Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvite (KCl) | 95-98% KCl | $300-370/MT | Canada, Russia, Belarus | Primary ore, easiest to process |
| Carnallite | KMgCl₃·6H₂O | $250-320/MT | Germany, Israel, Spain | Requires separation from magnesium |
| Langbeinite | K₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ | $380-450/MT | USA (New Mexico), Germany | Sulfate form, chloride-free |
| Polyhalite | K₂Ca₂Mg(SO₄)₄·2H₂O | $280-350/MT | UK, USA, Russia | Complex processing required |
Potash Ore - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $300-370/MT FOB (potassium chloride/MOP) Major Global Reserves: Canada: 1.1 billion MT (23% of world reserves) - Prairie Evaporite Formation Russia: 650 million MT - Verkhnekamskoye deposit Belarus: 750 million MT - Starobin deposit Germany: 150 million MT - Zielitz and Werra deposits 2024 Production Leaders: Canada: 15 million MT (31% of global production) Russia: 6.7 million MT Belarus: 7.5 million MT China: 6 million MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Sylvite (KCl) 95-98% KCl $300-370/MT Canada, Russia, Belarus Primary ore, easiest to process Carnallite KMgCl₃·6H₂O $250-320/MT Germany, Israel, Spain Requires separation from magnesium Langbeinite K₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ $380-450/MT USA (New Mexico), Germany Sulfate form, chloride-free
⚠️ Seawater Potassium Extraction
Commercial Viability: TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE BUT NOT ECONOMICAL Concentration: 380-400 ppm (much higher than aluminum) Chemical Form: K⁺ ions (fully dissociated) Status: While potassium is relatively abundant in seawater (150,000x more concentrated than aluminum), direct extraction is not commercially viable due to the high energy costs of concentrating and separating it from other ions, particularly sodium which is 27x more abundant. Some extraction occurs as a byproduct of sea salt production in bitterns. Note: Potassium is recovered commercially from natural brines (Dead Sea, Great Salt Lake) where concentrations are 10-50x higher than seawater.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT KCl | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining & Extraction | $80-120 | 35-40% | Underground or solution mining |
| Processing & Refining | $50-80 | 20-25% | Flotation, crystallization |
| Energy | $30-50 | 12-15% | Much lower than metal production |
| Labor | $25-40 | 10-12% | Varies by country |
| Transportation & Logistics | $35-60 | 15-18% | Bulk shipping costs |
| Total Production Cost | $220-350 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $300-370/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mining | 1.5-2.5 MJ/kg | 40-50% | Electricity/Diesel | Drilling, blasting, hauling |
| Crushing & Milling | 0.5-1.0 MJ/kg | 15-20% | Electricity | Size reduction to -10mm |
| Flotation/Separation | 0.8-1.2 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Electricity | Froth flotation, magnetic separation |
| Drying & Compaction | 0.3-0.5 MJ/kg | 10-15% | Natural Gas | Moisture removal, granulation |
Potassium Metal Production (Sodium Reduction)
KCl + Na → K + NaCl at 850°C Distillation Energy: 15-20 MJ/kg K Sodium Production: 10-12 MJ/kg K equivalent Purification: 3-5 MJ/kg K Total: 30-40 MJ/kg K metal
Alternative: Electrolysis of KOH
Electrolysis: 25-30 MJ/kg K KOH Production: 8-10 MJ/kg K equivalent Mercury concerns: Historical method Modern: Sodium reduction preferred Limited commercial use
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium Chloride (MOP) | KCl | 74.55 g/mol | 95-99% | $0.30-0.37 | Fertilizers, chemicals, food |
| Potassium Sulfate (SOP) | K₂SO₄ | 174.26 g/mol | 98-99% | $0.55-0.75 | Chloride-free fertilizers |
| Potassium Nitrate | KNO₃ | 101.10 g/mol | 98-99.5% | $0.65-0.95 | Fertilizers, pyrotechnics |
| Potassium Hydroxide | KOH | 56.11 g/mol | 85-95% | $0.80-1.20 | Soaps, batteries, chemicals |
| Potassium Carbonate | K₂CO₃ | 138.21 g/mol | 98-99% | $0.70-1.10 | Glass, soap, food additive |
