The United States is set to take its first Belarusian potash shipment in four years as Washington looks for cheaper fertiliser. The move could ease pressure on farmers, but analysts say Belarus is unlikely to replace Canada as the main supplier.
01Summary
- 01A 30,000-tonne potash shipment from Belarus is expected to arrive at the Port of New Orleans on Wednesday.
- 02The US last received Belarusian potash four years ago, after sanctions on major Belarusian producers were lifted in March.
- 03Canada supplies almost 80 percent of US potash imports, while Russia accounts for 12 percent, according to the US Geological Survey.
- 04Trump has said the US is working on a larger deal to buy Belarusian fertiliser at prices below what it pays Canada.
- 05Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in September that the country could not supply large volumes of potash to western markets.
02Why it matters
Potash is a key fertiliser input, so changes in supply can affect what farmers pay and how much pressure they face on already tight margins. The shipment also shows a tentative shift in US-Belarus relations and could affect trade leverage with Canada.
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