Infographic

Potash in numbers

Potash (K2O) drawn as one poster: 49 Mt of world mine production in 2025, Canada the largest producer, 4 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025PotashK2OFertiliser mineral · symbol K2OPotash supplies potassium, one of the three main crop nutrients.WORLD MINE PRODUCTION 202549 MtK2O equivalent. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.TOP PRODUCER: CANADA31%15 Mt of the world total in 2025.WORLD RESERVES 20255.9 GtLargest in Russia (2.0 Gt). K2O equivalent.CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS4Current government critical or strategic lists namingpotash, across 4 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS64%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202592%PRICE 2025348 $/mtTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where potash comes fromCanada15 Mt31%Russia10 Mt20%China6.3 Mt13%Belarus6.0 Mt12%Germany3.0 Mt6.1%Laos2.4 Mt4.9%Israel2.0 Mt4.1%Jordan1.8 Mt3.7%Chile600 kt1.2%United States500 kt1.0%Mine production, K2O equivalent. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.Output was about 49 Mt K2O in 2025: Canada 15 Mt, Russia 10 Mt, China 6.3 Mt, Belarus 6 Mt.1919–2022A century of potash production0.00 t12 Mt25 Mt38 Mt50 Mt191919341948196319781993200720222022: 41 Mt1919: 122 ktWorld production, USGS column 'World production'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historical statistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES12 countries reported potash output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest potash trade routesCanada → United States$3.0 bnRussia → Brazil$1.6 bnRussia → China$1.3 bnCanada → Brazil$1.0 bnBelarus → China$843 mHS 310420: Potassium chloride (fertiliser grade). World trade $18 bn in 2024. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025Canada: critical 2024India: critical 2023China: strategic 2016prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Potash infographic: world production, top producers, reserves, a century of output, producing countries on a map, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World mine production, 2025
49 Mt (K2O equivalent) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
Canada, 15 Mt (31% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
64% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World reserves, 2025
5.9 Gt (K2O equivalent), largest in Russia USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
4 current lists in 4 jurisdictions (Canada, China, India, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
92% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
348 $/mt (Potassium chloride (nominal USD; Potassium chloride (muriate of potash), Brazil CFR granular spot from Jan 2020; previously f.o.b. Vancouver)) World Bank Pink Sheet
World production, 1919
122 kt (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2022 (historical series)
41 Mt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest trade flow, 2024
Canada → United States, $3.0 bn (HS 310420, Potassium chloride); world trade $18 bn CEPII BACI trade database

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

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Potash storyWhere potash is minedCritical mineral listsAll infographics