Canpotex investment into Port of Vancouver expected to boost Sask. potash exports

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says a $500 million investment in the Port of Vancouver by Canpotex will allow more of the province’s potash to reach markets around the world.

Moe attended a groundbreaking ceremony at Neptune Bulk Terminals on Friday, signalling the start of the expansion project, which will include replacing and refurbishing equipment at the port.

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“Saskatchewan potash helps feed a growing world, and this investment in shipping capacity, made possible by Canpotex, will help deliver more of this vital nutrient to the people who need it,” Moe said in a statement.

“By moving more Saskatchewan potash to international markets, this project will create new opportunities and support good jobs and economic growth in our province as well as across Canada.”

Saskatchewan is home to the largest potash deposits in the world, the provincial government noted. In 2025, the value of the province’s potash exports hit $9 billion, an increase of 13.5 per cent over 2024.

Moe said the expansion will reinforce the province’s position “as the world’s leading potash producer and a trusted, secure, reliable and ethical supplier.”

The premier’s comments follow an announcement this week by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the United States was working on an agreement to buy potash from Belarus in an effort to sideline Canadian exports. The announcement prompted harsh criticism from Moe, who said buying “blood potash” from Belarus would directly support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

“Does anyone believe Belarusian blood potash shipped through Russia is going to be more affordable, more sustainable or more ethical than potash shipped from Saskatchewan – right here in North America?” Moe asked in a social media post.

Trump later said the U.S. will continue to buy potash from Canadian suppliers, but noted that American buyers are looking for better prices.

Canpotex, which is based in Saskatoon, markets and delivers potash produced by Mosaic and Nutrien. The provincial government said the company has shipped 325 million metric tonnes of potash to buyers around the world.

“Saskatchewan is where this story starts,” Canpotex CEO Gordon McKenzie said in a statement.

“Today’s investment at Neptune means we will be able to reliably export Saskatchewan potash through the Port of Vancouver to farmers overseas for decades to come.”

Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said the terminals in Vancouver “are playing an outsized role” in Canada’s effort to double its exports to non-U.S. countries.

“Canpotex’s significant investment to upgrade Neptune Terminals will better connect Saskatchewan potash to key markets in South America, the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” Xotta said in a statement.

“Investments like Canpotex’s are crucial as we continue to grow exports through Canada’s largest port.”