Commentators have usually viewed potash as a rather unglamorous commodity because of its limited applications, low prices, the relatively small size of the industry, a persistent supply overhang situation and high barriers to entry. Yet on closer inspection, potash provides an interesting...

Although dominated by the forces of competition over the past 50 years, with relatively easy entry and exit of new producers and plentiful reserves, the phosphate industry and phosphate markets have experienced several interesting episodes during this period. These have been associated with the...