"The near-term market outlook for potash remains constructive, and we expect gradual improvement in our business results," O'Rourke said. "First quarter MOP cash costs were $86 per tonne, including brine management costs, despite the negative impact of the Esterhazy skip incident, which stopped production at Esterhazy K2 shaft for most of March. Over the longer term, we expect the completion of the K3 project to position Mosaic as the lowest cost Canadian potash producer."
Net sales in the Potash segment totaled $414 million for the first quarter, up from $394 million last year, driven by higher sales volumes, partially offset by lower average realized prices. Gross margin was $69 million, or 17 percent of net sales, compared to $98 million, or 25 percent of net sales a year ago. The year-over-year decrease in gross margin rate was primarily driven by lower selling prices and the impact of the Esterhazy skip incident, partially offset by effective cost management.
The first quarter average MOP selling price, FOB plant, was $172 per tonne, down from $207 per tonne a year ago. The Potash segment's total sales volumes for the first quarter were 2.0 million tonnes, up from 1.5 million tonnes a year ago.
Potash production was 2.0 million tonnes, or 83 percent of operational capacity, flat with last year levels.
Ausblick:
Total sales volumes for the Potash segment are expected to range from 2.0 to 2.3 million tonnes for the second quarter of 2017, compared to 2.0 million tonnes last year. Mosaic's realized MOP price, FOB plant, is estimated to range from $170 to $185 per tonne. Mosaic's gross margin rate in the segment is expected to be in the low 20 percent range. The operating rate is expected to be in the low 90 percent range.
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