Potash is a mined natural resource that contains element number 19, Potassium, the alkali metal. Potash is manufactured mainly for the fertiliser industry, and one of the largest global players is the Canadian company, Potash Corporation, they are the largest maker of fertilisers in the world.
One has to realise that fertilisers are so vital because it allows farmers to produce more crops on less land and Without fertilizers, it is estimated the world would need approximately 50 percent more farmland. The global population has more than doubled since 1950 and is expected to grow from approximately 7 billion to over 9 billion by 2050.
Agriculture is critical to feed this, and with less farmland due to growth in urbanisation, the demand on farmers is growing all the time.
Fertilisers are made from Potassium, Nitrates and Phosphates. Potash Corporation, controls 20% of the world’s potash production capacity, 2% of nitrate production capacity and 5% of phosphate supply.
Potash Corporation is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and also listed on the NYSE.
[http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=POT]
It has a market capitalisation of Canadian Dollars $33,979,335,250.
Canadian $1 = UK£0.54 (54 pence)
Canadian Dollars $33,979,335,250= £18,348,841,035
Thus a Market Capitalisation of £18 Billion
That is about the same value of the UK supermarket giant, Tesco
[http://www.shareshop.hsbc.co.uk/shareshop/security.cgi?csi=10091]
As the world’s population grows, the demand for food will of course accelerate, and companies like Potash Corporation will rocket in value.