The world's largest fertilizer company is making a decisive strategic pivot, shedding hundreds of millions in non-core assets to concentrate its firepower on a single, red-hot Saskatchewan commodity.
A Strategic $900 Million Shift
Over the past year, Saskatoon-based Nutrien Ltd. has divested assets worth a staggering US$900 million. This move is part of a broader effort to streamline its portfolio and intensify its focus on its core potash business, a mineral critical to global agriculture and abundantly found in Saskatchewan's geology.
Observers note this may signal a strategic shift away from other fertilizer components, like nitrogen, to bring a sharper, more profitable focus to potash production. The company's recent controversial decision to choose Longview, Washington, over Vancouver, B.C., for a new shipping terminal—a move that caused some consternation in Ottawa—is seen as another cost-cutting and efficiency-driven step in this realignment.
Capitalizing on Global Demand
The strategic rationale is clear: anticipating soaring global demand. Stuart Smyth, an agricultural professor at the University of Saskatchewan, points to burgeoning markets in India and China as key drivers. "I think all of the potash companies are looking to find ways of tapping into the increased demand coming out of both of those two key markets over the next few years," Smyth stated.
This demand is attracting massive investment, most notably from global mining giant BHP Group Ltd., which is steadily progressing on its new Jansen mine east of Saskatoon. The first phase of this greenfield project carries an estimated price tag of US$7 billion, with first production targeted for mid-2027.
Nutrien Consolidates Its Dominant Position
Despite the new competition, Nutrien remains the undisputed heavyweight in Saskatchewan's potash sector. The company currently operates six of the province's 11 active potash mines. It also produces nitrogen at nine facilities across Canada, the United States, and Trinidad, though its recent divestments suggest a refining of priorities.
In December 2025, Nutrien announced the sale of its 50% ownership in Argentina-based nitrogen producer Profertil S.A. for US$600 million to a partnership led by Adecoagro S.A. Earlier in the year, during the first quarter of 2025, the company finalized another major move, selling its stake in China's Sinofert Holdings Ltd. for US$223 million.
In a statement regarding the Profertil sale, Nutrien president and CEO Ken Seitz framed the transaction as a step toward simplifying the company's portfolio and boosting earnings. The company indicated the capital from these sales would be redirected to "priorities that are core to our long-term strategy"—a strategy increasingly centered on the lucrative Saskatchewan potash deposits that continue to draw global attention and investment.
