Tanuki

What Tanuki does

Tanuki Pty Ltd is a privately held Australian manufacturer and distributor of specialty fertiliser products and crop protection inputs, headquartered in Wellcamp/Toowoomba, South East Queensland, with a second operational site in Yandina. The company was established in 2014 and serves Australian horticulture and broadacre growers through a direct national sales operation, supplying imported and locally manufactured products across three product categories: copper fungicides (Nordox 750WG, imported from Norway), micronutrients (Verno, Glaze Coatings, BASF chelated trace elements including Librel/Libfer/ChauFer, and SQM Ultrasol micro FeD12), and nutrient use efficiency products (BASF Limus urease inhibitor and Elemental Enzymes soil-applied enzymes Lumen, Lumen Z, and Magno).

Tanuki's revenue model is a one-time purchase distribution model of specialty crop inputs, monetised through direct sales to growers via phone contact (+61 7 4639 2009) and online enquiry channels, with enterprise field sales as the primary go-to-market motion. The company holds exclusive Australian distribution rights for Nordox, BASF's chelated trace elements and Limus, and Elemental Enzymes' Lumen and Magno product lines, and operates two joint ventures — Fertec (micronised gypsum under the Entra brand) and Pyrocal (industrial-scale biochar systems). The company has reported year-on-year growth since establishment, won the 2025 Fertilizer Industry Kookaburra Environmental Award, and has invested in a 2,400m² warehouse and offices facility with on-site 70kW solar generation. It is led by Managing Director Durell Hammond, with a workforce of 1–10 employees.

Name

Tanuki

Legal name

Tanuki Pty Ltd

Website

https://tanuki.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tanuki is a privately held Australian specialty fertiliser and crop protection manufacturer and distributor, supplying copper fungicides, micronutrients, and nutrient use efficiency inputs to horticulture and broadacre growers Australia-wide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Agricultural Fertilisers

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532), Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing (325314)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Fertilizer Production & Granulation Services (Tolling, Compaction, Prilling) (AFABABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Fertilizers for Horticulture & Controlled Environment (Greenhouse, Hydroponic, Nursery) (AFABACAL), Bio-based Fertilizers, Soil Amendments & Biostimulants (Digestate-derived, biochar-based inputs) (EUAAAIAH), Mineral Soil Amendments (Lime, Gypsum, Rock Phosphate, Sulfur, Trace Minerals) (AFABAKAF), Soil Health Activators & Biostimulants (Humates, Amino Acids, Seaweed Extracts) (AFABAKAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty fertiliser products
• Copper fungicide distribution
• Crop nutrition inputs
• Nutrient use efficiency
• Agricultural crop protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellcamp

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Fertiliser Products: Import, manufacture and distribute specialty fertiliser products including micronutrients, NUE products, and enzyme-based soil health products to Australian growers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tanuki imports, manufactures and distributes specialty fertiliser products and crop protection inputs — notably the NORDOX 750WG red copper fungicide (Australia's most trusted and widely-used copper fungicide, imported from Norway) — along with micronutrient fertilisers, chelated trace elements, urease inhibitors, and soil-applied enzyme products for Australian horticulture and broadacre growers. The company also holds joint-venture interests in Fertec (micronised gypsum) and Pyrocal (biochar systems), enabling sustainability-focused soil and water solutions.

Product overview

Tanuki is an Australian manufacturer and distributor of specialty fertiliser products and copper-based fungicides for horticulture and broadacre growers. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: NORDOX 750WG copper fungicide (imported from Norway using recycled copper); Micronutrients including Verno, Glaze Coatings, BASF Librel chelated trace elements, and SQM Ultrasol micro FeD12; and Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) products including BASF Limus urease inhibitor and Elemental Enzymes (Lumen Z, Lumen, Magno) soil-applied enzymes. The company also holds a joint venture interest in Fertec (Entra micronised gypsum) and Pyrocal (biochar systems).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NORDOX: Red copper fungicide (750WG) manufactured in Norway using 100% recycled high purity copper in a closed circuit water system. Registered in Australia for downy mildew control in viticulture.
• Verno
• Glaze Coatings
• Librel
• Limus
• Elemental Enzymes
• Entra

