Agrium
Agrium is the only publicly traded company that is integrated from the mining of raw materials for fertilizer production to selling to farmers. The company also supplies materials that a variety of industries use to produce goods such as aluminum products and resins. Agrium’s strategy places particular emphasis on growth opportunities that both increase and stabilize performance throughout the value chain.
Comprised of three distinct business units, Agrium employs more than 14,000 people worldwide, within a high-performance culture that challenges all employees to meet their full potential. As part of this commitment, Agrium employees strive to better the communities in which they work and live.
Wholesale Business
Agrium Wholesale produces, markets and distributes nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphate-based products for agricultural and industrial customers around the world. It has production and distribution facilities in North America, South America and Egypt, with additional distribution in Europe and through its Purchase for Resale business.
Integral to the Wholesale business, Agrium operates three mines located in Kapuskasing, Ontario; Soda Springs, Idaho and Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. Production capacity of approximately 9 million product tonnes breaks down into the following: 5.4 million tonnes of nitrogen, 2 million tonnes of potash, and 1.2 million tonnes of phosphate. Potash capacity will increase to 3 million tonnes in 2014, following the expansion project at Vanscoy. The company also produces approximately 0.3 million tonnes of ammonium sulphate.
These crop nutrients are produced at 14 major production facilities and a number of smaller regional upgrade facilities. Sales of manufactured products are complemented by the Purchase for Resale business, which markets approximately 3 million tonnes of additional nutrient products in North America, South America and Europe.
The primary end consumer for Agrium’s Wholesale products is the agriculture market — in particular, growers of grains, oilseeds and other crops who want to enhance crop yields and quality. Agricultural buyers account for about 85 per cent of Wholesale sales.
The other 15 per cent of its sales support a broad range of industrial uses. For example, urea is used for the production of resins in the construction industry and potash for the recycling of aluminum. The majority of industrial sales volumes come from nitrogen products — primarily ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate and aqua ammonia — that are produced at the Western Canadian, North Bend and Borger nitrogen facilities, and sold in Canada and the U.S.
Retail Business
Retail operations encompass more than 900 retail facilities in North and South America and over 250 operated retail locations in Australia. Agrium is the largest retailer of fertilizers, seed, crop protection products and services in the United States. The company’s mandate is to empower growers with technology and products that enhance crop yields, quality and grower profitability.
Agrium’s Advanced Technologies Business
With seven wholly owned production facilities and a product innovation centre, Agrium Advanced Technologies is the leading manufacturer and marketer of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, and micronutrients for golf courses, agriculture, greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes and lawn care. The company’s focus is giving customers smarter ways to grow healthy turf and plants.
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