturing industry comprises about 770 companies that employ 38,500 workers and generate $52.5 billion annually.
• The industry is concentrated, with the 8 largest fertilizer companies representing 68% of segment revenue and the 8 largest pesticide companies generating 71%.
• Large companies include Syngenta AG, FMC, Adama, Drexel, Nufarm, Valent, and Corteva Agriscience (former agricultural chemicals division of DowDuPont), as well as agriculture divisions of diversified chemical manufacturing companies such as Monsanto (Bayer) and BASF. Large firms may have domestic and foreign operations.