Australia Fertoz Limited said Q3 demand for rock phosphate applications was positive

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Australian Fertoz Limited said demand for direct application of rock phosphate and their fertilizer pellet product Fertify remained positive in Q3, with significant orders for Fertify starting in September.

The company expects this uptick to continue through late 2024 with the phosphate producer saying this positive direction has come forth despite significant losses for farmers in the Alberta region of Canada due to pre-harvest hailstorms.

In its quarterly activities report, Fertoz said there were delays in upgrades to granulation processing equipment by key customers, which slowed sales, but the expectations are for completion of these upgrades by year’s end.

Fertoz managing director and CEO Daniel Gleeson said the bulk sample permit for 10,000 tonnes in Barnes is in the final stages with submission of a technical assessment review to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

This permit is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 mining season, with the next bulk sample permit at Pump Station, also for 10,000 tonnes, part of their overall advancement towards receiving an industrial minerals permit for up to 250,000 tonnes.

The industrial permit is also expected to be completed early next year with Gleeson saying Fertoz continues to assess their Wapiti project for suitability of making phosphoric acid for the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and liquid phosphate fertilizer markets.

“Wapiti samples have been received by the testing party, with positive desktop results achieved, and will now process them in the laboratory for final reportable and definitive results. These final testing results are expected in December,” said Gleeson.

“Concurrently we continue to engage with relevant parties of the LFP supply chain industry in North America who have expressed interest in our resources.”

He said because of the significant direct government investments across North America and substantial future tax credits that overall interest remains elevated in their high quality, low impurity sedimentary rock phosphate deposits.