Urea and thiourea resins market in Slovakia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2020, the Slovak market for urea and thiourea resins began with a production volume of 62,878 t and a market size of 56,704 t. This followed a period where consumption of nitrogen fertilizers had risen until 2019 but declined in 2020 due to a sharp increase in natural gas prices, which raised production costs and likely tempered overall market volume. The high cost of this key input directly affected the economics of resin manufacturing from the outset.

A brief expansion occurred in 2021, with production rising to 69,350 t and market size reaching 68,150 t. This growth took place amid global supply chain disruptions and commodity price shocks that kept fertilizer prices elevated. The trend reversed sharply from 2022 as persistently high gas and energy prices across Europe intensified cost pressures. Production contracted to 49,404 t in 2022 and fell further to 31,745 t in 2023, while the market size shrank to 44,303 t and 38,625 t, respectively. During 2023, the market faced additional strain from rising urea prices, limited availability of key raw materials like potassium, and industry shifts toward low-emission production technologies.

In 2024, production partially recovered to 44,747 t, though the market size decreased to 31,538 t. Manufacturing costs remained under pressure from high energy prices, while anticipated legislative changes in the agricultural sector and a growing consumer emphasis on sustainable products began to influence demand dynamics for urea-based resins.

Production urea and thiourea resins in Slovakia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Annual dynamics of production in Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports urea and thiourea resins from Slovakia

Exports in kind, t

In 2019, Slovakia's exports of urea and thiourea resins reached their highest point, but then dropped significantly to 38 667 tons in 2020, marking a 41.0% decrease from the previous year. Over the four-year period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 41.8%, with an average annual decline of 16.5%. The only year of growth during this timeframe was 2019, when exports increased by 2.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Poland was consistently the primary destination for Slovakia's urea and thiourea resin exports in volume terms, accounting for 80.3% of total shipments. The remaining exports were distributed across various other markets.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Slovakia's exports of urea and thiourea resins in monetary terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, export value stood at 11 518 thousand US dollars, down 47.5% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 48%, with an average annual contraction of 19.6%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 23 411 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 5.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Poland was the main buyer of urea and thiourea resins from Slovakia in value terms, purchasing 78.9% of total exports. The rest was sold to a diverse range of other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Slovakia in value, 2017-2020

Imports urea and thiourea resins to Slovakia

Imports in kind, t

Slovakia imported 32 493 tons of urea and thiourea resins in 2020, representing a moderate 9.0% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 5%, translating to an average annual decline of 1.7%. The highest import volume was in 2019 at 35 720 tons, which also experienced the largest annual growth of 9.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Austria was the leading supplier of urea and thiourea resins to Slovakia in volume terms, providing 86.5% of total imports. The remaining imports came from numerous other countries.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Slovakia's imports of urea and thiourea resins in monetary terms decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value amounted to 13 888 thousand US dollars, a 19.3% drop from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports declined by 15.1%, with an average annual reduction of 5.3%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 17 852 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 9.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Austria, the Netherlands, and Hungary were the top suppliers of urea and thiourea resins to Slovakia in value terms. Austria accounted for 66.6% of imports, the Netherlands for 8.3%, and Hungary for 5.4%. Together, these three countries represented 80.2% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Slovakia in value, 2017-2020