The long-term outlook for fertilizer consumption is very strong. According to the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and the International Fertilizer Association (IFA):
- Asia and North America are the largest potash consumers, with Latin American demand fast catching up.
- The BRIC economist (Brazil, Russia, India and China) have been under-fertilizing for years, depleting the nutrient content from their soils.
- China needs to more than double its annual potash use to properly sustain its agricultural land and maximize yields.
- North American farmers are substantially increasing fertilizer use to maximize production and profits due to sharply rising grain prices.
- India is expected to increase its potash consumption to improve crop yields for a burgeoning, more affluent population.
- In Brazil, where the major crops are large potash consumers, the need to import more of this vital nutrient is especially pronounced.
- Both Brazil and India increasingly rely on sugar cane output to produce ethanol.