Products and services

• NORDOX 750WG Red Copper Fungicide Red copper fungicide based on copper oxide (Cu2O) imported from Norway, manufactured using 100% recycled high-purity copper in a closed-circuit water system. Registered in Australia for downy mildew control in viticulture and used by Australian horticulture and broadacre growers.
• Verno Micronutrient Fertiliser Essential trace element micronutrient fertiliser for Australian horticulture and broadacre growers, supplying key micronutrients for crop nutrition.
• Glaze Coatings Micronutrient coatings for fertiliser application, designed to improve zinc distribution when applied as a coating on fertiliser granules.
• BASF Librel Chelated Trace Elements BASF chelated trace elements range (Librel, Libfer, ChauFer) distributed exclusively in Australia by Tanuki, delivering chelated micronutrients to Australian growers.
• SQM Ultrasol micro FeD12 SQM Ultrasol micro FeD12 micronutrient product for crop nutrition.
• Limus Urease Inhibitor BASF urease inhibitor technology distributed by Tanuki in Australia that helps reduce nitrogen volatilisation, part of the Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) product range.
• Lumen Z Soil-Applied Enzyme Contains Lipase and Mannanase enzymes, plus zinc as a cofactor for the enzymes. Soil-applied enzymes that accelerate decomposition of soil organic matter and nutrient cycling for improved uptake of C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg.
• Lumen Soil-Applied Enzyme Contains Lipase and Mannanase enzymes. Soil-applied enzymes that activate the rhizosphere and provide plant-available nutrients.
• Magno Soil-Applied Enzyme Contains Phosphatase and Mannanase enzymes for soil application, accelerating nutrient cycling and improving availability of phosphorus and other nutrients.
• Entra Micronised Gypsum (Fertec) Micronised gypsum product by joint venture partner Fertec for amendment of sodic soils, mitigating clay dispersion and surface crusting through provision of electrolyte and displacement of sodium, providing calcium and sulphur as plant nutrients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tanuki has built a reputation as a leading Australian distributor and manufacturer over the past 10 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BASF AustraliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBASF appointed Tanuki as exclusive Australian distributor of the BASF chelated trace elements range including Librel, Libfer and ChauFer. Additionally, Tanuki was appointed as distributor for BASF's Limus® urease inhibitor technology that helps reduce nitrogen volatilisation. BASF posted sales of about €492 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2022.
• Elemental EnzymescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTanuki has partnered with Elemental Enzymes (US-based company) to distribute its Lumen and Magno products to the Australian market. Elemental Enzymes harnesses naturally occurring enzymes, peptides and biochemistries to solve complex problems impacting agriculture.
• FerteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFertec is a joint venture of Tanuki dedicated to advancing soil and water sustainability initiatives. Fertec produces Entra, a micronised gypsum product that improves soil structure through its micronised gypsum product, Entra. Through its micronised gypsum product, Entra, improves soil structure and the ability of soil to take in and store water.
• PyrocalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPyrocal is a world leader in industrial-scale biochar systems, founded by Tanuki in 2014 to add value to agricultural waste by transforming it into biochar. Pyrocal improves soil fertility, immobilises heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and water. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified biochar as one of the most promising net-negative emissions technologies.
• NordoxcoreTechnology or IntegrationNordox is the manufacturer of Nordox 750WG red copper fungicide, made in Norway using 100% recycled high purity copper in a closed circuit water system. Tanuki imports Australia's most trusted and widely-used red copper fungicide from Nordox.
• University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch into the award-winning granulated blend of biosolids biochar and micronised gypsum was led by UniSQ in collaboration with CSIRO. UniSQ is a partner in the Nutrients in a Circular Economy Hub which has received funding from The Australian Research Council.
• Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with government stakeholders including the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and Logan Water for the development of the innovative fertiliser product combining biosolids biochar with micronised gypsum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Haifa Group: Israeli specialty plant nutrition company producing water-soluble fertilisers, controlled-release fertilisers, and micronutrients for horticulture. Comparable to Tanuki in specialty fertiliser and micronutrient positioning, though Haifa is a global manufacturer rather than a regional distributor.
• Yara Australia: Australian subsidiary of global nitrogen fertiliser leader Yara International. Comparable to Tanuki in distributing specialty crop nutrition products (including nitrogen use efficiency offerings) to Australian growers, though Yara has proprietary nitrogen manufacturing and a global R&D base.
• Nufarm: Australian-headquartered crop protection company producing herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Directly comparable to Tanuki in serving Australian horticulture and broadacre growers with crop protection chemistry, though Nufarm manufactures proprietary actives versus Tanuki's distribution-led model.
• Sumitomo Chemical Australia: Australian subsidiary supplying crop protection products (fungicides, insecticides) to horticulture and broadacre growers. Comparable to Tanuki in product category and customer base, with similar reliance on imported Japanese parent-company chemistry.

Regional players

• Elders Limited: Major Australian agribusiness retailer distributing crop protection, fertiliser, and seed products to Australian farmers through a national branch network. Comparable to Tanuki as an Australia-wide route-to-market for crop inputs, though Elders focuses on retail distribution of multiple principals' products rather than exclusive specialty distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Incitec Pivot: Australia's largest domestic fertiliser manufacturer and distributor (now part of Dyno Nobel). Comparable to Tanuki as a direct competitor in Australian fertiliser distribution, but at far greater scale and with proprietary manufacturing rather than imported/distributed product.
• UPL Limited: Global crop protection and specialty agriculture solutions company with Australian operations. Comparable to Tanuki in serving horticulture and broadacre growers with crop protection and crop nutrition products, but at global integrated manufacturer scale.
• SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile): Global specialty plant nutrition company whose Ultrasol water-soluble micronutrient range Tanuki distributes in Australia. Comparable to Tanuki as a peer in the specialty fertiliser/micronutrient value chain, though at vastly larger global scale and as a manufacturer rather than distributor.
• Koch Fertilizer Australia: Australian arm of Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, supplying nitrogen-based fertilisers to Australian agriculture. Comparable to Tanuki in distributing fertiliser products to Australian growers, but operating at commodity-nitrogen scale rather than specialty/horticulture.
• CSBP (Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers): Major Australian manufacturer and supplier of fertilisers, chemicals, and explosive precursors. Comparable to Tanuki as a vertically integrated fertiliser supplier to Australian broadacre and horticulture growers, but with in-house ammonia/nitrate manufacturing rather than imported specialty products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Tanuki