Latest News From Potash

ICIS senior fertilizer editor Mark Milam shares that while the fertilizer market appears to be in good shape at the moment, there are a couple of important trends moving forward this spring.

Josh Linville, director of fertilizer at StoneX, talks fundamentals in the fertilizer market.

Ken Ferrie is seeing potassium deficiency in corn this season because of dry soil conditions. It's easy to confuse with a nitrogen deficiency and even the carbon penalty and ugly corn syndrome.

Low Mississippi River water levels are a concern for moving inputs like fertilizer. The worry comes as Florida, a key fertilizer-producing state, cleans up after Hurricane Ian. What will the fertilizer price impact be?

Citing the uncertainty of supply from eastern Europe, Nutrien is accelerating the ramp-up of its annual potash production by more than 5 million tonnes, or 40%, compared to production in 2020.

On Wednesday, Nutrien said it plans to increase potash output by nearly 1 million tonnes this year to about 15 million tonnes.

DEVELOPING: There's a new issue getting inputs after the only potash mine in Belarus declared a force majeure.

Nutrien Ltd, the world's biggest potash miner, could boost production by up to 29% in coming years, depending on any sanctions facing rival producers

Josh Linville says “It's it's a good step for 2022 to start with. But it's just it's a solid first step is all it is.” 

There’s a leadership shuffle at Nutrien corporate.

There doesn't appear to be much price relief on the horizon. Product availability could be limited as well, based on what China and Europe are experiencing.

For almost 10 years, Nutrien has provided the eKonomics tools to help retailers and growers have conversations around optimizing their agronomic decisions, and it's now expanded to be available on a mobile app.

If the Michigan project continues on pace, the company would break ground this fall with the facility being completed in the next three years.

However, the Rabobank team expects the pricing strength to tail off in the second quarter of 2021, when northern hemisphere purchases decline.

This had been a potential outcome discussed in early February as the company sought out “optimizing production.”

In celebration of the role fertilizer has in our everyday life, one day—Oct. 13—is set aside to celebrate the impact fertilizer has had.

Annually the company analyzes 1.8 million soil samples for the agricultural market and is reportedly the largest ag laboratory group in the U.S.

The logistical issues of Canadian rail providers led to negative impacts on phosphate and potash sales volumes and unit costs for the company.

As of July 1, 2018, Nutrien Ag Solutions is the new name for the previously branded Crop Production Services retail business.

Following years of abundant global supplies, an accident in early March made the industry nervous about supplies and production.

The completion of harvest followed by a wide open weather window led to higher-than-expected demand for fall applied fertilizers.

“Brazil will be a strategic focus for further expansion due to its large and growing agriculture retail and crop input market,” says Chuck Magro, Nutrien’s President and CEO.

At the beginning of January 2018, Mosaic Company announced it has completed the acquisition of Brazilian company Vale Fertilizantes.

In its first investor call on Feb. 5, Nutrien leaders caused speculation about whether or not they were closing potash mines.

“We’re going to see increased volatility on fertilizers,” Michaelsen says. “But you can stay profitable as long as you keep an eye on prices.”

Z-Trap 1 is an electronic insect trap from Spensa Technologies allowing for remote monitoring of pest problems.

BASF and Chinese fertilizer supplier Kingenta announced their partnership to bring farmers in China novel fertilizers coated with BASF's new Limus technology. Limus addresses a pressing issue in agriculture: the l