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China fertilizer demand boosts Israel Chemicals profit
May. 14, 2013
ICL's sales of potash, a nutrient which improves crop yields, rose 42 percent from the year-ago period to 1.31 million tonnes and the company said increasing volumes in both potash and phosphate fertiliser compensated for lower prices.
Net profit in the quarter rose six percent to $305 million from $289 million a year earlier and revenue grew nine percent to $1.64 billion. ICL had been forecast to earn $286 million on revenue of $1.61 billion, according to a Reuters poll.
ICL said it signed deals to supply 660,000 tonnes of potash to China in the first half of the year and 920,000 tonnes of potash to India - 100,000 more than initially agreed - including options for 50,000 tonnes, from April 2013 to January 2014.
The company also said Brazil was showing strong demand for fertilisers this year.
However, prices for contracts signed with China were down $70 per tonne compared with last year, not just for ICL but for all the major potash producers. Contracts with India were $63 per tonne lower than previous agreements from 2011.
Demand for potash, which improves yields of corn, rice, palm oil and other crops, has boomed in the past decade as a growing global population and better incomes and higher living standards in developing countries fuel global food demand.
ICL shares were flat at 41.18 shekels in midday trade. The stock has lost nearly 10 percent since April 25 when Canada's Potash Corp , one of the world's largest potash producers, said it was abandoning efforts to take over ICL because of strong opposition in Israel, but analysts said other concerns were now taking precedence.
"At this price level it goes beyond the Potash deal. It has to do with regulatory uncertainty and some easing in commodities pricing," said UBS analyst Roni Biron.
The regulatory uncertainty is the result of comments made last month by Finance Minister Yair Lapid that he would set up a public committee to re-examine the state's rights to natural resources managed by private companies.
"Some people are saying maybe he (Lapid) will go ahead with another increase in royalties on potash. As long as it's out there people are saying they are going to wait till it's clarified," Biron said.
Separately, ICL urged the government to approve its plan to mine phosphates at a new site in the Negev desert, saying its reserves would be significantly reduced in the long term if the plan failed. That could lead to a phasing-out of its phosphate operations in Israel, it said.
"The company has begun investigating alternative phosphate mining sites outside of Israel," ICL said.
The Barir field is near the town of Arad, whose residents oppose new mining activities, fearing health repercussions.
Source: haaretz.com
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