Potash in Canada: 16 Facts & Statistics

Potash in Canada: 16 Facts & Statistics

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Potash in Canada - Facts, Statistics, History and More

Did you know that Canada is the world's largest producer and exporter of potash? Home to the largest global potash reserves – with 1.1 billion tonnes [5] – Canada plays a key role in the world's potash supply chain and is an absolute potash powerhouse!

Potash is just one of many natural resources Canada has in abundance, and Canadians have benefited from the sector’s development for centuries through jobs and economic opportunities. But many ask: what is potash anyway, and why is this raw resource so important? Below, you will find all you need to know about Canadian potash with these 16 facts and statistics!

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16 Facts on Canada's Potash Industry

Canada is the top producer and exporter of potash in the world

#1 - Canada is home to the world's largest potash reserves, with 1.1 billion tonnes of an estimated 4.8 billion tonnes+ globally as of 2024 [5]

#2 - Canada is the largest producer of potash in the world, with an estimated 24.9 million tonnes of production in 2024 and accounting for 32.8% of global production that year [5]

#3 - Canadian potash production grew by 18.4% since 2019, while sales reached $9.5 billion in 2025 [11]

#4 - Canada is also the world’s largest potash exporter, exporting 22.9 million tonnes in 2024 and accounting for 38.7% of global exports [5]

#5 - Canada accounted for nearly 39% of global potash exports in 2024 [5]

#6 - Canada’s leading potash export destinations in 2024 included the United States (53%), Brazil (14%), and China (6%) [5]

#7 - Canada accounted for 79% of U.S. potash imports in 2025 [17]

#8 - Canada exports approximately 95% of its potash production every year, underpinning food security around the world [9]

#9 - Canada’s potash industry generated $500 million annually in tax revenues between 2017 and 2020, climbing to $2 billion in 2021 and surging to more than $5 billion in 2022 [8]

#10 - Potash is primarily used (>95%) to produce fertilizers which support plant growth, increase crop yields, improve disease resistance, and enhance water retention [5]

#11 - Potash is the third-largest commodity shipped within Canada by rail [4]

#12 - Canada is home to the world’s largest potash mine, the Esterhazy K3 operation in Saskatchewan, with a total production capacity of 8 million metric tons of fertilizer mineral annually [10]

#13 - The Jansen Mine in Saskatchewan is expected to begin initial production in 2026/2027, and will become the world’s largest potash operation upon commencing, with a capacity of 8.5 million tonnes per year [12]

#14 - Canada’s domestic potash fertilizer market is expected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.7% between 2026 and 2035, driven by strong demand for various agricultural applications in provinces such as Manitoba and beyond [12]

#15 - Global potash demand is projected to grow by 70% by 2050 to support an ever-growing global population [14]

#16 - Canada is home to vast untapped reserves of potash, recoverable only with technologies that do not yet exist

What is Potash?

Potash is a common name for an alkaline potassium compound made up of a group of minerals and chemicals containing potassium (K on the periodic table) [5].

Potash is processed to make potassium chloride (KCl), about 95 per cent of which is used to produce fertilizers that help plants grow by improving overall health, root strength, disease resistance, water retention, and yield rates [5].

In other words, potash underpins food security for billions of people around the world. Like natural gas, it is an essential component in fertilizer production, which supports agricultural activities that underpin more than half of the world's population.

Where is Potash Found in Canada?

Saskatchewan Potash Deposits - Mines and Mining Methods Map

Saskatchewan Potash Deposits - Carrie Cockburn & John Sipinski

Canada's underground potash deposits formed some ~350 million years ago as an ancient inland sea evaporated, leaving behind layers of common salts that trapped precious minerals in the seafloor [1]. These deposits are part of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB), which is also home to the oil sands and several other vast natural-resource reserves.

Saskatchewan holds the vast majority of Canada's potash; deposits are found near the Alberta border just west of Saskatoon [15]. These reserves extend to the southeast corner of the province near the Manitoba border in three major layers called the Esterhazy, Belle Plaine, and Patience Lake Member. Each layer is known for its high-grade potash and is separated from the others by layers of salt.

