Which Emerging Markets are Experiencing Growing Demand for Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate?

The growth of emerging market demand for magnesium sulfate heptahydrate shows significant regional differentiation characteristics, mainly driven by agricultural expansion, industrial transformation, policy dividends and emerging application scenarios. The following is a systematic analysis based on industry dynamics and policy orientation:
1. Southeast Asia: dual-wheel drive of agriculture and industry
Indonesia and Malaysia：
The demand for acidic soil improvement in Southeast Asia continues to be released. In 2022, China's exports of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate to Indonesia and Malaysia accounted for 12% and 9% of the total exports respectively. The expansion of Indonesia's sugarcane planting area has driven the import volume of agricultural-grade products to increase by 18% year-on-year, while Malaysia enjoys zero tariffs through the RCEP agreement. In 2023, Shandong enterprises will enjoy preferential export value of 2.16 billion yuan. In the industrial field, the transfer of Vietnam's manufacturing industry has driven the production of photovoltaic modules. In 2024, the import volume of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate for EVA film will increase by 25%.
Philippines and Thailand：
The problem of magnesium deficiency in the soil of coconut plantations in the Philippines is prominent, and the import volume of agricultural-grade products will exceed 50,000 tons in 2024; in order to improve disease resistance, the demand for feed-grade products in Thailand's shrimp farming industry has increased by 12% year-on-year. Both places have reduced terminal prices through localized packaging models (such as setting up packaging centers in Manila), and China's agricultural-grade products exported to the region account for 35%.
2. Africa: Soil improvement and industrialization go hand in hand
Sub-Saharan Africa：
The area of soil magnesium deficiency has expanded by 30,000 hectares per year, and the demand for agricultural-grade products in sugarcane and corn planting areas in Nigeria, Kenya and other countries has surged. In 2024, China's agricultural-grade exports to non-agricultural products will increase by 15% year-on-year, of which 60% will achieve premiums through "soil testing + customized formulation" services. In the industrial field, South Africa's electroplating industry wastewater treatment projects have driven the import of industrial-grade products to grow by 20%.
North African emerging economies：
The Egyptian government has implemented the "million feddan" land reclamation plan, and agricultural-grade demand is expected to reach 80,000 tons in 2025; Morocco's new energy projects (such as the Ouarzazate photovoltaic power station) have driven the import of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate for EVA film, and related orders will increase by 30% in 2024.
3. Middle East: Resonance between new energy and agricultural modernization
Photovoltaic industry explosion：
Saudi Arabia's Neom Future City supporting photovoltaic project (installed capacity 5GW) uses EVA film containing 1.5% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which reduces the attenuation rate of components by 0.8%/year. In 2024, the import volume in this field will exceed 20,000 tons. The Masdar City energy storage project in the United Arab Emirates promotes the demand for high-purity anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the premium of products with a purity of ≥99.99% reaches 20%.
Desert agricultural innovation：
The upgrade of Israel's drip irrigation technology has spawned the demand for slow-release magnesium fertilizers. In 2024, China's exports to the country accounted for 40% of coated products, and the fertilizer effect period was extended to 6-8 months. Qatar's "Food Security Plan" promotes greenhouse soil improvement, and the import volume of agricultural-grade products has increased by 18% annually.
4. Latin America: Agricultural upgrading and policy dividends superposition
Mexico and Brazil：
The Mexican feed-grade market size reached US$42 million, and China ranked among the top five in terms of exports to it in 2022. The soil magnesium deficiency rate in Brazil's soybean-growing areas exceeds 30%. In 2024, the agricultural-grade import volume exceeded 100,000 tons. The combination of "foliar spraying + soil base application" increased the yield by 15%.
Argentina and Peru：
The expansion of livestock farming in the Pampas grasslands of Argentina has driven the demand for feed-grade products, with imports increasing by 12% in 2024; the Peruvian copper mine wastewater treatment project has promoted the import of industrial-grade products, and related orders have increased by 25% in 2024.