TFI Celebrates Recognition of Phosphate and Potash as Critical Minerals

10 November 2025, Arlington: “Rightfully recognizing phosphate and potash as critical minerals will support American farmers across the country and help ensure high crop yields and stocked grocery store shelves for consumers. A big thank-you goes to the Trump Administration and lawmakers for their engagement and efforts on this important issue,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today celebrated the inclusion of both phosphate and potash on the just-released Final List of Critical Minerals. Originally compiled in 2018 and then revised every three years, the list is published by the United States Geological Survey within the U.S. Department of the Interior and includes mineral commodities critical to the U.S. economy and national security.

“Rightfully recognizing phosphate and potash as critical minerals will support American farmers across the country and help ensure high crop yields and stocked grocery store shelves for consumers. A big thank-you goes to the Trump Administration and lawmakers for their engagement and efforts on this important issue,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “The majority of the world’s phosphate and potash resources are concentrated in only a few countries, leaving them open to supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical instability. Food security is national security and it’s time to change how we think about these vital resources.”

China and Russia account for over 53% of global phosphate production. Additionally, China, Russia, and Belarus account for over 67% of global potash production with only 11 other countries mining deposits. The U.S. imports roughly 97% of its potash needs, the bulk of which, about 86%, comes from Canada.

Potash was included in the original 2018 list, but phosphate and potash were both omitted from the 2022 update.

“Getting phosphate and potash back on the list is something the industry has been working on since they were oddly left off in 2022. A high priority for TFI has been educating congressional offices, policymakers, media, and the public about how closely phosphate and potash are tied to abundant and nutritious food,” Rosenbusch continued. “These are two minerals where stable supplies are absolutely necessary to fill our plates and feed our communities.”

TFI’s engagement efforts led to an increased awareness of phosphate and potash and supportive government actions, including multiple recognitions from the administration highlighting the importance of these minerals. Additionally, a bipartisan, bicameral letter led by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) was sent to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum urging action on listing phosphate and potash as critical minerals. The letter made the case that phosphate and potash clearly meet the criteria to be defined as a critical mineral and noted that, “…their significance for U.S. national security, food security, and American farmers is especially critical…”

“We thank President Trump, Secretaries Burgum and Rollins, and Senators Ernst and Slotkin and Representatives Cammack and Panetta for their efforts to rightfully recognize the essential nature of phosphate and potash,” concluded Rosenbusch. “Without these two minerals, modern agricultural systems would crumble and the ability to feed our growing population would be nearly impossible.”

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