OREANDA-NEWS. Belarusian potash manufacturers are ready to start talks about re-establishing a business alliance with Russia's Uralkali, a representative of the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) told.

Earlier on Wednesday fertilizer maker UralChem, that aspires to purchasing a 20% stake in potash manufacturer Uralkali, made an announcement that they do not oppose the possibility of resuming cooperation between Uralkali and Belarusian state-run company Belaruskali.

“We treat the Russian party with respect. Relations between Belaruskali and Uralkali should have a mutually beneficial basis. We will see how negotiations between their management will run. If they make this decision (to resume cooperation), we will not be against it,” the BPC official said.

“Once they are willing to cooperate with us, we will conduct talks with them,” the official said.

The BPC representative emphasized the idea that Belarus will accept all types of business alliances, provided they are mutually beneficial.

In late July Russia's Uralkali would quit cooperation with Belaruskali and withdraw from the potash export cartel. Furthermore, Uralkali announced a change in its marketing strategy, which is now based on the volume-over-price principle. As a result of the divorce, potash prices on the global market plunged from USD 400 to less than USD 300 per tonne and Belarus had trouble selling its potash to overseas customers.