Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Research Report: Forecast 2026–2036
The global agricultural sector is undergoing a fundamental shift toward "Nitrogen Use Efficiency" (NUE). As the world grapples with the dual challenges of food security and environmental sustainability, specialized chemical stabilizers like N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) have transitioned from niche additives to essential components of modern fertilization strategies.
Western Market Research predicts that the N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market was valued at USD 215.4 Million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 412.8 Million by the year 2036, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% globally.
Market Description
N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) is a structural analog of urea and acts as the most effective urease inhibitor currently available on the commercial market. When urea fertilizer is applied to soil, the naturally occurring enzyme urease rapidly hydrolyzes it into ammonia gas. If this process occurs on the soil surface, up to 50% of the nitrogen can be lost to the atmosphere through a process called volatilization. NBPT functions by temporarily blocking the active site of the urease enzyme, thereby delaying the breakdown of urea for up to 14 days. This delay allows time for rainfall or irrigation to move the urea into the soil profile where it can be utilized by plant roots.
The market for NBPT is intrinsically linked to the global Urea Market, which remains the most widely used nitrogen source in the world. As governments implement stricter regulations regarding ammonia emissions (such as the EU’s National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive), the adoption of "Stabilized Nitrogen" fertilizers has become mandatory in several regions. The market is evolving from the sale of raw NBPT powder toward sophisticated liquid formulations that offer better shelf stability and easier application for fertilizer blenders.
Global NBPT Market Segmentation
The market is categorized by chemical purity and the specific end-use application within the bio-resource industries.
By Type (Purity Levels)
-
Purity
97%: This is the industry standard for bulk fertilizer stabilization. It is widely used in the production of stabilized urea granules and is favored for its balance between cost and performance.≥\geq -
Purity
98%: A high-grade, premium segment. This level of purity is increasingly sought after by manufacturers of Liquid Fertilizer Formulations and specialized feed additives, where trace impurities must be minimized to ensure long-term chemical stability and prevent crystallization.≥\geq
By Application
-
Fertilizer: The dominant application segment (over 90% market share). NBPT is either coated onto solid urea prills or mixed into UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate) solutions to prevent nitrogen loss in row crops, turf, and ornamental plants.
-
Feed Additives: Utilized in ruminant nutrition. NBPT is used to control the release of nitrogen from Non-Protein Nitrogen (NPN) sources like urea in cattle feed, ensuring that the ammonia release matches the rumen's microbial processing capacity, thereby preventing ammonia toxicity.
-
Other: Includes use in specialized laboratory reagents and experimental research in soil microbiology.
Key Players Covered
The NBPT market is characterized by a strong manufacturing base in East Asia, with key players focusing on large-scale synthesis and global export:
-
Zhejiang Sunfit: A leading global supplier known for high-capacity production and integrated chemical chains.
-
Jinma Chemical: A major Chinese manufacturer focusing on high-purity urease inhibitors for the international market.
-
Jiangxi Jixiang: Specializes in fine chemicals and agricultural additives with a strong focus on cost-efficient synthesis.
-
Jiujiang Woxin: A key player in the research and development of specialized nitrogen stabilizers.
-
Hubei Hengshuo: Noted for its advanced production facilities and adherence to international quality standards for ag-chemicals.
-
AVF Chemical: A significant distributor and manufacturer providing customized solutions for the North American and European markets.
DROT Analysis (Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Threats)
Drivers
-
Environmental Regulations: Governments are aggressively targeting ammonia emissions from agriculture to improve air quality and reduce nitrogen runoff into water bodies.
-
Volatile Fertilizer Prices: As urea prices fluctuate, farmers are more inclined to invest in stabilizers to ensure that every unit of nitrogen purchased is actually utilized by the crop.
-
Climate Change: Increased temperatures accelerate the urease enzyme's activity; as global temperatures rise, the functional necessity of NBPT to prevent rapid volatilization becomes more critical.
Restraints
-
Chemical Instability: NBPT in its raw form is sensitive to heat and moisture, which can limit the shelf life of treated fertilizers if not formulated correctly.
-
Cost Barrier: While efficient, the addition of NBPT increases the per-ton cost of urea, which can be a deterrent for subsistence farmers in developing regions.
Opportunities
-
Combination Products: Developing formulations that combine NBPT with Nitrification Inhibitors (like DCD or DMPP) to provide "Dual Stabilization," protecting against both volatilization and leaching.
-
Liquid Fertilizer Growth: The rising popularity of precision fertigation and UAN solutions in North America and Brazil provides a massive growth avenue for liquid-compatible NBPT.
