K+S completes nitrogen unit merger

Kassel, Germany-Effective July 1, 2009, K+S Group merged the business activities of fertiva GmbH with parts of COMPO’s professional fertilizer business in a new company, K+S Nitrogen. K+S announced plans for the merger last year (GM July 14, 2008). The company says this bundling of activities forms the basis for further long-term growth. “K+S Nitrogen will be a leading provider of nitrogenous fertilizers with a high level of competence in all areas ?Çô from research and product development through logistics to sales,” says Rudolf Graf von Plettenberg, CEO of K+S Nitrogen GmbH. The product portfolio, consisting of complex fertilizers (Nitrophoska®), straight nitrogen fertilizers (KAS), and high-quality nitrogen sulfur fertilizers, is being supplemented by two further product groups ?Çô the low-chloride Nitrophoska brands and N-stabilized mineral fertilizers (ENTEC). The cultivation of agricultural crops, as well as vegetables, fruit, and grapes will now be covered. “With this product portfolio, we will meet increasing demands for a comprehensive product program ranging from standard to high-end fertilizers,” says Thorsten Wendt, head of marketing. Worldwide, the company sells a total volume of more than 4.7 million mt of fertilizer. The company is planning to earn almost 20 percent of its revenue on its domestic markets in Germany. K+S Nitrogen will achieve just under 55 percent of its turnover in other European countries. The company says it will focus on distributors in powerful sales markets that are expected to prove profitable in the medium term, including Spain, Italy, and Greece. K+S will continue to cooperate intensively with BASF SE. BASF produces fertilizers exclusively for sale via K+S Nitrogen. The production volumes and product mix are controlled by K+S Nitrogen in close consultation with BASF SE. Furthermore, K+S Nitrogen also markets products from other reputable European manufacturers. About a quarter of the company’s turnover will come from markets outside Europe. K+S Nitrogen will employ 150, with about half of those working at the company headquarters in Mannheim.