Fertilizer

[cottonpicken]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20602013&sid=agkkcMeEjjUk

[jensend]

looks like potash prod'n is expected to be profitable. is the announcement of idling fifty per cent of capacity a reference to last spring not this month because it should have made big headlines?

[Zaphod]

On the same topic. Hmm.

(Reuters) - China's Zhongchuan International Mining Corp, has signed a deal to build a huge potash base in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan to ease its own tight supply of the fertiliser, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

The deal will allow the private Chinese mining firm to explore potash in an area covering 96 square kilometres, with an expected annual production capacity of 3 million tonnes, Xinhua said, without naming its source for the information.

[Zaphod]

Looks like the Chinese don't like being held for ransom either.

[jensend]

i wouldn't bet that the chinese or the australians are looking to break the cartel.

[bucket]

Could that be athabasca potash or western potash they are looking to develop. Or maybe buying Mosaic?

[Zaphod]

The report doesn't say but it could blow the cartel out of the water. The Chinese would have enough money to do it.

[jensend]

but why would the chinese blow the cartel? it would be of great value to them. it would guarantee the financing of the purchase of the asset.

[boarderbloke]

What if the Chinese export all "their" production back to "their homeland"(China), might that leave retailers scrambling to source from fewer suppliers?? I hope none of you, think for a moment, that China would do us any favors as far as pricing goes. China buying one of SK mines wouldn't be like they found and developed a new source of fertilizer, we're still talking about the same number of mines in the world. Just that "they" would have their own supply and wouldn't have to work a deal out with others.

[Zaphod]

I agree that this is a strategic move by the Chinese. It's not just a financial deal. Securing potash for their own farmers will help improve food security and that's a top priority for the Chinese government.