Profertil

What Profertil does

Profertil is Argentina's largest fertilizer producer and South America's largest granular urea manufacturer, operating a single industrial-scale nitrogen complex in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires province. The plant converts natural gas feedstock sourced from the Vaca Muerta shale formation into ammonia, urea, and downstream nitrogen products, with a portfolio spanning commodity fertilizers (urea, UAN, ammonium sulfate, DAP, MAP, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, single superphosphate, UAN, micronutrients including zinc products) and the differentiated PROTERRA specialty line (7-40, DS, NS 42-4, PS-2, S-3, TRIPLE 15). The company also produces Arnox 32, an ISO 22241-compliant automotive grade urea solution for diesel emissions reduction that has been mandatory for Argentine heavy-duty vehicles since January 2016 under EURO 5 standards.

The business operates as a B2B industrial chemicals and agricultural inputs producer. Fertilizer sales flow through three company-operated logistics terminals in Puerto General San Martín, San Nicolás, and Necochea, combined with a nationwide network of agronomic stores and technical advisors who promote Best Management Practices alongside product sales; Arnox 32 is distributed via refueling stations and diesel service providers for transportation-sector compliance. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated directly with agricultural producers, cooperatives, distributors, and fuel-service operators rather than publicly disclosed. The company employs between 251 and 500 people, is led by CEO and General Manager Marcos Sabelli, and operates a corporate office in Martínez, Buenos Aires province.

Following Adecoagro S.A.'s December 2025 acquisition of a controlling 90% stake from YPF and Nutrien for approximately US$1.1 billion (with Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas retaining 10%), Profertil functions as a subsidiary within Adecoagro's agro-industrial platform while retaining its standalone brand, management, and Bahía Blanca production base. Reported Q1 2026 pro forma Fertilizers segment Adjusted EBITDA of $52.5 million represented a 4.3x year-over-year increase, driven by urea prices up approximately 55% since late February 2026 and higher production volumes. Sixty percent of the Bahía Blanca plant's energy consumption is already renewable, with a partnership in place for 100% renewable electrical supply from YPF.

Name

Profertil

Legal name

PROFERTIL S.A.

Website

https://profertil.com.ar

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Profertil is Argentina's largest fertilizer producer and South America's largest granular urea manufacturer, producing nitrogen fertilizers, phosphate products, the PROTERRA specialty line, and Arnox 32 automotive urea from its Bahía Blanca plant for Argentine agricultural producers and heavy-duty diesel fleet operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Fertilizers

NAICS

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing (325312)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAEAEAA

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia/Urea/UAN)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Chemicals & Industrial Materials/Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals

SECONDARYAFABABAA

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea, UAN, Ammonium Nitrate/Sulfate)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Fertilizers (Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash)

SECONDARYAFABACAF

Liquid Specialty Fertilizers (Suspensions, Solutions, UAN Blends)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Specialty Fertilizers (Controlled-Release, Water-Soluble, Foliar)

SECONDARYAFABACAG

Specialty Nitrogen Products (Urease/Nitrification Inhibitors, Enhanced-Efficiency N)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Specialty Fertilizers (Controlled-Release, Water-Soluble, Foliar)

Keywords

• Nitrogen fertilizers
• Urea production
• Agricultural chemicals
• Crop nutrition
• Automotive urea solution

Headquarters

HQ city

Buenos Aires

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fertilizer sales: Production and commercialization of nitrogen-based fertilizers including urea, ammonium nitrate, and specialty fertilizer blends for agricultural use in Argentina and export markets.
2. Automotive Grade Urea Solution (Arnox 32): Production and sale of automotive urea solution (DEF/AUS32) for diesel emissions compliance with EURO 5 standards, mandatory for heavy-duty vehicles in Argentina since January 2016.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Profertil produces and commercializes nitrogen-based fertilizers including urea (the largest granular urea producer in South America), ammonia, ammonium sulfate, phosphate fertilizers (DAP, MAP), and specialty blends under the PROTERRA brand for crop nutrition in Argentina. The company also manufactures Arnox 32, an automotive grade urea solution used by heavy-duty diesel vehicles to reduce NOx emissions, compliant with ISO 22241 and EURO 5 standards. Operations are centered on a major industrial complex in Bahía Blanca, with distribution through agronomic stores and company-operated logistics terminals.

