Potash remains one of the most talked-about minerals of the year, obeying a simple scenario: people need food, food needs crops, and crops need fertilisers.
As reported by IM, the potash industry has been heading back to pre-crisis levels during 2011.
According to the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), world potash production in 2011 is expected to have increased by 5-7% over 2010, “on the back of resilient demand consolidating the strong recovery seen in 2010”.
Global potash capacity rose 6% and is expected to further expand in 2012 by 5%.
In its Q4 2011 market analysis released in December, leading potash producer PotashCorp said it expects global shipments to be approximately 57m tonnes for 2011, “although fertiliser dealers around the world are currently acting to minimise their risks and inventories”.
Russia’s Uralkali believes that in 2011 world potash market may reach the record 58m tonnes,...