OREANDA-NEWS. May 21, 2012. Belarus has come to assess the market value of OJSC Belaruskali (Soligorsk, Minsk Region) at USD 31.5-32 billion. Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko made a statement to that extent on Tuesday as he voiced his annual address to the parliament and the nation.

“I have been repeating it again and again that we are ready to sell even high-profit companies like Belaruskali which posts a profit rate of 70-100%. However, it is all a matter of price. We have gone as far as to put a price on it: today the price is no longer USD 30 billion but USD 32 billion or maybe USD 31.5 billion,” Lukashenko said. “If you want to buy, you are welcome. If no one is interested, well… we will be none the worse for it. The company is up and running, wages get paid. We do a better trade in potash fertilizers than any other company in the world,” Lukashenko said.

As previously reported, Belarus repeatedly declared an intention to sell a stake in OJSC Belaruskali, which is fully owned by the state, to foreign investors, on condition that they should agree that the market value of the entire asset was USD 30 billion.

The state-owned Belarusian company OJSC Belaruskali is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of potash fertilizers, employing about 18,440 personnel. It operates the Starobinskoye potash salts deposit and comprises four mine groups, auxiliary shops and support units.

Belaruskali controls 16% of the world’s potash fertilizer market.

The government of Belarus assessed the 100% stake in state-owned OJSC Belaruskali at USD 30 billion.