OREANDA-NEWS. January 10, 2013. Belarus has not yet made a final decision on establishing the Russian-Belarusian potash fertilizer trader Soyuzkali, which will distribute potash fertilizers produced by Belarus’ OJSC Belaruskali and Russia’s OJSC Uralkali on the global market, a source in the Belarusian government told reporters.

According to initial plans, the operation of the Russian-Belarusian potash fertilizer trader Soyuzkali was due to start in the second half of 2013. They planned to register the joint venture in Switzerland, with the company’s statutory capital divided on a parity basis between Belaruskali and Uralkali.

The decision on Soyuzkali has not been taken so far: there are both opponents and supporters of the idea, the government official told reporters. “For the time being, Belarus does not find it necessary to establish a new venture,” the official said.

It was reported with reference to Belarus’ First Vice Premier Vladimir Semashko, Belaruskali and Uralkali were expected to reach a compromise on potash business practices: the average price of potash and the distribution of shares. At the moment, Belaruskali exports 47.5% of all potash fertilizers produced, while the share of Uralkali is 52.5%. Belarus finds it unfair and insists that the share of Belarusklai should be 49.15%.

At the moment, Belaruskali and Uralkali have their products exported to overseas markets by the Belarusian Potash Company.

Established in April 2005, Joint Stock Company “Belarusian Potash Company” (BPC) the sole exporter of potassium fertilizers produced by Belaruskali and Uralkali.

The BPC shareholding structure includes Belaruskali with 45%, Belarusian Railways (5%) and Russia’s Uralkali with 50%.

At the moment, BPC controls 42% of the world’s potash fertilizer market.