OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus' state-owned potash production company OAO Belaruskali posted a 23% year-on-year decline in potash fertilizer export in January-July 2013 down to USD 1.378 billion, the company said in a release.

In July, Uralkali ended the joint sales practice with Belaruskali and said it would focus on increasing production volumes. The breakup between the two firms led market players to believe that potash prices will fall to U.S. USD 300 per tonne from the current USD 400 per tonne and the world's production of the fertilizer will increase.

Belarus exported 3.752 million tonnes of potash fertilizer (in terms of 100% potassium chloride) in January-July 2013, including 1.508 million tonnes in Q1, 1.771 million tonnes in Q2 and 472,600 tonnes in July alone. Belarus' potash exports went down 21.9% in 2012 to 3.669 million tonnes.

Belarus exports potash fertilizers to 83 countries, Asia, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe being major markets.

Potash shipments to domestic consumers grew 10.3% in Jan-Jul to 1.058 million tonnes.

Belaruskali reduced potash output to 4.899 million in H1 2013 from 7.935 million tonnes in Jan-Jun 2012.