World leading potash producer Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. has been announcing successive shutdowns since December 2011 at its three biggest potash mines in Saskatchewan , Canada, owing to soft demand.
The Canadian company, which reported a positive outlook in its Q4 2011 market analysis, had to take measures “consistent with [its] practice of matching supply with demand” as the industry started to experience the side effects of the global economy weakened by the European debt crisis, the slowdown in China, and the recent downgrade of US debt (see p.28).
On 19 January, PotashCorp said it was extending the shutdown at its Rocanville potash mine in Saskatchewan for an additional four weeks, meaning the operation will remain temporarily closed until 3 March.
Rocanville, which shut down on 25 December for six weeks, was initially expected to reopen on 4 February. The extension brings the shutdown at the mine,...