Product overview

Profertil is a leading Argentine fertilizer and industrial chemicals producer operating a major plant in Bahía Blanca. The company produces and commercializes nitrogen-based fertilizers (primarily urea, the largest granular urea producer in South America), phosphate fertilizers, specialty fertilizers under the PROTERRA brand (including NPK blends, sulfur products, and micronutrients), and industrial products including ammonia and automotive grade urea solution (ARNOX 32). The product portfolio includes core nitrogen fertilizers (UREA, UAN, Ammonium Sulfate), phosphate products (DAP, MAP, Calcium Phosphate Monobasic, Superphosphate Single), potassium products (Potassium Chloride CIK, K MAG PREMIUM), specialty branded products (PROTERRA line: 7-40, DS, NS 42-4, PS-2, S-3, TRIPLE 15), micronutrients (ZINC DDP, ZINCODUR), industrial ammonia, and environmental products (ARNOX 32 for diesel emissions reduction). The company operates logistics terminals in Puerto General San Martín and San Nicolás, distributing through an extensive distribution network across Argentina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arnox 32: Automotive Grade Urea Solution - a urea-based product that reduces harmful emissions from diesel combustion engines. Mandatory in Argentina for heavy duty diesel vehicles since January 2016.

Products and services

• UREA

Quantifiable outcome

• South America's largest granular urea producer with leading market position in Argentina
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• YPF (Energy Supply)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2023Profertil announced it will supply its production with 100% renewable electrical energy from YPF, demonstrating commitment to sustainable operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nutrien Ltd. World's largest crop input provider and a major global nitrogen, phosphate and potash producer. Directly comparable as the former 50% co-owner of Profertil and as a global nitrogen competitor serving similar agricultural customers.
• The Mosaic Company: One of the world's largest producers of phosphate and potash crop nutrients, with growing nitrogen presence via the Mosiac Fertilizantes Brazil business. Comparable as a global crop nutrient major with overlapping N+P product portfolio and South American footprint.
• OCI Global: Global nitrogen, methanol and clean ammonia producer with significant low-cost capacity in the Middle East and the Americas. Comparable as a large-scale nitrogen fertilizer producer with cross-border ammonia and urea distribution.
• Yara International ASA: Global nitrogen fertilizer leader and producer of ammonia, urea, UAN and AdBlue/DEF automotive urea solution. Directly comparable product overlap including industrial chemicals and automotive urea solution (Arnox 32's analog in Europe).
• CF Industries Holdings: Largest North American producer of nitrogen fertilizers (ammonia, urea, UAN) and a leading global nitrogen exporter. Closely comparable as a natural-gas-based nitrogen producer with similar cost-curve dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• ICL Group Ltd. Global specialty fertilizers and specialty chemicals producer serving agriculture, food and industrial markets. Comparable as a broader fertilizer incumbent with specialty product overlap and global distribution.
• Adecoagro S.A. NYSE-listed South American agro-industrial company that acquired 90% of Profertil in December 2025. Comparable as a vertically integrated agribusiness operating across Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, and as Profertil's controlling shareholder.
• Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (Koch Fertilizer): Privately held North American producer and global trader of nitrogen fertilizers, with significant ammonia, urea and UAN capacity. Comparable as a major nitrogen incumbent with similar feedstock-driven cost dynamics.

Others

• Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA): Major Argentine agricultural cooperative and 10% shareholder in Profertil. Comparable as a distribution partner and minor shareholder connecting Profertil's output to Argentine farmer-members.
• YPF S.A. Argentina's largest integrated energy company and former 50% owner of Profertil. Comparable as a former shareholder, current natural gas and renewable electricity supplier, and adjacent player in Argentina's industrial/energy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ProfertilAgro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ProfertilAgro
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProfertilAgro
• LinkedInes.linkedin.com/company/profertilagro
• Instagraminstagram.com/profertilagro
• TikToktiktok.com/@profertilagro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Profertil