Potash
Overview
The potash market has been disrupted from its traditional trade flows and typically slow-moving price cycles, affected by new entrants, new mines, military conflicts and political tensions in countries that either produce or consume some of the largest quantities of potash in the world. The need for accurate insight and data is more acute than ever.
Our extensive potash coverage includes MOP, SOP and NOP. Argus has many decades of experience covering the potash market and we incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise to provide potash price assessments, analysis and data that provides the full narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Weekly potash price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of potash prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
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Latest potash news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global potash industry.
Belarus' MOP shipments on track to surpass 2023 record
Belarus' MOP shipments on track to surpass 2023 record
London, 14 October (Argus) — Belarusian MOP rail shipments to China and Russian ports rose by 22pc on the year in January-September to 7.8mn t, putting the producer on track to surpass its 2023 shipments of 9.1mn t by the end of the year. Belarusian producer Belaruskali, which markets products primarily through its export arm BPC, sent 1.3mn t of MOP to China in January-September, up by 28pc on a year earlier. Its rail shipments to Russian ports in the first nine months rose by 21pc to 6.4mn t, data from forwarding agents show. Bronka remains the primary port for Belarusian seaborne exports, with 72pc of exports sent to the Baltic Sea port. Belarusian rail shipments to China and Russian ports for export in the third quarter amounted to 2.7mn t, up by 17pc on the year. Full details are available in Argus ' data and download files for Russian and Belarusian potash rail shipments here . By Nykole King Belarusian rail shipments to Russian ports and China '000t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Egypt's NCIC issues SOP tender
Egypt's NCIC issues SOP tender
London, 14 October (Argus) — Egyptian SOP producer NCIC has issued a sales tender for 1,500t of water-soluble SOP, closing on 18 October. The product will be offered in 50kg bags on a fob basis for loading by the end of November. NCIC made awards in its 25 September SOP sales tender at $655-660/t fob equivalent, the first time in two years that it has offered SOP for export. It was previously carrying out maintenance at some of its ovens and supplying the domestic market exclusively. NCIC is now operating at full capacity, producing water-soluble SOP at a rate of 50 t/d. By Nykole King Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's 3Q potash imports reach record 4mn t
Brazil's 3Q potash imports reach record 4mn t
London, 7 October (Argus) — Brazilian third-quarter imports of MOP reached a record 4.1mn t in July-September as buyers purchased the last lots for soybean crops in the first half of the quarter before turning their attention to next year's corn crop shortly afterward. Prices of granular MOP arrivals to Brazil eroded over the three-month period to $280-290/t cfr as of 26 September, from $305-320/t cfr at the start of July, reflecting the seasonal slowdown in demand. The signing of the new Chinese and Indian MOP contracts in early July at $273/t cfr and $279-283/t cfr with 180 days' credit, respectively, also placed some downwards pressure on pricing. Canada was the top supplier in the third quarter at 36pc, with 1.5mn t, followed closely by Russia with 35pc and 1.4mn t, GTT data show. Uzbekistan was noted as the third top supplier to Brazil — although this is likely Belarusian product — at 13pc with 557,000t from July-September. Israel took 5pc at 225,000t, while Jordan received 4pc at 169,000t and Germany 3pc at 121,000t. The five-year average of third-quarter imports to Brazil amounted to 3.7mnt, with potash imports steadily climbing over the period. Volumes declined in 2022 following strong panic buying earlier this year on supply uncertainty resulting from the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Brazilian MOP imports from January-September totalled 11mn t, also a record high. A further 642,000t is slated for arrival in October, according to provisional vessel line-up data, suggesting that total 2024 imports are likely to be close to the record of 13.4mn t recorded last year. Full Argus data covering Brazilian MOP imports are available here . By Nykole King Brazilian MOP imports by origin '000t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Some eastern US rail shipments restart after Helene
Some eastern US rail shipments restart after Helene
Washington, 30 September (Argus) — Some railroad operations in the southeastern US have resumed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, but major carriers warn that some freight may be delayed while storm-damaged tracks are repaired. Rail lines in multiple states were damaged after Hurricane Helene made landfall on the northeastern Florida coast on 26 September as a category 4 storm and traveled northwards as a downgraded but still dangerous storm into Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. The storm left significant rain and wind damage in its wake, including washed-away roads, flooded lines, downed trees and power outages. Eastern railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS) said they are working around the clock to restore service to their networks. Norfolk Southern said it had made "significant progress" towards its recovery with most major routes back in service including its Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Jacksonville, Florida, line as well as its Birmingham, Alabama, to Charlotte, North Carolina route. Norfolk Southern said freight moving through areas that are out of service could "see delays of 72 hours". Several of Norfolk Southern's other routes remain out of service, including rail lines east and west of Asheville, North Carolina, because of historic levels of flooding. There are multiple trees to remove along a 70-mile stretch from Macon, Georgia, to Brunswick, Georgia. And downed power lines are keeping the railroad's lines from Augusta, Georgia, to Columbia, South Carolina, and Millen, Georgia, out of service. CSX said "potential delays remain" but did not provide specifics. However, the railroad said it had made "substantial progress" in clearing and repairing its network. The railroad's operations in Florida have mostly reopened, as have rail lines in its Charleston subdivision, which crosses South Carolina and Georgia. But bridge damage and major flooding has kept CSX's Blue Ridge subdivision out of service. A portion of the line running from Erwin, Tennessee, to Spartanburg, South Carolina, has been cleared, but CSX said "a long-term outage" is expected for other parts of the rail line. By Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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