Foliar Spray Market Trend, Share, Growth, Size, Analysis and Forecast 2032

Foliar Spray Industry Prospective:

The global foliar spray market size was worth around USD 7.31 billion in 2023 and is predicted to grow to around USD 11.89 billion by 2032 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 5.55% between 2024 and 2032.

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Foliar Spray Market: Overview

Foliar spray is a method of providing essential nutrients or feeding plants by directly applying fertilizers, in liquid form, to the leaves of the plants. Flora can absorb essential nutrients through the epidermis which is a single cell layer over the roots, flowers, leaves, and stems of plants. This method of spraying nutrients and plant-protecting components is widely used for plants that suffer from specific nutritional deficiencies. Currently, the market is filled with a wide range of foliar spraying feeds including liquid fertilizers and water-soluble plant variants. In some cases, people may also use readily available natural materials for foliar spraying. Some examples of these materials include compost tea, kelp, herbal tea, weed tea, and fish emulsion. Generally, foliar sprays should be applied during the morning time since the air is cooler. Foliar spraying is mostly considered a short-term solution to help plants alleviate stress. However, researchers and experts do not suggest foliar spraying as an alternative to healthy soil since the latter impacts the overall quantity and quality of crop yield. Studies indicate that spraying chemical fertilizers in foliar form can lead to breaking dormancy in fruit trees and can also promote flowering in some variants such as mango trees. The increasing awareness among crop cultivators and foresters may promote the demand for foliar spray during the projection period.

Key Insights:

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global foliar spray market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.55% over the forecast period (2024-2032)
• In terms of revenue, the global foliar spray market size was valued at around USD 7.31 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 11.89 billion, by 2032.
• The market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the exponentially growing nutritious food demand globally
• Based on the form, the liquid segment is growing at a high rate and will continue to dominate the global market as per industry projection
• Based on the application, the horticulture openfield segment is anticipated to command the largest market share
• Based on region, Asia-Pacific is projected to dominate the global market during the forecast period

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Foliar Spray Market: Growth Drivers

Exponentially growing nutritious food demand globally will promote the market adoption rate

The global foliar spray market is expected to grow due to the increasing demand for nutritious food products across the globe. The sharp rise in the world population which is projected to reach over 9.5 billion by 2050 is a leading reason promoting higher food demand worldwide. Additionally, the general population is becoming more aware of the importance of nutrient-rich food in building the immune system and affecting overall health. Since COVID-19, there has been a positive increase in the number of people opting for chemical-free nutrition-rich food items in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits. Recent surveys indicate that over 60% of the world’s population is actively seeking food items that promote immune health and they are making conscious decisions to check the nutritional content of the consumed food products. In addition to this, the food e-commerce industry has managed to bring positive changes in the demand for food items with higher nutrient density. Online channels offering doorstep delivery of groceries have allowed the urban population higher access to a wide range of edibles at reasonable prices. In September 2023, Getir, a quick commerce player, and Uber Eats announced a new partnership starting in the UK. This collaboration will allow the latter to expand its offerings by tapping into a broader range of groceries. The pair is expected to expand their operations across Europe in the coming years. The grocery delivery services are continuously evolving and shifting away from the traditional method of grocery shopping. In February 2024, Uber Eats announced that it would soon start delivering food in Japan with the help of robots in collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Cartken, a robotics company.

Advantages offered by foliar spraying could further trigger higher market growth

Foliar spraying method has several advantages associated with it. Researchers suggest that foliar spraying at accurate timing and in tandem with forms of cultivation can optimize overall crop yield. The global foliar spray offerings allow rapid absorption of nutrients and promote targeted application of essential fertilizers or pesticides. As the awareness rate about the benefits of foliar spraying increases, the demand for the solutions is likely to improve.

Foliar Spray Market: Restraints

Limited application and availability of modern efficient alternatives to restricting the market growth rate

The global industry for foliar spray faces multiple limitations that act against the market’s steady growth rate. Foliar spraying method has limited application. Scientists and researchers have warned against substituting healthy soil with foliar spraying. For instance, this method cannot be used for all crops and trees. Additionally, this is an extremely labor-intensive method of delivering nutrients to crops. Moreover, the area covered with foliar spraying is highly restricted. The most commonly adopted method of supplying essential nutrients to plants is through soil enrichment since this method has existed for centuries in the agricultural industry.

