ICL Group

What ICL Group does

ICL Group is a publicly traded multinational specialty minerals and fertilizers manufacturer (NYSE: ICL) headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, with approximately 12,500 employees and operations spanning Israel, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, and India. Founded in 1920 as Palestine Potash Ltd., the company operates through four business segments (Growing Solutions, Industrial Products, Phosphate Solutions, and Potash) and holds a 20-24% share of the global controlled release fertilizer (CRF) market, a segment valued at approximately $3.9 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2035. The company extracts raw materials from unique mineral deposits including Dead Sea brines and Boulby (UK) Polyhalite, giving it a structural cost position that competitors cannot easily replicate.

The product portfolio spans specialty fertilizers (controlled release, water soluble, fertigation, foliar, biostimulants, Polysulphate), industrial chemicals (phosphoric acid, bromine compounds, SAFR flame retardants), food ingredients (Bartek malic and fumaric acid, FruitMag), personal care ingredients (CareMag D), and energy storage solutions (bromine-based flow batteries, LFP cathode materials). Underlying proprietary technology includes the eqo.x first-of-its-kind biodegradable CRF coating, OSMOCOTE 5, the Puraloop recycled-phosphorus circular-economy process, and digital agriculture platforms (Agmatix, GROWERS, ICLeaf). Industrial operations include autonomous trucking at the Ladenburg, Germany site, drone-based monitoring, and ML-driven predictive maintenance and energy optimization.

Revenue is generated predominantly through B2B direct enterprise sales to agricultural, industrial, food, and energy customers, supplemented by regional distributor networks and digital-agriculture platforms. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales with a corporate venture arm (ICL Planet Startup Hub) investing in alternative-protein and AgriTech startups, and AI-enabled product development partnerships (e.g., Agrematch). Recent strategic activity includes a staged acquisition of Bartek Ingredients ($90 million for approximately 50%, announced December 2025), opening of a specialty fertilizer manufacturing facility in Maharashtra, India (March 2026, 28,000 sqm, targeting 30,000 tons by 2029), and the launch of multiple new products between 2021 and 2025. A notable setback was the US Department of Energy's October 2025 decision to discontinue funding for ICL's planned LFP Cathode Active Material manufacturing plant in the United States.

Name

ICL Group

Legal name

Israel Chemicals Ltd.

Website

https://icl-group.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

ICL Group is a publicly traded specialty minerals and fertilizers manufacturer operating across agriculture, industrial, food, and energy markets globally, serving enterprise B2B customers through direct sales and distribution networks spanning raw mineral extraction to finished products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Minerals and Fertilizers

NAICS

Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing (325312), Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

NPK/Compound & Blended Fertilizers (Granular Blends, Bulk Blending) (AFABABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia/Urea/UAN) (IMAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Specialty fertilizers
• Phosphate minerals
• Potash products
• Controlled release fertilizers
• Bromine compounds

Headquarters

HQ city

Tel Aviv

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Growing Solutions: Specialty fertilizers including controlled release fertilizers, water soluble fertilizers, fertigation fertilizers, foliar fertilizers, granulated PK/NPK, essential fertilizers, and biostimulants for agricultural applications
2. Industrial Products: Chemical manufacturing, electronics-grade phosphoric acid, metal phosphating/coating, rubber and plastic applications, and general industrial chemical compounds
3. Phosphate Solutions: Phosphate-based products for agricultural, industrial, food, and energy storage applications including LFP battery materials
4. Potash: Potash fertilizers and potassium-based products for agricultural applications
5. Food Ingredients: Food-grade malic and fumaric acid through Bartek Ingredients acquisition; specialty phosphates for food processing
6. Energy Storage Solutions: Bromine-based flow batteries and energy storage systems for industrial and grid applications
7. Flame Retardants: Sustainable flame retardant products under the SAFR brand for various industrial applications

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICL Group is a global specialty minerals and fertilizers manufacturer that mines raw materials (potash, phosphates, bromine, magnesium from the Dead Sea and other mineral deposits) and produces finished specialty fertilizers, industrial chemicals, food ingredients, flame retardants, and energy storage solutions. The company operates across four business segments — Growing Solutions, Industrial Products, Phosphate Solutions, and Potash — serving agricultural, industrial, energy, food, and personal care end markets.

