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Potasse : une guerre des prix bien commune
Authors
Yves Jégourel
March 8, 2016
Related topics: 
Commodities & Energy
Natural Resources

La potasse constitue, avec le phosphate et l’azote, l’un des trois nutriments utilisés dans la fabrication d’engrais. Si les facteurs qui influencent sa demande sont pour la plupart communs aux autres fertilisants et en large partie déterminés par la conjoncture des marchés agricoles, son offre répond quant à elle à des facteurs propres. Longtemps connu pour être contrôlé par deux cartels de production et d’exportation, le marché de la potasse a connu une évolution majeure en 2013 marquée par la fin d’une entente russo-bélarusse. Dans un contexte économique dégradé, cette rupture se traduit par l’amorce d’une guerre des prix, à l’image de ce que l’on observe pour d’autres matières premières, telles que le minerai de fer.

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