| Potassium Metal | K | 39.10 g/mol | 98-99.5% | $100-250 | NaK alloys, organic synthesis |
| Potassium Phosphate | K₃PO₄ | 212.27 g/mol | 98% | $1.20-1.80 | Food, fertilizers, buffers |
| Potassium Permanganate | KMnO₄ | 158.03 g/mol | 99% | $2.50-4.00 | Water treatment, medical |
| Potassium Formate | CHKO₂ | 84.12 g/mol | 97-99% | $1.50-2.90 | Drilling fluids, de-icing |
| Potassium Bicarbonate | KHCO₃ | 100.12 g/mol | 99% | $0.60-0.90 | Food, fire suppression |
| Potassium Iodide | KI | 166.00 g/mol | 99% | $35-60 | Medicine, photography |
| Potassium Bromide | KBr | 119.00 g/mol | 99% | $3.00-5.00 | Photography, medicine |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrien Ltd. | MOP (standard, granular), SOP, specialty fertilizers | World's largest potash producer, 20MT capacity |
| Mosaic Company | MOP (white, red), specialty grades | Premium potash products, 9MT capacity |
| K+S Potash Canada | MOP (granular), industrial grades | Bethune mine, 2MT capacity |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Uralkali | MOP (standard, granular, fine), technical grades | 11.5MT capacity, low production costs |
| EuroChem | MOP, compound fertilizers | Integrated producer, 2.3MT capacity |
🇧🇾 Belarus
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Belaruskali | MOP (all grades), technical KCl | World's second-largest producer, 12MT capacity |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| K+S AG | MOP, SOP, specialty fertilizers, industrial salts | Europe's largest producer, sulfate specialties |
🇮🇱 Israel / 🇯🇴 Jordan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL) | MOP, SOP, specialty fertilizers | Dead Sea extraction, 5MT capacity |
| Arab Potash Company | MOP (standard, granular, fine) | Dead Sea extraction, 2.5MT capacity |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Qinghai Salt Lake Industry | MOP, industrial KCl, lithium co-production | Qarhan Salt Lake, 5MT capacity |
| Zangge Mining | MOP, brine-based production | Largest Chinese producer, 2MT capacity |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Intrepid Potash | MOP, SOP, langbeinite (Trio®) | Solar evaporation, specialty products |
| Compass Minerals | SOP, specialty fertilizers | Great Salt Lake production |
🇨🇱 Chile
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera) | MOP, KNO₃, specialty fertilizers | Nitrate co-production, lithium leader |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | Major Consumers | Market Share | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muriate of Potash (MOP) | $14.5 billion | China, Brazil, USA, India | 88% of K market | 3.9% |
| Sulfate of Potash (SOP) | $1.8 billion | China, USA, Europe | 7% of K market | 4.5% |
| Potassium Nitrate | $0.9 billion | China, India, USA | 3% of K market | 3.2% |
| Other K Compounds | $0.8 billion | Global industrial | 2% of K market | 2.8% |
| Potassium Metal | $45 million | USA, Europe, Japan | 1.5% | |
| Potassium Formate | $1.15 billion | Oil & gas industry | Specialty chemical | 4.7% |
Market trends
Supply Constraints: Belarus/Russia sanctions affecting 35% of global supply Price Stabilization: After 2022 spike to $1,200/MT, prices normalizing at $300-370/MT China Import Surge: Record imports of 11.8 million MT in 2024, becoming largest importer Capacity Expansion: New projects in Laos, Ethiopia, and Canada adding 8MT by 2028 Environmental Focus: Shift to low-salt-index fertilizers driving SOP demand Vertical Integration: Major producers expanding into specialty fertilizers Brazil Dependency: Imports 90% of needs, driving global trade patterns
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium Metal | K | 39.10 | 25.58 |
| Potassium Chloride | KCl | 74.55 | 13.42 |
| Potassium Sulfate | K₂SO₄ | 174.26 | 5.74 |
| Potassium Nitrate | KNO₃ | 101.10 | 9.89 |
| Potassium Hydroxide | KOH | 56.11 | 17.82 |
| Potassium Carbonate | K₂CO₃ | 138.21 | 7.24 |
References
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