Product overview

ICL Group is a global specialty minerals and fertilizers manufacturer organized into four key business segments: Growing Solutions, Industrial Products, Phosphate Solutions, and Potash. The company operates across the entire product lifecycle from raw material mining through manufacturing to consumer delivery. The Growing Solutions segment includes controlled release fertilizers (CRF with eqo.x and OSMOCOTE 5), fertigation fertilizers, foliar fertilizers, granulated PK/NPK, essential fertilizers, Polysulphate, biostimulants, and turf & ornamental products (eqo.s®). Industrial Products encompass flame retardants (SAFR®), bromine-based solutions (BromoQuel®, Biobrom™, Bromosol™, Bactebrom®), and biocides. Phosphate Solutions covers phosphoric acid for chemical manufacturing, electronic-grade phosphoric acid, phosphating coatings, and potassium phosphate salts for drilling. The portfolio also includes food ingredients (malic acid, fumaric acid, FruitMag™, texturizing solutions), personal care ingredients (CareMag® D), and AgTech digital platforms (GROWERS, ICLeaf, Agmatix). The company offers both standard products and customized solutions across agriculture, energy, industrial, health, and food sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICL Planet: Corporate venture arm investing in startups developing alternative protein solutions and sustainable food technologies.
• Planet Startup Hub
• Agmatix
• GROWERS
• OSMOCOTE
• Puraloop
• eqo.x
• eqo.s
• SAFR
• Polysulphate
• FruitMag
• CareMag
• TextiMag
• BIG

Products and services

• Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF) Specialized fertilizers coated with semipermeable membranes designed to gradually release nutrients over time, improving nutrient use efficiency and reducing environmental runoff. Sold to agricultural growers, nurseries, and turf/landscape professionals.
• FertilizerpluS Advanced fertilizer products with enhanced nutrient delivery and environmental benefits compared to conventional fertilizers, targeted at agricultural customers.
• Fertigation Fertilizers Water-soluble fertilizers designed for application through irrigation systems, enabling precise nutrient delivery directly to plant root zones for commercial agriculture.
• Foliar Fertilizers Liquid fertilizers applied directly to plant leaves for rapid nutrient absorption and correction of micronutrient deficiencies in agricultural crops.
• Granulated PK/NPK Fertilizers Granulated fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium (PK) or nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) for balanced crop nutrition.
• Essential Fertilizers Fundamental fertilizers providing essential macro and micronutrients including TSP, SSP phosphates, and potassium-based products for crop nutrition.
• Polysulphate Multi-nutrient fertilizer derived from Polyhalite rock containing potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Certified for organic use and improves crop quality.
• Biostimulants Products that stimulate plant growth and stress response, improving nutrient efficiency and crop quality without direct nutrient content. For agricultural customers.
• eqo.x Biodegradable Coating Technology First-of-its-kind biodegradable coating technology for controlled release fertilizers, enabling improved sustainability and nutrient efficiency.
• eqo.s Sustainable Turfgrass Solution Revolutionary sustainable turfgrass fertilizer solution designed for greenkeepers and groundsmen to maintain healthy and vibrant turfgrass.
• OSMOCOTE 5 Latest generation controlled release fertilizer technology for sustainable plant and crop growth with enhanced nutrient efficiency, used in horticulture and nursery applications.
• Puraloop Recycled Phosphorus Fertilizer Recycled phosphorus fertilizer derived from waste streams, supporting circular economy and reducing reliance on mined phosphorus.
• Energy Storage Solutions Bromine-based battery and energy storage systems including LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery materials for clean energy transition. Sold to energy companies and utilities.
• Potassium Phosphate Salts for Drilling Specialized phosphate salts for oil and gas drilling fluid applications, sold to energy and drilling companies.
• Phosphoric Acid for Chemical Manufacturing Phosphoric acid products for industrial chemical manufacturing applications, sold to industrial manufacturers.
• Electronic-Grade Phosphoric Acid High-purity phosphoric acid for electronics and electricity applications including semiconductor manufacturing.
• Phosphating Coating Metal treatment solutions for phosphating and coating applications in industrial metal finishing.
• Bromine-Based Rubber and Plastic Additives Bromine-based products for rubber and plastic applications including flame retardants and polymer additives, sold to industrial manufacturers.
• SAFR Sustainable Flame Retardants Sustainable flame retardant system for fire protection in construction, electronics, and transportation materials, sold to industrial buyers.
• BromoQuel Bromine Neutralization System Neutralization system that enhances bromine safety in industrial applications.
• Biobrom DBNPA Biocide Cost-effective DBNPA biocide product for industrial water treatment applications.
• Bromosol Cooling Tower Biocide Advanced single component biocide for cooling towers and industrial water systems protection.
• Bactebrom Biofilm Treatment Biofilm treatment solution for pipe blockage prevention and paper mill applications.
• Dentifrice Ingredients Specialty mineral ingredients for oral and dental care products including toothpaste, sold to oral care manufacturers.
• Personal Care Specialty Minerals Specialty mineral compounds for personal care product formulations, sold to personal care manufacturers.
• CareMag D Malodor Reduction Ingredient Magnesium-based malodor reduction ingredient for personal care products, aluminum-free and natural-based.
• Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounds High-purity compounds for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, sold to pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• FruitMag Natural Citrus Firming Agent Natural, fungicide-free firming agent for citrus fruit that improves firmness and extends shelf life.
• TextiMag Textile Odor-Adsorption Technology Magnesium-based breakthrough in odor-adsorption technology for the textile industry, sold to textile manufacturers.
• Food Ingredients (Malic and Fumaric Acid) Food-grade specialty ingredients including malic acid, fumaric acid, phosphates, and texturizing solutions for food and beverage applications. Sold to food and beverage manufacturers via the Bartek Ingredients acquisition.
• Water Treatment Solutions Biocide products for water and waste treatment including cooling towers and industrial water systems, sold to industrial water treatment operators.
• Phosphates for Paints & Coatings Specialty phosphate compounds for paints, coatings, and related industrial applications, sold to coatings manufacturers.
• Phosphates for Textile & Leather Phosphate-based products for textile and leather processing applications, sold to textile and leather manufacturers.
• Products for Animals Specialty mineral and nutritional products for animal health and nutrition applications, sold to animal feed and nutrition manufacturers.
• Phosphates, Bromine and Magnesium for Transportation Phosphate, bromine, and magnesium compounds for transportation applications including vehicle components and safety systems, sold to transportation manufacturers.
• Phosphates for Construction Phosphate and magnesium compounds for construction and industrial applications, sold to construction industry buyers.
• GROWERS Digital Agriculture Platform Digital agriculture platform providing easy-to-use technology for farmers, advisors, and retailers for improved farm management.
• ICLeaf Leaf Nutrient Analysis Tool Digital tool providing season-long leaf nutrient analysis data for precision crop management.
• Agmatix Agro Informatics Platform Digital agro informatics platform creating value from agricultural big data for improved farming decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-24% market share in $3.9B controlled release fertilizer market (2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AgrematchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025ICL Group partners with Agrematch, an AI-powered startup focused on expediting compound discovery and research in AgriTech. The partnership leverages artificial intelligence to accelerate agricultural innovation and product development.
• Potash for Life ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program in India demonstrating benefits of balanced fertilization using potassium to improve crop quality and farmer profitability while minimizing environmental impact.
• NASA (Boulby Mine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnique collaboration with NASA at ICL Boulby mine in UK for research related to space exploration and planetary studies.
• Athena Fund ImagineBoxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICL partnership with Athena Fund's ImagineBox educational technology initiative, bringing innovative classroom experiences through immersive technology.
• Harvard Business SchoolcoreOthersICL's BIG (Business Innovation for Growth) program featured as a case study at Harvard Business School, recognizing excellence in corporate innovation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OCP Group: Moroccan state-owned phosphate and fertilizer giant with the world's largest phosphate reserves. Directly comparable to ICL's Phosphate Solutions and granulated NPK business.
• K+S AG: German potash and salt producer expanding into specialty crop nutrition and magnesium products. Comparable to ICL's Potash segment and select specialty minerals offerings.
• The Mosaic Company: Global leader in phosphate and potash crop nutrition with growing specialty fertilizer offerings. Closest direct competitor to ICL on phosphate rock, phosphate solutions, and potash.
• Haifa Group: Israel-based specialty fertilizer company focused on water-soluble, controlled-release, and fertigation products. Most direct specialty-fertilizer peer to ICL's Growing Solutions.
• COMPO EXPERT: Specialty fertilizer company offering controlled-release, water-soluble, and biostimulant products across horticulture and turf. Highly comparable to ICL's Osmocote, eqo.x, and Polysulphate lines.

Broad incumbents

• Nutrien Ltd. The world's largest crop inputs producer with retail, potash, nitrogen, and phosphate operations. Directly comparable to ICL across Potash and Phosphate Solutions and increasingly competing in specialty fertilizers and digital agronomy.
• Yara International: Global nitrogen-based fertilizer specialist with significant crop nutrition and specialty offerings. Overlaps with ICL in NPK granulated fertilizers, fertigation, and foliar solutions.
• CF Industries Holdings: Largest North American nitrogen fertilizer producer expanding into clean ammonia and specialty plant nutrition. Partial overlap with ICL's nitrogen-bearing NPK portfolio.
• SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile): Chile-based global specialty chemicals and plant nutrition company with strong specialty fertilizer and lithium businesses. Comparable to ICL in specialty plant nutrition and energy storage materials adjacency.

Regional players

• Adama Agricultural Solutions: Israel-headquartered crop protection company (acquired by Syngenta). Comparable Israeli-listed ag-inputs peer with overlapping AgTech/distribution in select regional markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/group_icl?s=21&t=y9LwfKwH4QrQpH5osOjptA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IsraelChemicals
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICL-GROUP-1796603550469377/?modal=admin_todo_tour
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icl-group/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/icl__group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICL Group