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PotashCorp also reported that it expects the recent rise of global planted acreages to slow, as agricultural commodity markets cool.
North American potash demand is expected to rise as farmers address a mounting deficit in application.
Brazilian potash demand is expected to accelerate ahead of the country’s main planting season, helped by a recent improvement in crop prices, and a recently announced farm credit programme.
Improved demand
“Following a slower start in Brazil, we anticipate potash imports will accelerate during the third quarter,” PotashCorp said.
Brazilian fertilizer purchases “are expected to accelerate in the third quarter and could lead to a more condensed delivery period,” PotashCorp Said.
“Potash demand in Brazil slowed in first-half 2015 as farmers were concerned about weaker crop prices, the lower purchasing power of the Real and delayed credit availability from the government,” the report said.
The same dynamics will be seen in urea, with imports improving in the third quarter of 2015, in line with the same time last year, when imports reached a record 4m tonnes over the year. Brazilian phosphate imports are also seen rising next quarter.
Tentative buyers
North American demand is also expected to rise against the first half of the year, leaving full year sales down from the record 63m tonnes achieved in 2014 but remaining “at historically strong levels”.
“In North America, demand was lower in the first half of 2015 but is expected to be similar to historical levels in the second half”, the report said.
“Buyers were tentative in the first half as the spring application window was shortened and farmers weighed the impact of lower crop prices,” the report said, also noting record offshore imports pressuring North American producer sales.
“We expect healthy demand in the second half as crop prices have improved and farmers look to replenish soil nutrients after recent large harvests,” said PotashCorp.
Mounting deficit
The increased North American demand is driven by a mounting potash deficit.
PotashCorp notes that application rates have held steady in North America over the past 30 years, while yields per acre have increased significantly thanks to the use of higher-yield cultivars.
As a result of this, PotashCorp estimates that since 2010, the depletion of potash in US farmland soil has exceeded application by more than 7m short tons per year.
“Closing this gap would require farmers to nearly double application rates compared to current levels,” PotashCorp said.
The group notes application deficits across US growing regions, with the largest in the Central Plains.
“Relatively large potash application deficits were found in most major crop producing regions of the US,” the report said.
Farmland growth to ease
PotashCorp also noted that expects the rate of increase in global planted acreages to slow.
By breaking new ground, and by double and triple cropping existing ground, PotashCorp reports that farmers have added over 160 million planted acres to agricultural production in the past ten years, “an area similar to that of the US corn and soybean crop”.
“In response to rising global demand and higher crop prices, farmers have increased planted acreage over the past decade,” PotashCorp said.
As global commodity prices slow, PotashCorp expects that the rate of increase in planted area could slow, and “some marginal acreage could be removed from production”.
Chinese demand
In China, PotashCorp expects “strong farmer affordability and agronomic need will continue to have a positive impact on potash demand in 2015”.
Supply contracts to China have already been negotiated by the North American potash cartel Canpotex, of with PotashCorp is a member.
Canpotex has also signed supply deals to Indian groups, where PotashCorp expects “continued growth in 2015”.
PotashCorp estimates Indian imports at 5m tonnes over the whole 2015.
Kharif planting
The group reports that India’s monsoon “got off to a strong start in June, which supported Kharif crop planting and fertilizer demand”.
Kharif crops, usually grains and pulses, are planted with the start of the monsoon rains.
PotashCorp expects Indian urea imports to slow from the recent rapid pace, but leaving 2015 purchases well above last year.
India is expected to import over 5m tonnes of diammonium phosphate in 2015, compared to 3.6m in 2014.
Source: http://www.agrimoney.com/news/brazilian-and-north-american-fertilizer-demand-to-rally–8586.html

Montreal, Quebec / July 16 2015 – Uragold Bay Resources Inc. (“Uragold”) (TSX Venture: UBR) is pleased to announce that it has closed on July 16, 2015 an additional non-brokered private placement comprised of 1,238,012 Flow-Though Units (“Unit”) at $0.055 per Unit for gross proceeds of $68,090.66. The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to finance the implementation of the Corporation’s go forward plan for Q1/Q2 2015 and was predicated by our press release on March 2, 2015 in which we announced “Major Producer Confirms Interest in Purchasing Significant Tonnage of High Purity Quartz From Uragold Quartz Property in Quebec” and our press release on April 13, 2015 in which announced “Uragold subsidiary, Quebec Quartz, signs MOU with Dorfner Anzaplan to evaluate potential of its high purity quartz deposit.”
Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share and a half (1/2) common share purchase warrant (“Warrant”) of the Company. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the capital stock of the Company at an exercise price of $ 0.10 during a period of 24 months from the date of closing of the placement. Each share issued pursuant to the placement will have a mandatory four (4) month holding period until November 17, 2015.
The Company paid a cash finder’s fee of $6,809.06 and issued 123,801 warrants to Dundee Capital Market. Each warrants will give the right to purchase one (1) common share at 5.5 cents for 24 months.
Patrick Levasseur, President and COO of UBR stated, “We are extremely please that the developments of Quebec Quartz’s high purity quartz projects continue attracting investors interest. Our recent announcement regarding interest from a major producer in purchasing significant tonnage of our high purity quartz and our collaboration with Anzaplan are major milestones in our quartz strategy. We have started the field work required to start determining the full potential of our industry leading quartz properties.”
About UBR- Quebec Quartz
UBR- Quebec Quartz is the largest holder of distinct High Purity Quartz properties in Quebec, with over 3,500 Ha under claims. Despite the abundance of quartz, very few deposits are suitable for high purity applications. High Purity Quartz supplies are tightening, Prices are rising, Exponential growth forecasted;
Quartz from the Roncevaux property successfully passed rigorous testing protocols of a major silicon metal producer confirming that our material is highly suited for their silicon metal production.
In addition to becoming a supplier of lump quartz for silicon metal production, Quebec Quartz’s objective is to transform its High Purity Quartz into Ultra High Purity Quartz Sands to generate significantly greater profits and become a leading supplier of Ultra High Purity Quartz.
About Uragold Bay Resources Inc.
Uragold Bay Resources is a TSX-V listed Gold and High Purity Quartz exploration junior focused on generating free cash flow from mining operations. Our business model is centered on developing mining projects suited for smaller-scale start-up and that could potentially generate high yield returns. Uragold will reach these goals by developing Quebec’s first paleoplacer mine in 50 years, the Beauce Placer Project and, in partnership with Golden Hope Mines, the Bellechasse-Timmins Gold Deposit.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S un der the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.
For further information contact
Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman and CEO
Patrick Levasseur, President and COO
Tel: (514) 846-3271(514) 846-3271
(514) 846-3271
(514) 846-3271
www.uragold.com