Saskatchewan has a well-deserved reputation as a world-leading mining hub for potash, an important critical mineral that’s in high demand around the globe.
Accounting for approximately one-third of global production, Saskatchewan is the world’s largest potash producer. This critical mineral is an essential ingredient in fertilizer and is key to increasing crop yields and helping to provide food security to countries around the world.
For decades, potash has played an incredibly important role in Saskatchewan. In 2024, the potash industry directly employed 6,600 people and over 11,000 contractors, procured $2.2 billion of goods and services from Saskatchewan businesses, and generated over $1 billion in royalties and taxes to fund health care, education, and other services vital to our province’s quality of life.
In 2024, Saskatchewan potash producers achieved a new annual production record of 24.7 million tonnes of potassium chloride, an increase of eight per cent from 2023, while the value of potash sales reached $7.8 billion. With strong long-term agricultural fundamentals driving an increasing global demand for potash, the outlook for the industry in Saskatchewan is positive for the years ahead.
World-class local companies and global mining giants are showing their confidence in Saskatchewan’s thriving potash industry with significant investment. Since 2005, Saskatchewan potash producers have committed over $40 billion to growing the provincial sector. This has included capacity expansions at every existing operation, as well as the construction of the new Bethune and Jansen mines.
Our government is committed to maintaining a stable and competitive development framework to ensure Saskatchewan remains one of the top jurisdictions in the world to develop mining projects. Since the release of Securing the Future: Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy in March 2023, we have introduced and enhanced several incentive programs and closely monitor our competitive business environment to encourage investment. We continue to be recognized for this dedication as Saskatchewan was once again named the Best Canadian Jurisdiction for Mining Investment in the Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of International Mining Companies.
Providing Saskatchewan potash to the world has come a long way since the province’s first mine opened more than 65 years ago, and our government will continue working with our producers to ensure the sector keeps growing in the decades ahead. The Saskatchewan Growth Plan has a goal of increasing annual potash sales to $9 billion by 2030. We are on track to achieve this goal again in the coming years after exceeding this target in 2022 and 2023 due to elevated market prices. We have also committed to growing the production of potash, as well as uranium and helium. We saw record potash production in 2024 and are on pace to match or exceed that amount once again in 2025.
We wouldn’t be able to pursue these ambitious targets without the mining companies operating in our province that have made Saskatchewan the world’s leading potash producing jurisdiction. Through their investment and innovation, our province continues to lead the way in sustainably supplying potash to the world.
The potash industry remains vital to the prosperous way of life we enjoy in Saskatchewan, creating economic growth, opportunity and secure, sustainable careers. In the years ahead, potash will be a cornerstone of Saskatchewan’s bright future.
