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.
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Latest potash news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global potash industry.
Yankuang eyes takeover of potash developer Highfield
Yankuang eyes takeover of potash developer Highfield
London, 23 July (Argus) — Chinese state-controlled coal giant Yankuang Energy is set to become the majority shareholder in ASX-listed prospective potash producer Highfield Resources in a proposal that would also secure the remaining funding for the first phase of Highfield's Muga potash project in Spain. The two firms along with a number of investors signed a non-binding initial agreement on 19 July, under which Highfield would acquire Yankuang's wholly owned subsidiary Yancoal Canada, which includes its Southey potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada, and the rights to four other potash mining projects. In return, Highfield would issue new ordinary shares to Yankuang, making Yankuang the firm's largest shareholder. The deal would also see Highfield raise $220mn, of which Yakuang would provide $90mn, to fund the Muga project, which would mean that phase 1 of the project — with a capacity of 500,000 t/yr — would be fully funded. Highfield Resources began initial construction at the 1.3mn t/yr Muga potash mine in 2022. The project is located in the provinces of Navarra and Aragon close to Atlantic ports, ideal for shipments to the US and Brazil, as well as the MOP market in Europe. The Southey project has a planned MOP capacity of 2.8mn t/yr utilising solution mining. It has already acquired environmental approval and completed a feasibility study. The prospective deal represents a potential production capacity of 3.8mn t/yr across all the potash projects. By Nykole King Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Canpotex potash sales fully committed through Sept
Canpotex potash sales fully committed through Sept
Houston, 22 July (Argus) — Canadian potash distributor Canpotex is completely committed on volumes for potash sales through September because of robust demand in non-North American markets. All potash volumes available for sale through 30 September are fully contracted following strong demand and engagement in all major offshore markets, the company said today. Canpotex is the joint marketing arm of Nutrien and North American fertilizer producer Mosaic. The announcement comes less than a week after Canpotex and Indian fertilizer importer Coromandel International (CIL) settled a new Indian standard MOP contract price. Committed volumes from Canpotex could also include potash to be exported to China, though no official contract by Canpotex has been announced yet. Canpotex has access to three Canadian marine terminals and one US marine terminal that moves its potash from railcars into ocean vessels. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU fertilizer industry calls for support: Q&A
EU fertilizer industry calls for support: Q&A
London, 17 July (Argus) — As the EU gears up to install a new European Commission for 2024-2029, LAT Nitrogen's chief executive officer Leo Alders tells Argus political support remains necessary to tackle a range of challenges threatening EU industry, including subsidised US ammonia production with carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS), and the EU's 'unrealistic' goal of cutting net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90pc by 2040. But Alders sees growing political "goodwill" to help EU industry against cheap fertilizer imports from Russia, which are used to fund the country's war against Ukraine. Edited highlights follow. What does the fertilizer industry want from the next European Commission? Clear points are effectively releasing emissions trading system (ETS) funds for converting the industry to green fertilizers. We also want carbon sequestration to be allowed as it is in the US. And we need a policy on nutrient efficiency, which has never really happened. For us, too, spillage is not the desired objective. The international context, too, is important. Grey ammonia produced in Europe could move to the same cost levels as US blue ammonia with subsidised CO2 sequestration. If or when that happens, then Europe will see massive imports of US blue ammonia. We think that by 2027 or 2028, volumes coming out of the US will grow exponentially. That's a trend that we think is unstoppable. The underlying issue, of course, is that energy in Europe is at higher price levels than on any other continent. We need to stay in Europe with our production capacity. But the threat is there. Are 90pc GHG cuts by 2040 feasible for you? When discussing the ETS measures, the carbon border adjustment mechanism, and so on, we took a positive approach as an industry. And we go alon g with the zero [carbon] target for 2050. That's all right. But now the [2040] target is not official, more a desired milestone that emissions will be cut by 90pc by 2040. As an industry, we think that target is totally unrealistic and cannot support it. That's a clear point of view. Converting to a green industry will require massive capital. Technologically, it takes time to do all of this. Is the ETS working well for the fertilizer industry? Proceeds from ETS certificates go partly to national budgets and partly to the EU budget. That's all nice. But our industry needs to invest massively to complete the transition. We pay massive amounts of money for CO2 certificates. There was the promise that national and EU levels would subsidise decarbonisation projects from the ETS. In reality, we've seen very few subsidies materialising. So we actually have a counter-proposal: why not allow the industry to park the money for green investments? In theory, the national level is obliged to reinvest 50pc of ETS income back into the industry. The reality is different. Isn't the EU still wary of prohibitive €100-150/t tariffs on Russian fertilizers? A ban on Russian fertilizer imports would require unanimity. Tariffs, though, require majority support among EU states. That seems feasible. At least 15 states appear to support the idea. There is actually no supply issue. We don't have any issues replacing Russian volumes. There may be a possible time element and rebalancing in the first three or four months. But after that, the European industry would be fully capable of supplying our farms. So political support is growing? More and more people understand how Russian gas is being transformed into fertilizer. They've understood that routing gas to Europe is becoming more and more difficult. The EU has been totally unsuccessful in pushing back against Russian urea, so Russia is building some 650,000 t/yr in extra capacity, expected on line next year or thereafter. As an industry, we don't want to be shutting down units in Europe because of cheap subsidised Russian fertilizers. And then, what happens if one day Russia decides to cut or weaponise fertilizer supplies? By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Canpotex, Coromandel settle new Indian MOP contract
Canpotex, Coromandel settle new Indian MOP contract
London, 17 July (Argus) — Canadian potash distributor Canpotex and Indian fertilizer importer Coromandel International (CIL) have settled a new Indian standard MOP contract price at $283/t cfr with 180 days of credit for deliveries until 31 December 2024. Volumes are undisclosed but CIL imported around 416,000t of MOP during the 2023-24 fertilizer year, according to Argus data. Imports under the new contract will likely be around this figure. The contract price is $4/t higher than the contract price signed last week by India's IPL at $279/t cfr with 180 days' credit and $36/t below last year's headline price of $319/t cfr with 180 days' credit. Canpotex and CIL's contract price is also $10/t higher than the contract price settled in China last week at $273/t cfr between Russia's Uralkali and the Chinese buying consortium. This latest contract price is broadly in line with standard MOP prices in southeast Asia, which Argus currently assesses at $275-305/t cfr. By Julia Campbell Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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