PLYMOUTH, Minn., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Mosaic Company
(NYSE: MOS) announced today that its Louisiana phosphate operations suffered
only minor damage from Hurricane Katrina. This damage was mainly the loss of
insulation at one of its plants, which is expected to be repaired within a
week. These operations remain idle, however, due to a lack of sulphur supply.
Mosaic has two facilities located about 50 miles northwest of New Orleans.
Its Uncle Sam plant has the capacity to produce 870,000 metric tonnes P2O5 of
phosphoric acid annually, which is used to produce up to 1.9 million tonnes of
diammonium phosphate (DAP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) annually at its
nearby Faustina plant.
Mosaic's Uncle Sam plant uses sulphur as a raw material which is sourced
from nearby oil refineries. The impact of Hurricane Katrina has idled many
oil refineries and, as a result, Mosaic's Louisiana operations are expected to
re-start production as sulphur becomes more available in this region.
Approximately 83% of Mosaic's phosphate capacity is located in Florida
which was unaffected by Hurricane Katrina. Mosaic's Florida operations are
currently operating at or near capacity in order to meet market demand.
In support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, Mosaic is making a
$50,000 donation to the Red Cross and is matching employee contributions to
the Red Cross.
About The Mosaic Company
The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers
of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. For the global
agriculture industry, Mosaic is a single source of phosphates, potash,
nitrogen fertilizers and feed ingredients. More information on the company is
available at http://www.mosaicco.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements
include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and
operating results, the predictability of fertilizer markets and raw material
markets subject to competitive market pressures, changes in foreign currency
and exchange rates, international trade risks including, but not limited to,
changes in policy by foreign governments and changes in environmental and
other governmental regulation. Such statements are based upon the current
beliefs and expectations of The Mosaic Company's management and are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set
forth in the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE The Mosaic Company
-0- 09/01/2005
/CONTACT: Media Contact, Linda Thrasher, +1-763-577-2864, or Investor
Contact, Douglas Hoadley, +1-763-577-2867, both of The Mosaic Company/
/Web site: http://www.mosaicco.com/
(MOS)
CO: Mosaic Company
ST: Louisiana, Minnesota, Florida
IN: CHM AGR
SU:
SH-CM
-- CGTH034 --
2802 09/01/200511:59 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com