What is potash, and why is the US importing it from Belarus?

Key points

• A 30,000-tonne shipment of Belarusian potash is expected to arrive at the Port of New Orleans on Wednesday, the first in four years.
• The US lifted sanctions on major Belarusian potash producers in March, opening the way for renewed trade.
• Analysts question whether Belarus can compete with Canada, which supplies almost 80 percent of US potash imports.

The United States is set to receive its first shipment of Belarusian potash in four years, with a 30,000-tonne cargo expected at the Port of New Orleans on Wednesday, according to data from Kpler. The shipment follows Washington's decision in March to lift sanctions on major Belarusian potash producers, opening a path for trade to resume.

President Donald Trump has said the US is working on a larger agreement to buy Belarusian fertiliser at prices substantially below what it pays Canada, its dominant supplier. The move comes as American farmers face rising costs linked to the Iran war and a trade dispute with Canada.

What potash is and why it matters

Potash is a potassium-rich mineral and a primary fertiliser element. Potassium is an essential plant nutrient with no substitutes, and potash is widely used in agriculture, including for corn and soybeans.

The US depends heavily on imports. Canada accounts for almost 80 percent of US potash imports, according to the US Geological Survey's 2026 Mineral Commodity Summaries. Russia accounts for 12 percent, the second-largest share.

The United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of Potash from Belarus. The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers.

— Donald Trump

Logistical and political hurdles

Belarus is landlocked, and EU restrictions are affecting its export routes, forcing shipments through Russia. The incoming cargo was loaded at the Russian port of Bronka near St Petersburg, according to the Financial Times. Those challenges could raise transportation costs and make Belarusian supplies less competitive.

In September, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the country could not supply large volumes of potash to the US. "Even if we wanted to supply [potash] to other, Western markets, we simply do not have those volumes – everything is contracted," he said. The US lifted sanctions after Belarus released 250 political prisoners in March under a US-brokered agreement.