Saskatchewan's northern potash deposits are about 1,000 metres below the surface and are extracted using conventional mining techniques [1]. To the south, deposits lie 1,500 to 2,400 metres deep and are mined using solution techniques [16].

These northern and southern deposits are separated by a "hybrid" deposit of potash, which is currently uneconomical to produce using contemporary mining techniques. Extracting and producing this "hybrid" layer will require new technologies. Eventually, that tech will open up even more Canadian potash to the world.

Today, Saskatchewan accounts for approximately one-third of global potash production, making the province indispensable in food supply chains worldwide [2]. New Brunswick has one potash mine, but it is much smaller in scale than those in the west [3].

Brief History of Potash in Canada

potash jobs saskatchewan jansen mine

1767 - As early as the 1760s, Canada began exporting potash made from wood ashes

1865 – A century later, in the mid-1860s, exports of potash reached nearly 44,000 barrels per annum

1871 – By 1871, approximately 519 asheries were in operation across the country

1943 – During the 1940s, exploratory drilling for crude oil led to the discovery of significant potash reserves in Saskatchewan

1951 – By the early 1950s, active exploration for the mineral commenced

1958 – The Potash Company of America became the first potash producer in Canada with a contract to develop underground reserves in the Patience Lake region of Saskatchewan

1964 – The world's first solution mine is opened near Regina by Kalium Chemicals Ltd, with a depth of nearly 1,600 metres

1960-1985 – Potash mine development in Canada occurs mostly in Saskatchewan

1980s – New Brunswick sees a handful of potash mines begin operations

1990s – Several integral expansions during the 1970s and 80s makes Canada a global leader in potash production

1996 – Sylvite, a.k.a. potash rock, was named Saskatchewan's official mineral.

Today, Canada is the world's largest producer and exporter of potash, exporting most of its production to over 50 countries. Canada's top potash customers are consistently the United States, Brazil, and China [6].

What is Potash Used For?

Potash in Canada facts - largest global producer

While most potash is for fertilizer, the rest is used in various products including (but not limited to):

  • Animal feed
  • Human food products
  • Soaps
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Detergents
  • Water softeners
  • De-icer (snow and ice melters)
  • Glass manufacturing
  • Fireworks
  • Matches
  • Aluminum recycling

Fertilizer has been called one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, and without it, about half of the world's current population could not be adequately fed [7]. As such, potash is absolutely critical to feeding people across the world!

Join Us Today!

potash jobs jansen mine indigenous peoples

Canada's potash mining sector is critical to food security worldwide. Without it, the world would be much hungrier. We invite you to join us and hundreds of thousands of fellow Canadians on X, Instagram and YouTube to learn more about the positive influence resources have on our daily lives!

SOURCES:

1 - https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/featured-article/saskatchewan-potash-the-buried-treasure-that-fed-the-world/

2 - https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2022/june/22/saskatchewan-potash-producers-ramp-up-production

3 - https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/erd/energy/content/minerals/content/EDPotash.html

4 - https://cwf.ca/research/publications/our-west-potash-production-on-the-prairies-saskatchewans-potash-of-gold/

5 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/potash-facts

6 - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/potash

7 - https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38305504

8 - https://cwf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Potash-Food-Mineral-Report_FINAL.pdf

9 - https://fertilizercanada.ca/economic-impact-report-2020/global-use-and-export/

10 - https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/agriculture-investing/potash-investing/top-potash-countries-by-production/

11 - https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/9203-canada-day-were-number-one

12 - https://www.bhp.com/what-we-do/global-locations/canada/jansen

13 - https://canadianminingmagazine.com/blog/mining-technology/the-canadian-potash-sector-is-expected-to-grow-between-2026-and-2035/

14 - https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/bhp01-visualized-the-surge-in-global-potash-demand/

15 - https://northernprospector.ca/from-the-ground-up-saskatchewans-potash-mining-industry-is-providing-prosperity-and-security-for-the-provinces-communities/

16 - https://saskmining.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0_Potash-What-Is-It.pdf

17 - https://www.northernminer.com/news/potash-miners-drop-as-trump-floats-belarus-deal/1003895004/