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Potassium’s Rival Brothers: From Friends to Enemies. Author/Source: China Fertilizer Network. Date: 2019-09-10. Clicks: 15. The two main types in the potassium fertilizer market are potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. The potassium chloride market can be further divided into imported potassium and domestically produced potassium, while the potassium sulfate market is categorized into the Mannheim process and the water-salt method. Logically, since they are all potassium fertilizers, they should be like brothers – at the very least, they ought to encourage one another and move forward together. But recently, these \"potassium brothers\" seem to have turned into false brothers; once they fell out with each other, the market situation became extremely chaotic! Potassium chloride and potassium sulfate: brothers, falling together? Data from Zhongfei Net shows that over the roughly two months since mid-July, the price of potassium chloride at ports has continued to rise. Despite an overall bearish market atmosphere, its price managed to rebound by 30–50 yuan per ton – a modest increase, but still quite impressive. Currently, the standard price for the traditional 62% white potash at ports is between 2280 and 2300 yuan, while the price for large orders at the lower end has also risen to around 2250 yuan. Not long ago, 2,250 yuan was the standard price at which one would strive to make a deal; 2,300 yuan was a price that people only thought about in their hearts, too afraid to voice it for fear of offending others. On one hand, potassium chloride drove down prices due to bearish trends, resulting in a slight rebound; on the other hand, potassium sulfate failed to benefit much from the rise in key cost factors. Amidst repeated calls for price increases, its price eventually dropped from high levels. This trend started around mid-to-late July. So far, the price of potassium sulfate in most areas has dropped by around 50-100 yuan. For example, in the Central Plains market, the factory price of high-quality 52% fully water-soluble powder used to be around 3050 yuan, but it is now between 2900 and 3000 yuan. Imported potassium and domestic potassium: even close relatives won’t do! Although potassium chloride showed a rebound, not all of it did; it’s really the case that different fertilizers have different fates! From June to September, the listed arrival price of domestically produced 60% potassium decreased from 2,350 yuan to 2,200 yuan; meanwhile, the actual price first rose and then fell, with the maximum drop amounting to nearly 100 yuan. Even the price of potassium from the 57% of smaller plants, which have relatively low prices and low production volumes, has been forced to drop. The decline in the price of domestic potassium has its specific reasons; without the more affordable option of domestic potassium, imported potassium might see an even greater increase in its prices. As mentioned earlier, thanks to our relentless efforts, the price of imported potassium chloride has increased by 30-50 yuan; however, the main types used here are still the traditional forms of potassium chloride, such as those with a 62% purity level, as well as Russian-style and 60% purity grades. As for other red powders, red particles, and the like, one can only say “hehe”. It’s not just about brothers turning against each other; even twin brothers become fake brothers! Mannheim and the water-salt system: half-brothers, sometimes close, sometimes distant. Mannheim potassium sulfate and water-salt potassium sulfate are both forms of potassium sulfate, but they differ in their \"appearance\" as well as their \"characteristics\". Normally, these two half-brothers are in a competitive relationship, but at least they generally move forward and backward together. However, in the early stage the prices of water and salt were very low, while Mannheim’s price was high. Later, efforts were made to raise the prices of water and salt – great efforts indeed – but now the prices remain low, while Mannheim’s price has dropped... From another perspective, it can also be seen as false brothers turning into real brothers, which makes one realize that true friendship still exists in the world; after all, although they couldn’t share joys, they finally shared hardships together. (Adu)