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[HEADNOTE]
Saskatchewan's potash companies are well-known around the province as world leaders in their business, having established a distinguished position in the international marketplace with high quality and competitive pricing.
[IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH]
Kelvin Dereski
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However, people should realize this standing does not afford Saskatchewan producers a monopoly over the industry.
"We are a dominant player" agrees Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA) Potash Section Chairman Kelvin Dereski. "But we don't control the worldmarket.
"We compete on a global level. We've got to stay competitive and be as cost-- effective as possible to ensure we maintain a bright future for potash in this province."
A perfect illustration of Dereski's point is found in performance results from 2001. Compared to 2000 Saskatchewan's potash industry saw a decrease in overall production of 6-8 per cent. The industry saw some layoffs and one need look no further than lower export volume to account for the drop off in production.
The state of the economies of South America and lost sales into China due to pricing competition from Russia all contributed...