Overland Park, Kan.-Compass Minerals reported that specialty fertilizer volumes rose five percent in the third quarter, with an average increase in selling prices of 11 percent. Volumes were 89,000 st with an average price of $287.57/st, versus the year-ago 85,000 st and $259.60/st, respectively. Nine-month volumes were off slightly at 281,000 st with an average price of $288.52/st, versus the year-ago 293,000 st and $252.88/st, respectively. Third-quarter fertilizer operating earnings were $6.3 million on sales of $25.7 million, versus the year-ago $6.4 million and $22.1 million. An increase in shipping and handling costs to $3.5 million, versus the year-ago $2.9 million, helped cause a slight reduction in earnings. Nine-month earnings were $22.5 million on sales of $81.1 million, versus the year-ago $20.6 million and $74.1 million, respectively. Compass reported that this was its first third quarter to make a profit while a public company. Compass-wide net earnings were $2.3 million on sales of $123.6 million, versus the year-ago loss of $4.8 million on sales of $107.5 million. Compass noted that its salt business completed its winter 2006-2007 deicing bidding during the quarter with an average increase in those prices of 10 percent. Nine-month net earnings are ahead of last year at $28.8 million on sales of $449.6 million, compared to $17.5 million and $459.2 million.
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