Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the go ahead to continue operating Haifa Chemicals’ ammonia storage facility until June.  The prime minister made his position public on Sunday at the weekly cabinet meeting.  Netanyahu instructed Environmental Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin and Economy Minister Eli Cohen to study various options for replacing the ammonia tank.  Last month the Haifa District Court ordered the facility shut and emptied by April 1.  However, Haifa Chemicals appealed the decision to Israel’s Supreme Court which issued a temporary restraining order allowing the emptying of the tank to be delayed until the court hears the appeal.  The high court is due to take up the appeal April 4.

The Mosaic Co. on March 31 announced an incident at its Esterhazy K2 potash mine involving a skip. The incident occurred in the later part of the first quarter and is not expected to materially impact first quarter potash results. The company estimates a loss of production in the range of 200,000 to 300,000 mt, which is expected to negatively impact second quarter sales volumes.

The company expects the skip to be repaired and resume operations in the next several days.

An Israeli appellate court has delayed the emptying of Haifa Chemical’s 12,000 mt ammonia storage tank that was slated to occur by April 1, according to the to Bloomberg citing the Ynet News Service. A lower court had ordered the closure. A three-judge panel is to hear Haifa Chemical’s appeal of order to close the tank. However, no date for the appeal has been given.

The Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) preliminary opinion is that the proposed combination of Agrium Inc. and Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. is likely to have an appreciable adverse effect on competition, according to a statement by the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs, as reported by Bloomberg. CCI, India’s antitrust body, has directed the parties to publish details of the deal for the knowledge of the public and stakeholders.

PhosAgro reported net profit of $893 million on revenue of $2.8 billion for the year ending Dec. 31, 2016, up from 2015’s $589 million and $3.1 billion, respectively. However, EBITDA was off at $1.08 billion from $1.35 billion.

Phosphate-based products saw a 10 percent increase in sales volumes to 5.92 million mt, up from 5.4 million mt, while Nitrogen was up 2 percent to 1.4 million mt from 1.36 million mt.

OCI NV reported net income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of $167.9 million on revenue of $1.91 billion for the year ending Dec. 31, 2016, up from a prior year loss of $246.1 million on revenues of $2.19 billion. However, adjusted EBITDA was down at $466.5 million from the prior year’s $736.2 million.

Total fertilizer volumes sold from the company’s own production was up 18.4 percent to 4.81 million mt from 2015’s 4.07 million mt. Traded tons were off 1.9 percent to 2.03 million mt from 2.07 million mt.

The company said its Iowa Fertilizer Co. nitrogen plant in Iowa is in the final stages of start-up with the first product expected imminently.

OCP SA reported a 28 percent drop in 2016 EBITDA, to MAD12,777 million ($1.3 billion) on revenues of MAD42,471 million ($4.3 billion), down from the year-ago MAD17,659 million ($1.8 billion) and MAD47,747 million ($4.9 billion), respectively.

Fourth-quarter EBITDA came in 3 percent lower year-on-year at MAD3,607 million ($363 million) on revenues of MAD10,498 million ($1.05 billion), down from the previous year’s MAD3,737 million ($377 million) and MAD10,610 million ($1.07 billion), respectively.

“Overall demand remained healthy with higher consumption of fertilizers from farmers underpinned by lower prices. Consequently, OCP’s fertilizer export volumes significantly increased, and we further expanded our product diversification and customization,” said the Moroccan company.

Fertilizer exports sales increased by 2.2 million mt year-on year, to 6.5 million mt, up from 4.3 million mt. Of these totals, DAP/MAP/TSP exports reached 4.9 million mt in 2016, up from 3.2 million mt. Exports of new products (NPK, NP-S, micronutrients, water-soluble fertilizers and feeds) grew to 1.6 million mt from 1.1 million mt in 2015.

OCP’s exports to Africa increased 70 percent to 1.7 million mt in 2016 compared to 1 million mt in the previous year. The recovery in demand in Latin America, namely Argentina and Brazil, resulted in an increase in volumes of 900,000 mt year-on-year, OCP said.

Sales also benefited from the growth of specialty products, which increased 45 percent compared with 2015 and accounted for 25 percent of the company’s total fertilizer exports in 2016.

Augusta Sulfate Co. LLC has entered into an agreement to acquire Fibrant LLC’s idled ammonium sulfate operations. The plant located in Augusta, Ga., is expected to restart May 1, 2017.

“Augusta Sulfate Co. is excited about this venture and is fully committed to reenter the market and support our dedicated ammonium sulfate customers,” said David Delaney, Augusta Sulfate chairman. “We intend to implement an investment strategy to diversify our ammonium sulfate product offering. We are equally excited about restoring approximately 100 jobs to the Augusta area.” Delaney was formerly an executive with Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. and currently is a senior advisor to Paine Schwartz Partners, formerly Paine and Partners.

“This acquisition represents a major step in re-establishing our long term historical ammonium sulfate presence here in North America,” said Ron Waller, Augusta Sulfate vice president, marketing and sales. “I cannot emphasize strongly enough the commitment of the new ownership in partnering with our customers, who have expressed their desire for a local supplier capable of delivering premium quality and service.”

Intrepid Potash Inc. reports that in its previously announced underwritten public offer, it hopes to sell up to 50.07 million shares, bringing in about $60.1 million.

K+S Group reported 2016 operating earnings (EBIT 1) of € 229 million down from 2015’s € 782 million. The company expects tangible improvement in 2017, citing improved production in Germany and new production at the Legacy mine in Saskatchewan starting in the second quarter.