K+S Potash Canada ready to serve North American market as New Domestic Rail Cars are Delivered

HAMILTON, ON – Today, K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) is pleased to accept their first domestic rail cars built by National Steel Car (NSC) in Hamilton, Ontario, the same manufacturer that produced the company’s international fleet last fall. KSPC will take delivery of 200 cars beginning in August, and more cars will be added over the next years. These rail cars will transport potash from the company’s Bethune mine in Saskatchewan to its North American clients.

“KSPC’s domestic fleet is one of the cornerstones of our North American logistics network,” said Martin Brown, President of K+S North America. “We have seen enormous interest in potash from KSPC’s Bethune mine, both from new and existing customers, and we are ready to deliver from a rail provider, railcar, warehouse, and customer perspective.”

In 2015, for example, K+S Group established an exclusive potash supply agreement with Koch Fertilizer, including storage and distribution details, Brown added.

The domestic cars are built to the same state-of-the-art specifications as KSPC’s international fleet but are 47′ instead of 45′ long. A single opening at the top of the car will allow them to be loaded with the product while in motion, optimizing them for potash. The distinguishing feature of the domestic cars, in contrast to the grey international fleet, is their K+S blue exterior.

“The high-efficiency design of these cars is fit for our company’s world-class facility, which was officially opened this spring,” said Dr. Lamp, President and CEO of KSPC. “After producing our first tonnes of potash at Bethune mine last week, we are thrilled to be preparing to move our product to market.”

Sales and distribution of KSPC’s potash will be carried out through the K+S Group’s experienced and well-established global distribution structures.

About the K+S Group

K+S is an international resources company. We have been mining and processing mineral raw materials for more than 125 years. The products we produce from them are used worldwide in agriculture, food, and road safety and are important elements in numerous industrial processes. Potash and salt are integral nutrients for the megatrend of a constantly growing and increasingly prosperous global population striving for a higher standard of living. This will result in increasing consumption of mineral resources. We serve the resulting growth in demand from production sites in Europe, North America, and South America as well as through a global distribution network. K+S is the world’s largest salt producer and one of the top potash providers worldwide. With more than 14,000 employees, K+S achieved revenues in the financial year 2016 of about € 3.5 billion and an EBIT of € 229 million. Learn more about K+S at www.k-plus-s.com.

About K+S Potash Canada

K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) is a K+S Group company with headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; a solution potash mine and production facility located near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; and a world-class potash handling and storage facility operated in partnership with Pacific Coast Terminals in Port Moody, British Columbia. Bethune Mine, formerly known as the Legacy Project, is the first new potash mine in Saskatchewan in nearly fifty years. KSPC celebrated the Grand Opening of Bethune in May 2017 and projects it will reach a production capacity of 2 million tonnes by the end of 2017. The Bethune mine has created new job opportunities for Saskatchewan workers and new business opportunities for Saskatchewan companies supplying goods and services to this major economic development. All sales and distribution of the potash produced at the Bethune mine will be carried out through the K+S Group’s experienced and well-established global distribution structures. More information at www.ks-potashcanada.com

About K+S North America

K+S North America is the sales platform of the K+S Group in the United States. With the tailor-made products and services of K+S KALI GmbH, K+S North America offers agriculture and industry product assortment that meets customer needs. Learn more at https://www.ks-northamerica.com. 

Your contact person:

Maeghan Dubois
Manager, Communications
K+S Potash Canada  
Phone: (306) 371-0122          
Email: maeghan.dubois@ks-potashcanada.com