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US marketable phosphate rock production during the 2001 crop year (July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001) decreased by 8% to 37.2 Mt (41 million st) (at 63.4% bone phosphate of lime, BPL). In the 2000 crop year, 40.4 Mt (44.5 million st) (at 63.8% BPL) was produced, according to the US Department of the Interior. Eight mining companies produced phosphate rock in the United States during 2001. This was the fourth-consecutive year of production declines. Even with the production declines, inventories increased by about 25 % nationwide to more than 10.8 Mt (11.9 million st).
Florida and North Carolina accounted for about 84% of US production. The balance was produced in Idaho and Utah. Florida and North Carolina rock, in average, was about 3% BPL higher in grade than the western rock.
Marketable phosphate rock sold...