Review of global fertilizer industry in 2011 (Part 1)

•  Russian fertiliser maker Acron said it reached a settlement with Norway's Yara, bringing an end to a lengthy dispute over ownership of a joint venture that held a minority stake in a Smolensk fertilizer plant and other assets.

•  Agrium Inc. announced that it successfully concluded the purchase of a 100% equity position in CerealToscana S.A., a fertilizer distribution company in Italy and Agroport, its subsidiary in Romania.

•  Agrium Inc. has reached a binding agreement on the purchase of International Mineral Technologies (“Tetra Micronutrients”).

•  Agrium Inc. says it has struck a long-term phosphate rock supply agreement with global producer OCP S.A. to supply its Redwater, Alta. phosphate plant.

•  Agrium confirmed that MOPCO management has suspended operations at the MOPCO nitrogen facility in Damietta, Egypt, due to local demonstrations.

•  Agrium raised the production potential of potash expansion plans, and put a $1.5bn price tag on them, as it announced that the longstanding project had been signed off by its board.

•  Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers opened the company’s new and largest manufacturing facility, which is located in Ashley, Mich.

•  Agrotain International agreed to sell its assets to Koch Agronomic Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Koch Fertilizer, LLC.

•  Asahi Industries said it would be forming a joint venture in China this December with Toyota Tsusho and Longda Foodstuff Group, a major food company based in Shandong Province, to start the production and sale of organic fertilizers and organic compound fertilizers in the country in 2012.

•  Australia is interested in importing Belarusian potash fertilizers.

•  BASF has signed a contract with EuroChem, Moscow, Russia, to sell its fertilizer activities in Antwerp, Belgium. BASF also plans to sell its 50% share of the joint venture PEC-Rhin in Ottmarsheim, France, to EuroChem. The total transaction value is expected to be approximately €700 million.

•  As from 1 June 2011 Belarus raises the customs duty on potash fertilizers, which are exported beyond borders of the Eurasian Economic Community, 1.5 times to €75 per tonne.

•  The federal government in Brazil has set a goal of becoming self-sufficient in fertilizer production by the year 2020. Currently, approximately 60% of Brazil's fertilizer needs are met by imports.

•  Brazilian mining giant Vale SA said it will set up a joint-venture port near Santos, in Sao Paulo state, with its fertilizer unit, Vale Fertilizantes SA.

•  Approximately 60% of the fertilizers utilized in Brazil are imported and the price of imported goods has spiked as the Brazilian currency has weakened.

•  Brazil plans to boost taxes on iron ore while cutting the levy on fertilizers as part of a plan to overhaul mining regulations in the South American nation.

•  Brazil's EBX group, controlled by billionaire industrial magnate Eike Batista, is planning to build a $3 billion fertilizer plant in Brazil together with Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries.

•  Britain has cut financial support for a highly successful seed and fertiliser programme in Malawi.

•  Canadian fertilizer maker Migao Corp started production at its potassium nitrate joint venture with Chile's Soquimich in China.

•  China Agritech, Inc., a leading organic compound fertilizer manufacturer and distributor in China, will be de-listed from NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.

•  China Agritech, a leading organic compound fertilizer manufacturer and distributor in China, has expanded its sales partnership with China National Agrochemical Corporation for the Company's Green Vitality organic granular compound fertilizer products.

•  China will invest in a potassium fertilizer plant in the western part of Ukraine.

•  Chile’s largest fertilizer producer known as Soquimich, plans to invest $1 billion over the next four years to boost production.

•  CHS Inc., has begun trading fertilizer at its European operations office in Geneva, Switzerland.

•  Converted Organics Inc. announced that the full suite of Converted Organics liquid organic fertilizers have been registered for sale and use in Hawaii.

•  EuroChem announced that it has established the EuroChem – Scientific Research Center (EuroChem-SRC).

•  Fertiliser company Indian Potash Ltd (IPL) said it will invest about Rs 300 crore to set up a sugar plant and distillery in Bihar.

•  GROWMARK, Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire three fertilizer storage terminals currently owned by CF Industries.

•  Lanka Phosphate Limited will purchase a Rs.40 million fertilizer plant to increase fertilizer production.

•  Indorama Corp. of India plans to build fertilizer and methanol plants worth $1.8 billion in Nigeria’s southern city of Port Harcourt.

•  ICL, in joint venture with Zuari Rotem Specialty Fertilizers Ltd., to set up two soluble fertilizer manufacturing unit in Northern and Eastern India.

•  India's urea production rose by 4% to 218.8 lakh tonnes during 2010-11.

•  India spends 1.25 per cent of GDP on fertiliser and oil subsidies and state governments lose 0.9 percent of GDP in power thefts every year.

•  Use of potash in India could be less than last year, which could help stabilize worldwide demand.

•  Israel Chemicals has completed the acquisition of the Scotts' Global Professional business from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company for $270 million. Global Pro is a global provider of specialty fertilizers and horticultural and turf specialty products.

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Review of global fertilizer industry in 2011 (Part 2)