OREANDA-NEWS. The possible reinvigoration of trade partnership between Russia's Uralkali and Belaruskali is unlikely to cause a rise in fertiliser price, experts say.

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.

In December 2013 billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's Onexim Group bought 21.75% in Uralkali from Suleiman Kerimov. Fertilizer maker UralChem, owned by Dmitry Mazepin, also closed a deal to buy 20% in Uralkali.

On March 6, 2014 Russian business daily Kommersant reported that Onexim is offering to set up a new trader and own 65% in it, but Belarus is not satisfied with the proposal, the sources said.