Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that the merger of Canadian fertilizer and chemical companies Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. and Agrium Inc. would likely harm competition in two markets:

• the North American market for superphosphoric acid (SPA), a highly concentrated form of phosphoric acid that contains the essential crop nutrient phosphate; and
• the market for “65-67 percent concentration nitric acid” sold to customers near and to the east of the parties’ nitric acid plants in Ohio.

The newly merged firm agreed to divest two U.S. production facilities and related assets  to settle FTC charges.

The Commission vote approving the final order was 2-0. (FTC File No. 161 0232; the staff contact is Kristian Rogers, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-3210.)

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