Arab Potash
Encyclopedia
Arab Potash is a company that is primarily involved in harvesting minerals from the Dead Sea
. The company was formed in 1956 as a pan-Arab business venture and has a 100-year concession from the government of Jordan
to manufacture and market mineral products derived from the Dead Sea. It is headquartered in Amman and its name is abbreviated to APC. The company's stock
is listed on the Amman Stock Exchange
's ASE Weighted Index.
and potash
. Its principal export markets
are India
, China
and Malaysia.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
. The company was formed in 1956 as a pan-Arab business venture and has a 100-year concession from the government of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
to manufacture and market mineral products derived from the Dead Sea. It is headquartered in Amman and its name is abbreviated to APC. The company's stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
is listed on the Amman Stock Exchange
Amman Stock Exchange
Amman Stock Exchange is a stock exchange private institution in Jordan. It is named "Amman" after the country's capital city, Amman.-History:...
's ASE Weighted Index.
Operations
APC's principal products are fertilizer-grade potassium chloridePotassium chloride
The chemical compound potassium chloride is a metal halide salt composed of potassium and chlorine. In its pure state, it is odorless and has a white or colorless vitreous crystal appearance, with a crystal structure that cleaves easily in three directions. Potassium chloride crystals are...
and potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
. Its principal export markets
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
are India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Malaysia.
Subsidiaries and affiliates
Arab Potash has several Dead Sea-area affiliates and subsidiary projects, including:- Jordan Magnesia Company (JORMAG) - APC owns 55% of this company founded in 1997, that is dedicated to the production of 60,000 tons per year (tpy) of magnesium oxideMagnesium oxideMagnesium oxide , or magnesia, is a white hygroscopic solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase and is a source of magnesium . It has an empirical formula of and consists of a lattice of Mg2+ ions and O2– ions held together by ionic bonds...
and magnesium hydroxideMagnesium hydroxideMagnesium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Mg2. As a suspension in water, it is often called milk of magnesia because of its milk-like appearance. The solid mineral form of magnesium hydroxide is known as brucite....
; the start-up investment cost was US$100 million. - Numeira Mixed Salts and Mud Company - APC owns 52% of this company founded in 1997, producing "mixed salts" and "Dead Sea Mud" for the cosmeticsCosmeticsCosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
industry - this company has 60 clients for its cosmetic mud in Jordan alone. - Kemira Arab Potash Company (KEMAPCO) - This company, founded in 1998, is a joint venture with Kemira Agro of Finland; it produces 150,000 tpy of potassium nitrate fertilizerPotassium nitratePotassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
and 75,000 tpy of dicalcium phosphateDicalcium phosphateDicalcium phosphate, also known as calcium monohydrogen phosphate, is a dibasic calcium phosphate. It is usually found as the dihydrate, with the chemical formula of CaHPO4 • 2H2O, but it can be thermally converted to the anhydrous form. It is practically insoluble in water, with a solubility of...
animal feedCompound feedCompound feeds are feedstuffs that are blended from various raw materials and additives. These blends are formulated according to the specific requirements of the target animal...
supplement. - Jordan Bromine Company (JBC) - This company is a joint venture with Albemarle Holdings Company of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, dedicated to producing bromineBromineBromine ") is a chemical element with the symbol Br, an atomic number of 35, and an atomic mass of 79.904. It is in the halogen element group. The element was isolated independently by two chemists, Carl Jacob Löwig and Antoine Jerome Balard, in 1825–1826...
and bromine derivatives, including 50,000 tpy of bromine; 25,500 tpy of tetra bromo bis phenol-A (TBBP-A), used as a flame retardantFlame retardantFlame retardants are chemicals used in thermoplastics, thermosets, textiles and coatings that inhibit or resist the spread of fire. These can be separated into several different classes of chemicals:...
; 40,000 tpy of calcium bromideCalcium bromideCalcium bromide is the calcium salt of hydrobromic acid with the chemical formula of CaBr2. In its solid state, it is a white powder. CaBr2 can be found in drilling fluids, neuroses medication, freezing mixtures, food preservatives, photography and fire retardants.When strongly heated in air,...
, which is used in the oil drilling industry; 10,000 tpy of sodium bromideSodium bromideSodium bromide is an inorganic compound with the formula NaBr. It is a high-melting white, crystalline solid that resembles sodium chloride. It is a widely used source of the bromide ion and has many applications.-Synthesis, structure, reactions:...
, used in photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
; and 2,500 TPY of hydrogen bromideHydrogen bromideHydrogen bromide is the diatomic molecule HBr. HBr is a gas at standard conditions. Hydrobromic acid forms upon dissolving HBr in water. Conversely, HBr can be liberated from hydrobromic acid solutions with the addition of a dehydration agent, but not by distillation. Hydrogen bromide and...
. - Jordan Safi Salt Company (JOSSCO) - APC owns 100% of this company, which produces produces 1.2 million tpy of industrial saltHaliteHalite , commonly known as rock salt, is the mineral form of sodium chloride . Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on the amount and type of impurities...
and 32,000 tpy of table salt, and operates a port facilityPortA port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
in AqabaAqabaAqaba is a coastal city in the far south of Jordan, the capital of Aqaba Governorate at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Aqaba is strategically important to Jordan as it is the country's only seaport. Aqaba is best known today as a diving and beach resort, but industrial activity remains important...
in the south of Jordan. - Nippon Jordan Fertilizers Company - APC has a 20% stake in this joint venture along with ZEN-NOHZEN-NOH, , is a federation of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. ZEN-NOH was formed in 1972 with the joining of the ZENHANREN group and the ZENKOREN group...
, Mitsubishi Kasei, Asahi and Mitsubishi Corporations 60%; and Jordan Phosphate MinesJordan Phosphate MinesJordan Phosphate Mines is a mining company based in Jordan. It was founded in 1949 and its main offices are located in Amman. The company operates 3 mining facilities in Jordan and a chemical manufacturing complex in Aqaba...
(JPMC) 20%; it produces 300,000 tpy of NPK fertilizer and DAP Fertilizer (diammonium phosphateDiammonium phosphateDiammonium phosphate is one of a series of water-soluble ammonium phosphate salts which can be produced when ammonia reacts with phosphoric acid...
) and operates a port facility in Aqaba. It began production starting in 1997.