Santiago — Lower commodity prices had a major impact on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM), with net income before minority interest falling 44 percent for the second quarter ending June 30, 2013, to $109 million on revenues of $566.5 million, compared to the year-ago $193.9 million on revenues of $683.3 million. Second-quarter Specialty Plant Nutrient (SPN) revenues were down at $181.8 million from the year-ago $194.8 million, while Potassium/SOP were down as well to $164.1 million from $191.7 million. Revenues were also down in other segments – Iodine, Lithium, and Industrial Chemicals. Six-month income was $261.6 million on revenues of $1.19 billion, down from $345.6 million and $1.21 billion, respectively. “We saw higher revenues in our SPN business line and similar revenues in our Potassium business line during the first half of the year, when compared to the first half of 2012,” said SQM CEO Patricio Contesse. “As anticipated, fertilizer prices declined when compared to the first half of 2012, but we were able to partially offset lower prices with higher sales volumes in both the SPN and Potassium business lines.” Six-month SPN volumes were $378.6 million, up from $353.9 million, while volumes were 457,700 mt versus 403,000 mt. Potassium revenues were down slightly, to $317 million from $325.3 million, while volumes were up, at 681,300 mt from 643,200 mt.
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