Belarus’ potash output reported down 55 percent

Belarus’ potash output decreased by 55.3 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2009, said the National Statistics Committee.

Potash production totaled 1,593,400 tons in the period, with August’s output being 37 percent higher than in the previous month but 22 percent lower than in August 2008.

The production of nitrogen fertilizers reportedly totaled 509,200 tons, a 1.1-percent year-on-year decrease, while the production of phosphate fertilizers amounted to 120,100 tons, an increase of 6.9 percent.

Belarus’ overall production of mineral fertilizers decreased by 46.9 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2009, according to the National Statistics Committee.