MUSCAT, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Fertilizer exports from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states reached historical level at 20.4 million tons in 2017, growing by 5.3% year on year, according to Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA).

The GCC fertilizer industry remains heavily export-oriented, shipping its products to 80 countries in the world, with India, Brazil and the U.S. as the top three export destinations.

Asia accounted for 55% of total exports in 2017, followed by South America (21%), North America (15%) and Africa (7%).

The figures came ahead of the 9th GPCA Fertilizer Convention set to be held on Sept. 18-20 in Muscat, Oman. The three-day forum will highlight the key role of fertilizers in ensuring food security, innovations in regional agriculture and new trade developments in the world.

GCC fertilizer production capacity is expected to reach 38.9 million tons in 2018 and an estimated of 47 million tons by 2025.

As a key contributor to socio-economic development in the region, GCC fertilizer industry provides 54,900 direct and indirect jobs. In 2017, the industry generated 6.7 billion U.S. dollars in indirect economic activity in the region.

GPCA was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Gulf. The association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries.