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:

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Latest potash news

Browse the latest market moving news on the global potash industry.

Latest potash news
08/11/24

Talks to restart as port of Vancouver lockout drags

Talks to restart as port of Vancouver lockout drags

Calgary, 8 November (Argus) — A labour disruption at the port of Vancouver is now into its fifth day, but the employers association and the locked-out union are to meet this weekend to try to strike a deal and get commodities moving again. Workers belonging to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 on Canada's west coast have been locked out by the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) since 4 November. This came hours after the union implemented an overtime ban for its 730 ship and dock foreman members. The two sides will meet on 9 November evening with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in an effort to end a 19-month long dispute as they negotiate a new collective agreement to replace the one that expired in March 2023. The FMCS was already recruited for meetings in October, but that did not culminate in a deal. Natural resource-rich Canada is dependent on smooth operations at the port of Vancouver to reach international markets. The port is a major conduit for many dry and liquid bulk cargoes, including lumber, wood pellets and pulp, grains and agriculture products, caustic soda and sodium chlorate, sugar, coal, potash, sulphur, copper concentrates, zinc and lead concentrate, diesel and renewable diesel liquids and petroleum products. These account for about two-thirds of the movements through the port. Grain operations and the Westshore coal terminal are unaffected while most petroleum products also continue to move, the Port of Vancouver said on 7 November. As the parties head back to the bargaining table, the ILWU Local 514 meanwhile filed a complaint against the BCMEA on 7 November, alleging bargaining in bad faith, making threats, intimidation and coercion. "The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically-elected leadership and bargaining committee, said ILWU Local 514 president Frank Morena on 7 November. "They know their bully tactics won't work with our members but their true goal is to bully the federal government into intervention." But that is just "another meritless claim," according to the BCMEA, who wants to restore supply chain operations as quickly as possible. The union said BC ports would still be operating if the BCMEA did not overreact with a lockout. "They are responsible for goods not being shipped to and from BC ports — not the union," Morena says. The ILWU Local 514 was found to have bargained in bad faith itself already, according to a decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) in October. Billions of dollars of trade are at risk with many goods and commodities at a standstill at Vancouver, which is Canada's busiest port. A 13-day strike by ILWU longshore workers in July 2023 disrupted C$10bn ($7.3bn) worth of goods and commodities, especially those reliant on container ships, before an agreement was met. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Port of Vancouver grinds to halt as picket lines form


05/11/24
Latest potash news
05/11/24

Port of Vancouver grinds to halt as picket lines form

Calgary, 5 November (Argus) — Commodity movements at the port of Vancouver have halted as a labour dispute could once against risk billions of dollars of trade at Canada's busiest docks. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 began strike activity at 11am ET on 4 November, following through on a 72-hour notice it gave to the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) on 1 November. The BCMEA subsequently locked out workers hours later that same day, 4 November, which the union says is an overreaction because the union's job action was only limited to an overtime ban for its 730 ship and dock foreman members. Natural resource-rich Canada is dependent on smooth operations at the British Columbia port of Vancouver to reach international markets. The port is a major conduit for many dry and liquid bulk cargoes, including lumber, wood pellets and pulp, grains and agriculture products, caustic soda and sodium chlorate, sugar, coal, potash, sulphur, copper concentrates, zinc and lead concentrate, diesel and renewable diesel liquids and petroleum products. These account for about two-thirds of the movements through the port. Canadians are also reliant on the port for the import of consumer goods and Asian-manufactured automobiles. The two sides have been at odds for 19 months as they negotiate a new collective agreement to replace the one that expired in March 2023. Intervention by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), with a hearing in August and September, followed by meetings in October with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), failed to culminate in a deal. The BCMEA's latest offer is "demanding huge concessions," according to the ILWU Local 514 president Frank Morena. The BCMEA refutes that, saying it not only matches what the ILWU Longshore workers received last year, but includes more concessions. The offer remains open until withdrawn, the BCMEA said. A 13-day strike by ILWU longshore workers in July 2023 disrupted C$10bn ($7.3bn) worth of goods and commodities, especially those reliant on container ships, before an agreement was met. Grain and cruise operations are not part of the current lockout. The Westshore coal terminal is also expected to continue operations, the Port of Vancouver said on 4 November. The Trans Mountain-operated Westridge Marine Terminal, responsible for crude oil exports on Canada's west coast, should also not be directly affected because its employees are not unionized. In all, the port has 29 terminals. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Port strike to halt Vancouver sulfur exports


