Has TRH given up on the Potash? At least Potash prices are...

Has TRH given up on the Potash? At least Potash prices are rising and we are in the middle of food crisis.


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE70C1BY20110113


UPDATE 1-Uralkali exporter inks $400/T China potash deal

Uralkali to sell 600,000 T potash to China at $400/tonne

Contract runs Jan 13 to June 30, first 6 mo China deal

* Price up 14 percent y/y according to analysts

MOSCOW, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Russian potash producer Uralkali (URKA.MM) said on Thursday its Belarusian Potash Co (BPC) export joint venture will supply 600,000 tonnes of output to two major Chinese buyers at $400 per tonne.

Analysts at Troika Dialog said this was a 14 percent year-on-year increase.

BPC, the joint venture trader for Uralkali and Belaruskali, controls more than 30 percent of global exports, and the price hike shows that improved demand is once again allowing it to flex its muscles on the international market.

The contract, which includes cost and freight (CFR), will run from Jan 13 to June 30. Sinochem and CNAMPGC are the buyers.

Spot potash prices, which soared above $1,000 per tonne before the 2008 downturn, are currently at $430 per tonne CFR, according to Troika.

The bank's analysts expect prices to rise further this year.

"We believe that potash producers will pursue measured price increases over 2011 from the current $430/tonne CFR to around $500/tonne by year end, so it makes sense for China to sign a deal and not procrastinate," they wrote.

This is the first time China has switched to semi-annual contracts.

Uralkali is in the process of merging with domestic rival Silvinit (SILV.MM) to create the world's number two producer behind Canada's Potash Corp (POT.N). [ID:nLDE6BJ0CY] (Reporting by Alfred Kueppers)