New all time record in potassium fertilizer imports to Mexico/Nuevo record de importación de fertilizantes con potasio por México
Mexico does not produce potash therefore it can be assumed that the potassium (K) imported equals the amount of K fertilization in the country. Potash imports have been steadily increasing since 1995. Potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate (K2SO4), potassium magnesium sulfate K2SO4·2MgSO4), and potassium nitrate (KNO3) account for almost all the K imports.
The data for the years 1995 through 2001 are from imports reported by the Mexican Ministry of Commerce from January to December. Data for 2002 and 2003 is from Mexican Ministry of Economy.
Potassium Chloride
Almost all KCl that México imports come from the U.S. and Canada. In 1996 KCl imports increased 100 percent in comparison to 1995 (Figure 1). During 1997, 1998 and 1999 KCl imports were above 200,000 metric tons, but in 2001 imports decreased to 150,000 metric tons. All-time import records are reported for 2002 with 227,281 metric tons of KCl. North american producers provided more than 65% of all KCl mexican imports during the year. Total K2O imports for 2002 reported a record too. Imports reported by the Ministry of Economy surpased 180,000 metric tons of K2O; more than 15,000 metric tons those reached in 1998, the previous record year.
This information is updated through April 2003.
Figure 1. Potassium chloride imports into Mexico from 1995 to April 2003.
Potassium sulfate
México buys K2SO4 from the U.S., Chile and Canada.
This information is updated through April 2003.
Figure 2. Potassium sulfate imports into Mexico from 1995 to April 2003.
Potassium-Magnesium Sulfate
Potassium magnesium sulfate occurs in nature as the mineral langbeinite, which is refined to the commercial fertilizer product. During 2,000 México imported more than twice the amount bought in previous years. The results in 2002 showed an important increase in imports. The U.S. is the main exporter of this product.
This information is updated through April 2003.
Figure 3. Potassium magnesium sulfate imports into Mexico from 1995 to April 2003.
Potassium and sodium nitrate
Potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate (NaNO3) imports are grouped together in the foreign trade classification. Almost all of these imports come from Chile.
This information is updated through April 2003.
Figure 4. Potassium and sodium nitrate imports into Mexico from 1995 to April 2003.
Total K2O imports have been steadily increasing since 1995 (Figure 4). Imports reached 168,407 metric tons in 1998. However, in 2002 imports surpased 180,000 metric tons of K2O; more than 15,000 metric tons of those reached in 1998, the previous record year. K2O imports include the sum of KCl, Potassium nitrate (KNO3)and sodium nitrate (NaNO3), Potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium sulphate K2SO4 , and triple 16, 15 and 17 (N-P2O5-K2O) imports.
This information is updated through April 2003.
Figure 5. Potassium (K2O) imports into Mexico from 1995 to 2003.
Data for the years 1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000, 2001 and 2002 are from Imports reported from January to December.
Source: Secretaría de Comercio Exterior de México (Ministry of Commerce) and Secretaría de Economía (Ministry of Economy).
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