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Trump eyes Belarus potash deal to undercut Canada

  • Mercados: Fertilizers
  • 21/09/26

The US is pursuing a potash trade deal with Belarus that would offer competitive pricing compared with potash from Canada, President Donald Trump said in a social media post.

The "massive" deal is expected to offer US buyers potash pricing that would be "significantly less" than what US customers are currently paying for Canadian potash, according to Trump.

The post did not include any details related to the potential deal, but it comes as the US has intensified a trade war with Canada, and is seeking opportunities to strike back at Canada for counter-tariffs.

Both Mosaic and Nutrien produce MOP in Canada, the origin of the lion's share of US MOP imports. Australian mining firm BHP is also expected to start production for the first stage of its 4.15mn t/yr Jansen project in Saskatchewan by mid-2027.

Mosaic, Nutrien and Belarusian producer BPC did not comment on the alleged Belarusian trade deal or its potential pricing competitiveness with Canadian tons.

The first Belarus cargo of fertilizer to the US in four years, a 30,000 metric tonnes (t) cargo of MOP, is expected to arrive at New Orleans next month. It would mark the first potash trade between the two countries since US sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted in December.

Re-establishing US-Belarus potash trade would diversify US potash supply and reduce reliance on Canada, but Belarus cannot fully replace Canadian volumes. Canada supplied nearly 90pc of US potash imports, or around 11.2mn t, in 2025, according to GTT data. Belarusian MOP has not touched US soil since February 2022, whereas 635,000 t/yr of Belarusian MOP on average went to the country in 2017-21, GTT data shows.

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarusian supply was tight and Belarus could not supply large volumes to the US this year as most of its product is already contracted, according to Belarusian state news agency Belta.

Nutrien's current US Midwest offer for granular MOP is $410/st fob, and is considered to be mostly in line with other sellers.

By Taylor Zavala


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