The International Fertilizer Association announced today it was postponing its annual conference until 2021 because of concerns related to the coronavirus. In an e-mail to IFA members Stéphane Leleu, Director, Conference Services for IFA, said out of a concern for the health and well-being of IFA members and staff, the organization decided to postpone the 2020 annual conference to have been held in New Delhi. Leleu said New Delhi will be the location of the 2021 meeting.

Univar Solutions Inc., Downers Grove, Ill., on March 2 reported that in late 2019 it purchased certain assets of The Mosaic Company’s hydrofluorosilicic acid (HFS) business. Univar Solutions is a supplier to the water treatment market, including the U.S. municipal market. Under the terms of the arrangement, Univar Solutions has assumed certain of Mosaic’s customer contracts, rail, and supply chain agreements expanding and strengthening its capabilities to serve municipal drinking water plants. 

SQM reported decreased income in 2019 citing lower potash volumes and weaker lithium prices. Fourth-quarter net income was $66.9 million revenues of $472.2 million, down from $108.6 million and $565.2 million, while full-year income was $278.1 million on revenues of $1.94 billion versus 2018’s $439.8 million and $2.26 billion, respectively.

Intrepid Potash Inc., Denver, reported fourth-quarter net income of $2.1 million on sales of $48.8 million, down from the year-ago $7.6 million and $54.4 million, respectively, while full-year income was up at $13.6 million on sales of $220.1 million from 2018’s $11.8 million and $208.3 million, respectively.

Intrepid is upbeat about 2020 citing the under application of potash during recent seasons, expectations of increased corn planting as well as a new Chinese potash contract in the second quarter.

MOPCO closed a sale of 8,000 mt at $255/mt FOB for April shipment. The last bit of business done by Egyptian producers was late last week at $250-$251/mt FOB, also for early April shipment.

The deal occurred just as SABIC also reported a sale at $250/mt FOB for delivery to Australia. This deal is $5 up from last week’s business.

Canadian and B.C. officials stuck a tentative deal with the Wet’suwet’en Chiefs March 1 which will allow the construction to resume on GasLink natural gas pipeline. However, at least one Indigenous group—the Mohawk Nation of Kahnewake, had vowed to continue blockades at least for now, south of Montreal, according to the Canadian press.

The Mosaic Co. Tampa, announced March 2 its intent to combine the company’s potash and phosphates operations under one management team, effective April 1, 2020. This move is expected to create new opportunities to increase efficiencies by leveraging the synergies between the two organizations.

Bruce Bodine, currently Senior Vice President, Phosphates, will lead the combined business from Tampa. Karen Swager, currently Senior Vice President, Potash, will step into a new role leading Mosaic’s North America supply chain, procurement and corporate environmental, health and safety.

The Andersons Inc, Maumee, Ohio, on Mach 2 announced the passing of Richard P. (Dick) Anderson, 90, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors.

“Dick was a great friend and mentor to many of us at The Andersons, but especially to me,” said Mike Anderson, Chairman of the Board for The Andersons. “He always led by example and was a strong believer in the Golden Rule. His kindness, positivity and overall love for life was and will continue to be an inspiration for us all.” 

Dick is survived by his wife and best friend of 65 years, Fran, along with their six children, 24 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

The Mosaic Co., Tampa, on Feb. 26 released January sales volumes and revenues for its three major industry segments, with sales volumes up for all three—Potash, Mosaic Fertilizantes and Phosphates compared to January 2019. While revenues were up for both Potash and Mosaic Fertilizantes, they were off for Phosphates at $198 million from the year-ago $234 million.

The Andersons Inc., Maumee, Ohio, said Feb. 25 that the company is constructing a new 1.5 million-gallon UAN storage tank at its Lordstown, Ohio, facility to better serve their customers and the UAN market. The Lordstown facility is a wholesale fertilizer distribution terminal, storing and shipping fertilizer materials and blends. The total storage capacity for UAN at Lordstown will be 3 million gallons.

The company said the facility is unique in that it is able to blend ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and features an unattended automated loadout system, enabling customers to load 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new UAN storage tank is expected to be completed by June.