17 Jul 2009 19:24

Belarus lowers exports of potash fertilizer by 74% in Jan-May

MINSK. July 17 (Interfax) - In January-May 2009, Belarus exported 451,100 tonnes of potash fertilizer, which was a year-on-year decrease of 73.8%, Belstat told Interfax.

Exports of Belarusian potash to non-CIS countries dropped by 72.7% to 450,100 tonnes. Exports to CIS countries fell by 98.7% to 1,000 tonnes.

Exports of nitrogen fertilizer from Belarus in the five months reached 45,500 tonnes, up 38.4%.

The average price to export potash in January-May came to $1,013 a tonne, up 64.5%. For nitrogen fertilizer, the average price went up by 49.3% to $507 a tonne.

Production of potash shrank in the five months by 59.2% to 946,100 tonnes. Nitrogen fertilizer output went down by 2.5% to 329,300 tonnes.