PotashCorp Announces 2007 Price Settlement Between Canpotex, Sinofert
08 Februar 2007 - 2:31PM
PR Newswire (US)
Listed: TSX, NYSE Symbol: POT SASKATOON, SK, Feb. 8
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.
(PotashCorp) announced today that Canpotex Limited (Canpotex), the
offshore marketing company for Saskatchewan potash producers, and
Sinofert Holdings Limited (Sinofert), a leading fertilizer
enterprise in the People's Republic of China (PRC), have reached an
agreement on 2007 prices pursuant to the 2007- 2009 Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) that exists between the two companies. Canpotex
ships primarily red standard grade potash, but also supplies
certain amounts of white standard grade and granular product. This
agreement sets the price for red standard grade potash at US $5 per
tonne higher than the 2006 price. Volumes will again be based on
2007 market demand in China, as the MOU provides Canpotex with at
least 30 percent market share for potash imported into China. This
increase, combined with gains made in the 2006 and 2005 pricing
agreements, raises the price of potash to China by a total of US
$70 per tonne over the last three years. The Canpotex agreement was
preceded by a similar price agreement reached February 4, 2007
between Belarusian Potash Company (the marketing agent for potash
producers PA Belaruskali of Belarus and JSC Uralkali of Russia) and
Chinese importers, establishing the base line for all sea-borne
potash prices into China in 2007. "With the early conclusion of the
2007 Chinese contracts, potash fundamentals have just improved,"
said Bill Doyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of
PotashCorp. "China will take a bigger share of available potash
supply this year, especially from suppliers in the former Soviet
Union. With about 60 percent of Canpotex sales going to spot
markets, we see improved earnings potential for potash. The spot
market has also traditionally set the base level for price
negotiations between Canpotex and China and the 2008 contract is
expected to reflect this. We believe the value of our products will
be even greater as we move forward, with global potash demand
growing and sources of supply becoming more difficult to find. We
look forward to using more of our excess potash capacity in a
tightening supply/demand environment." Canpotex is a jointly owned
offshore marketing company for the three Saskatchewan potash
producers and PotashCorp, under a pro rata agreement based on
capacity, is entitled to provide Canpotex with 55.8 percent of its
potash. PotashCorp also owns 20 percent of Sinofert, one of the
largest- volume importers of fertilizer products in the PRC.
Sinofert is also the largest distributor of these products and a
major producer of phosphate-based fertilizer products. It has 14
branch offices and 1,300 sales centers as part of an extensive
distribution network that provided products to 76 percent of total
sown lands in China in 2006. Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan
Inc. is the world's largest fertilizer enterprise producing the
three primary plant nutrients and a leading supplier to three
distinct market categories: agriculture, with the largest capacity
in the world in potash, third largest in phosphate and fourth
largest in nitrogen; animal nutrition, with the world's largest
capacity in phosphate feed ingredients; and industrial chemicals,
as the largest global producer of industrial nitrogen products and
one of only three North American suppliers of industrial
phosphates. This release contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are based on certain factors and assumptions as set
forth in this release including foreign exchange rates, expected
growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects
and opportunities. While the company considers these factors and
assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently
available, they may prove to be incorrect. A number of factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward- looking statements, including, but not limited to:
fluctuations in supply and demand in fertilizer, sulfur, natural
gas, transportation and petrochemical markets; changes in
competitive pressures, including pricing pressures; risks
associated with natural gas and other hedging activities; changes
in capital markets; changes in currency and exchange rates;
unexpected geological or environmental conditions; and government
policy changes. Additional risks and uncertainties can be found in
our 2005 annual report to shareholders and in filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial
securities commissions. Forward-looking statements are given only
as at the date of this release and the company disclaims any
obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
DATASOURCE: Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. CONTACT: Tim
Herrod, Manager, Investor Relations, Phone: (306) 933-8543, Fax:
(306) 933-8844, E-mail: , Web Site: http://www.potashcorp.com/
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