On March 20, President Trump issued an executive order (EO), “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.”
Important for the agricultural industry, this includes potash on the list of “Critical Minerals,” which is being welcomed by the industry.
On the heels of news of tariffs on Canadian goods, potash came into focus because up to 90% of the U.S. potash used is sourced from Saskatchewan.
The EO is being seen a step toward the U.S. being able to produce more of its own potash, which is said to be available but not mined due to regulatory impediments.
“Originally included in the first list of Critical Minerals created in 2018 under President Trump’s first administration, potash’s omission from the 2022 list was a mistake that a broad coalition of industry and consumer advocates have been working to remedy,” said Corey Rosenbusch with The Fertilizer Institute in a statement. “TFI thanks President Trump for restoring potash’s rightful place among the key minerals necessary for the success, growth, stability, and prosperity of the United States. President Trump understands that stable, affordable access to fertilizers is critical to maintaining a globally competitive U.S. agricultural sector, strengthening rural economies, and keeping food prices affordable for hard-working American families.”
TFI states the U.S. currently only accounts for 0.2 percent of global supply. The group cites this is despite supplies unmined due to regulatory uncertainty and delayed permitting. Today, 98% of the potash used in the U.S. is imported. Top countries for potash exports include Canada, Belarus, China, and Russia—with the last three accounting for 55% of global supply.
After the President’s EO, Michigan Potash Chief Development Officer Cory Christofferson issued a statement:
“We applaud President Trump’s executive order listing potash among the critical minerals in the United States and directing his cabinet to accelerate the domestic production of potash. Michigan’s potash reserve is ideally located within the U.S. fertilizer demand center and our production facility will create jobs, bring our supply chain back to the U.S. and improve our country’s trade balance.”
Christofferson pointed to his company’s project in Evart, Mich., which will produce 800,000 tons of potash and 1 million tons of food grade salt each year. The site has expansion phases that could total up to 4 million tons or more of potash annually.
“We appreciate the support of President Trump and his administration, which is working to prioritize permitting and regulations for critical mineral projects like ours. With continued leadership and focus at the federal, state and local levels, the U.S. can become less reliant on foreign countries for its critical minerals and ensure we support American farmers, American businesses, and American families by carefully stewarding our natural resources,” Christofferson said.