Foliar Spray Market: Opportunities

Organic foliar spray solutions have the potential to disrupt the market growth rate

The global foliar spray market is expected to generate high growth opportunities in the organic segment. There has been a drastic increase in the number of consumers opting for organic food products. These items are not exposed to any form of synthetically made chemicals throughout the cultivation process. Organic food offers several benefits. These items are fresher as compared to artificially preserved food products. Additionally, organic farming also offers environmental benefits as this form of cultivation does not lead to the release of harmful chemicals and gasses into the environment. Organic farming is known to maintain soil integrity for a longer duration as opposed to conventional farming. Organic foliar sprays are made of natural components and do not leave harsh impacts on the plant or the crop. This segment can generate massive revenue in the coming years.

Growing interest of market players in expanding product portfolio could trigger higher growth in the industry

The demand for novel methods of nutrient delivery in the agriculture industry is steadily rising. This has led to more players entering the market for foliar spray while the existing players continue to invest in expanding their product portfolio. In June 2023, ST. LOUIS, MO, a leading provider of specialty minerals announced the launch of a new range of advanced foliar and fertigation solutions in North America. The novel offerings will be served under the brand name Nova. These are water-soluble fertilizers including Nova PULSE™, Nova FINISH™ Nova FLOW™, and Nova ELEVATE™ thus aiding the growth in the global foliar spray market.

Foliar Spray Market: Challenges

High process sensitivity of foliar spray poses challenges against the market adoption rate

The global foliar spray industry is highly process-sensitive. It means that foliar spraying is more efficient only when applied at specific times of the day and in certain quantities. Any changes in the variables can impact the overall product yield. For instance, if foliar sprays have higher concentrations of nutrients, this can lead to leaf burn since the water content will evaporate while the salt content may remain on the leaf. These technical challenges limit the market adoption rate.

Foliar Spray Market: Segmentation

The global foliar spray market is segmented based on form, type, application, and region.

Based on the form, the global market segments are liquid and powder. In 2023, the highest growth was witnessed in the liquid segment. Foliar sprays are mostly used in liquid form since this form is easy to apply and also offers multiple other benefits. For instance, liquid foliar sprays have higher compatibility with other crop management solutions. However, there is a rise in the power form of foliar spray. The powder form is subsequently turned into liquid as most solutions are water-soluble. Foliar sprays are recommended to be applied at least 3 days for effective results.

Based on type, the global foliar spray industry is divided into micronutrients, nitrogenous, potassic, phosphatic, and others.

Based on the application, the global market segments are field crops, horticulture openfield, turf & ornamental, greenhouse, and others. The highest revenue-generating segment was the horticulture openfield. This method of farming deals with a wide range of crops and foliar sprays can be customized to meet the nutritional needs of these crops. The rising demand for everyday food essentials especially fresh produce is helping lead the segmental demand. In 2023, the global fresh vegetable market was valued at over USD 652 billion.

Foliar Spray Market: Report Scope

Foliar Spray Market: Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific to garner massive growth during the projection period

The global foliar spray market will be led by Asia-Pacific during the projection period. The reason for higher regional growth is the presence of an extensive and growing agricultural sector in several countries across Asia-Pacific. For instance, China and India are some of the leading agricultural nations with the latter recording crop cultivation as one of the pillars of the regional economy. China on the other hand is the largest grain producer globally. In addition to this, crop cultivators in Asia-Pacific are constantly seeking new solutions to improve crop yield and foliar spray can prove beneficial to improve crop quality by delivering targeted nutritional supply. The growing investments by regional governments to promote the agricultural sector may further improve the regional market growth rate. In February 2024, the Indian government launched the world’s largest storage scheme for regional farmers. Under the scheme, the country will register construction of several new storage facilities. The growing regional demand for organic food products driven by an increase in urban population density along with changing consumer preference may assist in Asia-Pacific’s growth rate.

Foliar Spray Market: Competitive Analysis

The global foliar spray market is led by players like:

• BASF SE
• Nufarm Limited
• Yara International ASA
• Bayer CropScience
• Corteva Agriscience
• AgroLiquid
• Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited
• FMC Corporation
• Syngenta AG
• Valent Biosciences Corporation
• WinField United (a Land O'Lakes company)
• UPL Limited
• The Mosaic Company
• Arysta LifeScience (acquired by UPL Limited)
• ADAMA Ltd.

The global foliar spray market is segmented as follows:

By Form

• Liquid
• Powder

 By Type

• Micronutrients
• Nitrogenous
• Potassic
• Phosphatic

By Application

• Field Crops
• Horticulture Openfield
• Turf & Ornamental
• Greenhouse

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa