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
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest potash news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global potash industry.
Mosaic to sell 450,000 t/yr potash mine in Brazil
Mosaic to sell 450,000 t/yr potash mine in Brazil
London, 13 August (Argus) — North American fertilizer producer Mosaic today said it will sell its 450,000 t/yr Taquari-Vassouras potash mine in eastern Brazil. Mosaic will sell Potassio Mineracao, the entity that operates the mine located in Rosario do Catete, to Brazilian agribusiness group VL Mineracao. The deal is worth $27mn, which is to be paid in three predetermined instalments over five years, according to company communications. The sale will enable Mosaic to "focus capital on opportunities where we have a competitive advantage and are expected to generate higher returns", president and chief executive Bruce Bodine said. Mosaic bought the mine in 2017, and just two years ago announced that as part of a strategy to increase its footprint in Brazil that it would invest $156mn at the site to improve equipment and infrastructure. Mosaic expects the sale to close by the end of the year, after approval is obtained from the relevant regulator. By Aidan Hall Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Vietnam’s fertilizer imports likely to slow in 3Q
Vietnam’s fertilizer imports likely to slow in 3Q
Singapore, 6 August (Argus) — Vietnam's imports of various fertilizers are expected to slow in the third quarter, as strong arrivals in the first half of the year and slower domestic sales could weigh on import demand. Vietnam implemented a value-added tax (VAT) of 5pc on all fertilizers from 1 July. The VAT is aimed at levelling the playing field between local and imported fertilizer products and lowering input costs for domestic producers. This has pushed importers to speed up purchases in the second quarter of this year, asking for cargoes to arrive before 1 July so that they will not incur VAT costs. Importers have also increased their purchases of DAP and urea in small bags of under 10kg from China, which were more competitively priced and more readily available than that of Chinese bulk cargoes. Meanwhile, local retailers and farmers find small bags of fertilizers more appealing due to their lower prices and ease in transporting from warehouse to field. This has contributed to higher demand for small bags of DAP and urea in the recent weeks. Vietnam's DAP imports from January to the first half of July rose to 291,800t, from 283,300t during the same period last year, the latest customs data show. Its urea imports in the same period also firmed to 220,400t, from 193,700t a year earlier. Vietnam's MOP imports climbed to 765,500t, from 659,100t a year earlier. Amsul imports also rose to 765,500t, from 659,100t a year earlier. Importers are now seeing a slowdown in domestic demand as the main application season winds down in early August. Farmers are expected to return to the market only in October. The current high inventories in DAP, urea and MOP, slower domestic offtake and the halt in China's exports of small bags of fertilizers will drive importers to slow down their purchases in the third quarter. By Huijun Yao Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Certain ferts imports to face higher US tariffs: Update
Certain ferts imports to face higher US tariffs: Update
Updates story with market reaction and impact. Houston, 1 August (Argus) — The latest round of US tariff rates will affect a large swath of fertilizer exporters to the US starting 7 August, while keeping levies for some key countries stable at 10pc. In the new tariffs released by President Donald Trump Thursday night , most fertilizer origin countries had their rates increase to 15pc from the prior 10pc imposed in April ( see table ), including Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Israel and Jordan, among others. Some countries saw rates set above 15pc, like key urea supplier Algeria, which now faces a 30pc tariff. But countries not detailed in Annex I of the order will continue to face a 10pc levy, notably Arab Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. That should also maintain Russia's current tariff-exempt status. Goods that are loaded onto ships before 7 August and enter the US before 5 October will not be subject to the new tariffs, the administration said. The executive order did not outline any adjustment to product exemptions under the tariff rates, meaning fertilizers like potash (MOP, SOP and NOP) and NPKs, among others, will likely remain tariff-free . Exemptions for US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) compliant goods remain in place for both countries, consistent with negotiated deals from early April. The exemptions include most fertilizers such as nitrogen and potash, as well as related products. Sulfur, sulfuric acid and ammonia are also considered USMCA compliant, though some uncertainty remains related to whether phosphates produced in Mexico are exempt because of the origin of the products' inputs. Tariffs on non-USMCA compliant Mexican goods were unchanged at 25pc following a 90-day extension on 31 July and levies on imports from Canada that are not USMCA compliant rose to 35pc on 1 August. New tariffs met with limited price response Market reactions to the tariff announcement this week have been subdued so far, and the tariffs' impact will largely be relegated to nitrogen and phosphate markets. New Orleans (Nola) urea barges traded sideways the morning after the executive order was issued as liquidity picked up in the market. At least 15,000st September delivering barges at Nola traded from $460-462/st fob. An August barge changed hands at $458/st fob, in line with Argus' daily urea assessment on 31 July. Meanwhile, a September DAP barge traded at $805/st fob Nola Friday, equal to September barges earlier in the week. Most nitrogen exporters issued higher tariffs were already choosing not to ship product to the US because of the 10pc tariff imposed in April and tightness in global markets. Still, one exception is Trinidad & Tobago, which has continued to ship UAN and ammonia to the US. The 5pc increase in the island nation's rate could cause sellers to divert more supplies away from the US. For phosphate, nearly all offshore suppliers issued a tariff in early April chose to deter product from US shores, causing severe supply tightness in the domestic market. Aside from minimal TSP shipments from Israel, major DAP and MAP global producers have chosen to send product elsewhere and see the tariff uncertainty as too sensitive to tangle with. Nitrogen imports consumed for the fall application season will likely be unaffected by the additional levies because of the grace period for goods entering the US before 7 October. The new tariffs will become more meaningful if they remain in place leading up to the spring season. Fertilizer imports ramp up through the winter and into spring, requiring distributors to pull on volumes from a wider array of countries, including several now facing higher levies. US fertilizer-related import duties for 7 August % Country Product(s) Affected Negotiated rate Share of US imports, Jul 24-May 25 Algeria 30 Urea 9 Australia 10 DAP 7 MAP 2 Bahrain 10 Urea 1 Brunei 35 Urea 1 Egypt 10 DAP 17 TSP 16 European Union 15 AMS 48 Urea 3 DAP 2 MAP 3 Sulfuric Acid 18 Indonesia 19 NH3 2 Israel 15 TSP 57 Japan 15 Sulfuric Acid 5 Jordan 15 DAP 6 Lebanon 10 TSP 17 Malaysia 25 Urea 3 Mexico 25 DAP 5 MAP 23 Sulfuric Acid 25 Nigeria 15 Urea 8 Oman 10 Urea 1 Qatar 10 Urea 21 Saudi Arabia 10 Urea 9 DAP 61 MAP 35 South Africa 30 MAP 3 South Korea 15 AMS 5 MAP 3 Trinidad & Tobago 15 Urea 3 UAN 30 Tunisia 25 DAP 2 TSP 3 Turkmenistan 10 Urea 1 — US Trade Representative, US Census Bureau Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sask SOP project enters development phase
Sask SOP project enters development phase
Houston, 30 July (Argus) — Canadian fertilizer technology company Upcycle Minerals began the development phase for its potassium sulfate (SOP) production facility in Saskatchewan, Canada, this week. The Tuxford project, located north of Moose Jaw, will be in the development stage for about 2 years before construction begins, which should take another 2 years, the company told Argus . This timeline is for the first phase of the facility, Upcycle Minerals added. The first phase of the project is anticipated to produce 50,000 metric tonnes (t) of SOP a year, followed by a second phase expansion to 150,000-250,000/yr. The facility will also produce 40,000-45,000t/y of amsul as a byproduct during the first phase. The SOP form will initially be granular, but the producer has the option to not process the crystal into granular and could have a soluble grade product as well. The producer will source feedstock from the Tuxford potash mineral permit and the Whiteshore and Lydden Lake Alkali leases. The permit borders K+S's Bethune and Mosaic's Belle Plaine solution mining properties. The Tuxford permit also lies on the edge of the Canadian Pacific Railway and is bisected by a local natural gas pipeline, with an ammonia production plant roughly 19 miles away. Upcycle initially expects to target the North American fertilizer market with the SOP and amsul produced at Tuxford, but the uptick in SOP output from phase two will target the US specifically. Upcycle Minerals will work on the project with Stantec Consulting to carry out preliminary engineering work. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights
The complimentary Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights package includes:
• Bi-weekly Fertilizer Newsletter
• Monthly Market Update Video
• Bi-monthly Fertilizer Focus Magazine
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our potash products
Region and country focused market intelligence
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.