Global potash industry in 2005–2025: resource base, mining and market constraints
I.V. Pleskunov1, D.P. Tibilov2, A.V. Zhura3
1 IMC Montan LLC, Moscow, Russian Federation
2 Odintsovo Branch of MGIMO University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Odintsovo, Russian Federation
3 Coal Marketing Research Institute Ltd. (INKRU), Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4/ 2026 p. 18-21
Abstract: The paper clarifies current development trends in the global potash industry with regard to the resource base, production structure, pricing environment and investment constraints in 2005–2025. Unlike studies that are focused mainly on the agrochemical market, this article treats potash salts as an object of the mining industry planning, where the geography of reserves, mine commissioning schedules, logistical resilience, and market and environmental constraints are of key importance. Methodologically, the study is based on comparing statistics from the U.S. Geological Survey, analytical materials from the FAO, the IFA and the World Bank, industry publications and data on major capacity-expansion projects. The results show that the global market remains highly concentrated, i.e. Canada, Russia, Belarus, China and Germany account for the main share of production, while the resource base is distributed much wider than the current operating capacity. In 2025, world potash production reached 49 million tonnes of K2O, the consumption was estimated at 38.8 million tonnes of K2O, and the aggregate capacity is projected to increase from 66.1 million tonnes of K2O in 2025 to 77.4 million tonnes of K2O by 2029. The industry’s development will be determined not only by the growing food demand, but also by the companies’ ability to overcome capital intensity challenges, environmental requirements and geopolitical constraints on supply [1–4].
Keywords: potash salts; potash fertilizers; underground mining; mineral resource base; global reserves; production capacity; food security; geopolitical risks; pricing environment; mining projects
For citation: Pleskunov I.V., Tibilov D.P., Zhura A.V. Global potash industry in 2005–2025: resource base, mining and market constraints. Russian Mining Industry. 2026. No. 4. P. 18–21. DOI: 10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4-18-21.
Article info
Received: 12.03.2026
Revised: 04.05.2026
Accepted: 25.05.2026
Information about the authors
Igor V. Pleskunov – Director of European Affairs, IMC Montan LLC, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dmitry P. Tibilov – Doctor of Science (Economics), Professor, Department of Innovation Management, Odintsovo Branch of MGIMO University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Odintsovo, Russian Federation
Andrey V. Zhura – Candidate of Science (Economics), Director General, Coal Marketing Research Institute Ltd. (INKRU), Moscow, Russian Federation
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