-
Precision Agriculture: Integration with "Variable Rate Application" (VRA) technologies where stabilized urea is used specifically in high-risk zones.
Threats
-
Substitution by Biologicals: Emerging research into microbial soil inoculants that naturally regulate nitrogen cycles could pose a long-term threat to chemical inhibitors.
-
Raw Material Supply: Dependency on specific phosphorus-based precursors can lead to supply chain vulnerabilities if geopolitical tensions arise in major mining regions.
Value Chain Analysis
-
Upstream (Raw Materials): The synthesis of NBPT requires specialized precursors, primarily Phosphorus Oxychloride and n-butylamine. The pricing of these intermediates heavily influences NBPT margins.
-
Synthesis (Manufacturing): The reaction process involves multi-stage chemical synthesis requiring high-precision temperature and pressure control to achieve
97% purity.≥\geq -
Formulation (The Value-Add): Most end-users do not use raw NBPT. "Formulators" dissolve the NBPT into solvents (like DMSO or glycols) and add surfactants to create a shelf-stable liquid that can be sprayed onto urea.
-
Integration (The Fertilizer Industry): Large-scale fertilizer companies (e.g., Koch, Yara, Nutrien) either treat the urea at the production plant or sell the stabilizer to retailers who "blend" it at the local level.
-
End-User: Farmers and professional turf managers apply the stabilized product to the field.
Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the NBPT market in 2020 due to its heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing. Initial lockdowns in Hubei and surrounding provinces caused a 4-month supply vacuum, leading to record-high prices for nitrogen stabilizers in early 2021. However, the pandemic also highlighted the fragility of global food supply chains, prompting governments to subsidize agricultural inputs to ensure domestic food security. This post-pandemic support has resulted in a permanent increase in the adoption rate of efficiency-enhancing technologies like NBPT.
Regional Analysis
-
North America: The most mature market. The U.S. is the largest consumer of NBPT due to the widespread use of surface-applied urea in the "Corn Belt."
-
Asia-Pacific: The fastest-growing region. China and India are transitioning from traditional urea toward value-added products to combat soil degradation and environmental pollution.
-
Europe: Driven by the "Farm to Fork" strategy, which mandates a significant reduction in nutrient losses, making inhibitors like NBPT essentially mandatory for urea use.
-
South America: Brazil is a massive growth hub as it expands its "No-Till" farming practices, which rely heavily on surface-applied nitrogen.
Market Outlook: 2026–2036
The future of the NBPT market is one of technological refinement. Over the next decade, we anticipate the decline of raw powder sales in favor of Ultra-Stable Liquid Concentrates that can remain active on fertilizer granules for over 12 months.
Furthermore, as the "Carbon Credit" market for farmers matures, the use of NBPT will likely be incentivized as a documented method for reducing a farm's carbon and nitrogen footprint. By 2036, NBPT will likely be integrated into Smart-Fertilizer systems where the inhibitor release is triggered by specific soil moisture or temperature conditions. While Asia will remain the production powerhouse, the North American and Latin American markets will drive the demand for high-purity (
≥\geq
98%) formulations compatible with advanced precision ag-equipment.
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1. Market Overview of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT)
1.1 N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Overview
1.1.1 N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Scope
1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook
1.2 N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Regions:
1.3 N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Historic Market Size by Regions
1.4 N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Forecasted Market Size by Regions
1.5 Covid-19 Impact on Key Regions, Keyword Market Size YoY Growth
1.5.1 North America
1.5.2 East Asia
1.5.3 Europe
1.5.4 South Asia
1.5.5 Southeast Asia
1.5.6 Middle East
1.5.7 Africa
1.5.8 Oceania
1.5.9 South America
1.5.10 Rest of the World
1.6 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Impact Will Have a Severe Impact on Global Growth
1.6.1 Covid-19 Impact: Global GDP Growth, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Projections
1.6.2 Covid-19 Impact: Commodity Prices Indices
1.6.3 Covid-19 Impact: Global Major Government Policy
2. Covid-19 Impact N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Sales Market by Type
2.1 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Historic Market Size by Type
2.2 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Forecasted Market Size by Type
2.3 Purity: ?97%
2.4 Purity: ?98%
3. Covid-19 Impact N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Sales Market by Application
3.1 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Historic Market Size by Application
3.2 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Forecasted Market Size by Application
3.3 Fertilizer
3.4 Feed Additives
3.5 Other
4. Covid-19 Impact Market Competition by Manufacturers
4.1 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity Market Share by Manufacturers
4.2 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers
4.3 Global N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Average Price by Manufacturers
5. Company Profiles and Key Figures in N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Business
5.1 Zhejiang Sunfit
5.1.1 Zhejiang Sunfit Company Profile
5.1.2 Zhejiang Sunfit N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Specification
5.1.3 Zhejiang Sunfit N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.2 Jinma Chemical
5.2.1 Jinma Chemical Company Profile
5.2.2 Jinma Chemical N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Specification
5.2.3 Jinma Chemical N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.3 Jiangxi Jixiang
5.3.1 Jiangxi Jixiang Company Profile
