Uralkali Group is considering entering into a transaction with Belaruskali, pursuant to which Uralkali Group may advance up to $1 billion to Belaruskali to secure purchase of certain volume of potash, says the official website of Uralkali.

Belaruskali is a partner of Uralkali in the joint venture Belarusian Potash Company, which serves as a joint platform for sale and distribution platform of the potash products made by both companies. The Uralkali Group has not yet entered into any binding agreement, and no assurance can be made that the transaction will be closed on these terms or closed at all,” says the website.

Belaruskali is one of world’s biggest manufacturers of potash fertilizers. The Belarusian company operates 16% of the world potash market. Belaruskali exports up to 80% of its produce to Europe, Eastern Asia, the Mediterranean region, South Africa, India, China, South and North America – over 50 countries.

Uralkali is a Russian producer of potash fertilizers with the market share of about 9%. The company is located in the town of Berezniki (Perm Territory) close to Verkhnekamsk deposit of potassium and magnesium salt, world’s second biggest in ore resources. The company’s assets include two mines and five dressing plants (four of them produce potash chloride and one – carnallite), and a sodium chloride factory. The company has its offices in Moscow, Perm and Minsk,

Belarusian Potash Company was founded in 2005. Its shareholders are Belaruskali (45%), Uralkali (50%) and the Belarusian Railways (5%). The company is an exclusive exporter of Belaruskali and Uralkali potash fertilizers.