01/11/24
Latest potash news
01/11/24

Port strike to halt Vancouver sulfur exports

Houston, 1 November (Argus) — Sulfur exports could be halted early next week following the announcement of a strike notice by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514. The union issued a notice for a strike to begin on 11am ET on 4 November after rejecting a final offer from the British Columbian Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) for a new labor contract. The two parties have been in talks for a new contract since the previous labor agreement expired in March 2023. The BCMEA responded early this morning with a lockout notice, set at the same time as the ILWU Local 514's strike on 4 November. The work stoppage at the port will impact all commodities aside from grains, according to sources. No sulfur handling operations —rail unloading and vessel loading— will take place for the duration of the strike. Logistics providers and shippers will have three days to load vessels, and will likely expedite railcar unloadings before railroad operators make sure cargoes are stored safely. Shippers at the port of Vancouver have exported around 2.47mn t of sulfur from January-September this year, up by 5pc on the year with increased deliveries to China, Indonesia and the US. The Canadian government has the power to intervene and force the parties back to the negotiating table, albeit with a federally appointed mediator. This would also require employees to return to work and for operations at the terminals to resume. By Chris Mullins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Petrobras to resume construction of UFN-III


25/10/24
Latest potash news
25/10/24

Petrobras to resume construction of UFN-III

Sao Paulo, 25 October (Argus) — Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras will resume construction of its nitrogen-based fertilizer unit UFN-III in Tres Lagoas, in central-western Mato Grosso do Sul state. Petrobras' board of directors approved the restart of construction today. The unit — halted in 2014 — is 81pc complete and was initially scheduled to start operating in 2015. The company expects to invest R3.5bn ($614mn) to conclude the unit, whose operations may start in 2028. Petrobras will now start a process to contract third parties to resume building works. The announcement comes after Petrobras started a binding phase for the sale of the unit in August 2022, following a potential sale of the asset that was canceled in April 2022 . The decision is in line with the company's five-year strategic plan , which foresees increasing investments in the fertilizer sector. Petrobras announced in August investments of $159mn to restart its Araucaria Nitrogenados fertilizer unit. It also signed an agreement with Norway-based global fertilizer producer Yara to consider a potential partnership in Brazil's fertilizer sector and another agreement with Brazil's agriculture research center Embrapa to study the development of renewable feedstock for lower-carbon products such as fertilizers and biofuels. By Renata Cardarelli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Latest potash news

Pupuk Indonesia receives final sMOP offers


25/10/24
Latest potash news
25/10/24

Pupuk Indonesia receives final sMOP offers

Athens, 25 October (Argus) — State-controlled fertilizer group Pupuk Indonesia has received six offers to supply 220,000t of standard MOP at $310-311/t cfr in its e-auction tender today. The offers were submitted by BPC, Canpotex, APC, K+S, Food Security Solutions/Uralkali and Fertistream/Eurochem. The lowest offers were submitted by BPC and Canpotex. Initial offers under the first round, which closed on 18 October, were submitted in the range of $315-323/t cfr. The tender requests delivery between December 2024 and April 2025. It requested 175,000t to be shipped to Gresik port for Petrokimia Gresik in lots of 25,000t, with the first shipment to arrive in January 2025. Another 10,000t is to be shipped to Cigading port for Pupuk Kujang in a single lot for arrival by 1 December, and another 35,000t to be shipped to Lhokseumawe port for Pupuk Iskanda Muda in lots of 20,000t for arrival by 3 December. By Nykole King Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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