Belarus ready to increase potash exports - Lukashenko

MINSK. June 1 (Interfax) - Belarus is ready to increase potash fertilizer exports if sanctions are lifted, President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, on Monday.

"Belarusian producers account for about 20% of all mineral fertilizers in the world. Therefore, any sanctions restrictions, any attempts to isolate Belarus from the global mineral fertilizer market are counterproductive and have a very negative impact on providing the planet's population with food," Lukashenko said.

"Today we cooperate with those states that need technologies in the field of agribusiness. We not only sell food there, but do everything to ensure that these countries and their citizens have the ability to manufacture agricultural products themselves," he said.

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy John Coale said following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on March 19 that Belaruskali and its trader, Belarusian Potash Company, had been removed from all sanctions lists initiated by the United States. The sanctions were imposed in August 2021.

The European Union imposed key sectoral sanctions against the Belarusian potash industry in June of 2021, and subsequently against Belaruskali and Belarusian Potash Company. These sanctions remain in force.

Belaruskali, the largest producer of potassium chloride in Belarus. Before it was hit by Western sanctions, it exported 10-11 million tonnes to 107 countries annually through BPC and made up more than a 20% share of the global potash fertilizer market. The company's main operations are now based at the Starobinskoye potash deposit in the Minsk region and include four mine administrations, auxiliary production facilities and servicing units.