Which countries supply the US with potash fertilizers?
In the US, potash fertilizers consumed are accounted for by Canada at 73 percent, Russia at 11 percent, and Israel at 3 percent. Although Washington is considering the possibility of purchasing cheaper potash fertilizers from Belarus, transportation costs and restrictions on export routes could affect the final price.
Which countries supply the US with potash fertilizers?
Based on a Visual Capitalist infographic, this material shows the main countries supplying potash fertilizers to the US market. The data is based on the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 annual review.
Volumes are given in terms of potassium oxide — K₂O. This allows for the comparison of different potash fertilizers based on their potassium content.
What is Canada's advantage?
Canada is the world's largest producer of potash fertilizers. Most of the production is concentrated in the province of Saskatchewan, which holds vast reserves of potash salts.
Canada's proximity to US agricultural regions and its developed railway network facilitate delivery. Nutrien, a major producer based in Saskatchewan, delivers potash fertilizers across the US through its North American transportation network.
The ability to transport the product by land gives Canadian suppliers a logistical advantage over competitors who use sea routes.
Plan to purchase from Belarus
The material states that in September 2026, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington was working on a major deal to purchase potash fertilizers from Belarus at a lower price than Canadian products.
However, there are several obstacles to delivering Belarusian products to the American market. The country has no direct access to the sea, faces restrictions on using European export routes, and is significantly dependent on Russian transport infrastructure.
In addition, there are major buyers of Belarusian potash fertilizers, such as China, Brazil, and India. This limits the volume of products that can be redirected to the US market in the short term.
Belarusian fertilizers must travel a longer and more complex route compared to Canadian products. Therefore, a lower purchase price does not necessarily mean a lower final price for American consumers.