Fertilizer International 530 Jan-Feb 2026
26 January 2026
US classes phosphate and potash as critical minerals
Potash and phosphate have been added to the updated 2025 List of Critical Minerals published in the US Federal Register on 6th November.
The 2025 list adds 10 critical minerals to the 50 critical minerals on the previous list dating on 2022, taking the new total to 60. Potash is making a reappearance – having been included in the original 2018 critical minerals list but subsequently omitted from the 2022 update.
The new status of potash and phosphate as critical minerals in the US was welcomed by American trade body The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), who viewed this as a lobbying success.
“Getting phosphate and potash back on the list is something the industry has been working on since they were oddly left off in 2022. A high priority for TFI has been educating congressional offices, policymakers, media, and the public about how closely phosphate and potash are tied to abundant and nutritious food,” said Cory Rosenbusch, TFI’s president and CEO. “These are two minerals where stable supplies are absolutely necessary to fill our plates and feed our communities.”
TFI pointed to the concentration of phosphate and potash supply globally. China and Russia account for around 53% of global phosphate production, it said, while China, Russia, and Belarus are responsible for around 67% of global potash supply. The US also imports roughly 97% of its potash needs, according to TFI, mostly (86%) from Canada.
“Rightfully recognizing phosphate and potash as critical minerals will support American farmers across the country and help ensure high crop yields and stocked grocery store shelves for consumers,” Rosenbusch said. “The majority of the world’s phosphate and potash resources are concentrated in only a few countries, leaving them open to supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical instability.”