5.3.2 Jiangxi Jixiang N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Specification
5.3.3 Jiangxi Jixiang N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.4 Jiujiang Woxin
5.4.1 Jiujiang Woxin Company Profile
5.4.2 Jiujiang Woxin N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Specification
5.4.3 Jiujiang Woxin N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.5 Hubei Hubei Hengshuo
5.5.1 Hubei Hubei Hengshuo Company Profile
5.5.2 Hubei Hubei Hengshuo N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Specification
5.5.3 Hubei Hubei Hengshuo N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.6 AVF Chemical
5.6.1 AVF Chemical Company Profile
5.6.2 AVF Chemical N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Product Specification
5.6.3 AVF Chemical N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
6. North America
6.1 North America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
6.2 North America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
6.3 North America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
6.4 North America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
7. East Asia
7.1 East Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
7.2 East Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
7.3 East Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
7.4 East Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
8. Europe
8.1 Europe N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
8.2 Europe N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
8.3 Europe N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
8.4 Europe N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
9. South Asia
9.1 South Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
9.2 South Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
9.3 South Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
9.4 South Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
10. Southeast Asia
10.1 Southeast Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
10.2 Southeast Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
10.3 Southeast Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
10.4 Southeast Asia N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
11. Middle East
11.1 Middle East N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
11.2 Middle East N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
11.3 Middle East N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
11.4 Middle East N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
12. Africa
12.1 Africa N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
12.2 Africa N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
12.3 Africa N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
12.4 Africa N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
13. Oceania
13.1 Oceania N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
13.2 Oceania N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
13.3 Oceania N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
13.4 Oceania N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
14. South America
14.1 South America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
14.2 South America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
14.3 South America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
14.4 South America N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
15. Rest of the World
15.1 Rest of the World N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size
15.2 Rest of the World N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Key Players in North America
15.3 Rest of the World N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Type
15.4 Rest of the World N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Size by Application
16 N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Market Dynamics
16.1 Covid-19 Impact Market Top Trends
16.2 Covid-19 Impact Market Drivers
16.3 Covid-19 Impact Market Challenges
16.4 Porter
Global NBPT Market Segmentation
The market is categorized by chemical purity and the specific end-use application within the bio-resource industries.
By Type (Purity Levels)
-
Purity
97%: This is the industry standard for bulk fertilizer stabilization. It is widely used in the production of stabilized urea granules and is favored for its balance between cost and performance.≥\geq -
Purity
98%: A high-grade, premium segment. This level of purity is increasingly sought after by manufacturers of Liquid Fertilizer Formulations and specialized feed additives, where trace impurities must be minimized to ensure long-term chemical stability and prevent crystallization.≥\geq
By Application
-
Fertilizer: The dominant application segment (over 90% market share). NBPT is either coated onto solid urea prills or mixed into UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate) solutions to prevent nitrogen loss in row crops, turf, and ornamental plants.
-
Feed Additives: Utilized in ruminant nutrition. NBPT is used to control the release of nitrogen from Non-Protein Nitrogen (NPN) sources like urea in cattle feed, ensuring that the ammonia release matches the rumen's microbial processing capacity, thereby preventing ammonia toxicity.
-
Other: Includes use in specialized laboratory reagents and experimental research in soil microbiology.
Key Players Covered
The NBPT market is characterized by a strong manufacturing base in East Asia, with key players focusing on large-scale synthesis and global export:
-
Zhejiang Sunfit: A leading global supplier known for high-capacity production and integrated chemical chains.
-
Jinma Chemical: A major Chinese manufacturer focusing on high-purity urease inhibitors for the international market.
-
Jiangxi Jixiang: Specializes in fine chemicals and agricultural additives with a strong focus on cost-efficient synthesis.
-
Jiujiang Woxin: A key player in the research and development of specialized nitrogen stabilizers.
-
Hubei Hengshuo: Noted for its advanced production facilities and adherence to international quality standards for ag-chemicals.
-
AVF Chemical: A significant distributor and manufacturer providing customized solutions for the North American and European markets.
