Canpotex, short for Canadian Potash Exporters (reporting markPTEX), is a Canadian potash exporting and marketing firm, incorporated in 1970 and operating since 1972.[1] Based in Saskatchewan, Canpotex manages the entire Saskatchewan potash exporting industry (excluding Canadian and US sales), including transportation and delivery.[2]
Canpotex is the world's largest exporter of potash, selling over 13 million tonnes of potash every year,[2] representing about one-third of global capacity.[3][4] The global potash market was considered a duopoly between Canpotex and Belarusian Potash Company (BPC), a similar consortium which exported Belarusian (Belaruskali) and Russian potash (Uralkali); until the BPC marketing venture failed in 2013, the two collectively controlled 70% of global potash exports.[5]
Member producers
Canpotex is wholly owned by its two Shareholders:[1][4]
Canpotex has commissioned over 8,000 specialized covered hopper cars for inland transportation of potash from landlocked Saskatchewan to ports,[6] and operates solely on Canadian Pacific Railway lines.[7] In 2011, Canpotex started on the construction of a new $55 million rail car maintenance yard near the town of Lanigan, Saskatchewan used to perform maintenance and manage the inventory of railcars.[8]
Canpotex has committed $900 million to the manufacture of 15 cargo vessels. The first of these vessels, the U-Sea Saskatchewan, built as a joint venture with Ultrabulk received its first load of 58,000 metric tons of potash in the Port of Vancouver in November 2010.[12] The U-Sea Saskatchewan was built by Imabari Shipbuilding of Japan and is capable of carrying 60,000 metric tons.[13] Other ships include the Ultra Colonsay.
