Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Nutrien’s third-quarter earnings fall 39% as phosphate and nitrogen lag
Nutrien reported US$288-million in third-quarter profit, down 39% from the same period last year.
The Saskatchewan-based fertilizer company said weaker results in its phosphate and nitrogen divisions were the main reasons for the decline.
Its nitrogen sales fell 6%, while costs rose 8%, partly because of the shutdown of its Trinidad facility amid natural gas constraints.
Sulphur costs pushed up phosphate expenses, even though sales in that division increased 4%.
Nutrien plans to close its White Springs phosphate facility in Florida in 2027; its Aurora facility in North Carolina will remain open.
The company said bids for its phosphate division did not reflect the assets’ long-term value.
Nutrien raised its potash sales target to 14.8 million tonnes, citing strong demand, and kept its 2026 global shipment forecast at 74 million to 77 million tonnes.
Nutrien reported third-quarter net earnings of US$288-million, down 39 per cent from US$469-million a year earlier.
The company attributed the decline primarily to underperformance in its phosphate and nitrogen divisions.
Earnings per share fell 37 per cent to 61 US cents, below the US$1.06 estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ.
Nutrien plans to close its White Springs phosphate facility in Florida in the second quarter of 2027.
The company raised its potash sales guidance to 14.8 million tonnes, citing continuing strong global demand.
- Who
- Nutrien Ltd., a Saskatchewan-based fertilizer company.
- What
- It reported a 39-per-cent drop in third-quarter net earnings.
- When
- The results were reported Wednesday; the article was published November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Nutrien is based in Saskatchewan. The results cover the company’s operations, including its phosphate and nitrogen divisions.
- Why
- Underperformance in the phosphate and nitrogen divisions primarily drove the decline. Higher costs also affected those divisions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nutrien’s Trinidad nitrogen facility had been shut down temporarily since this month.
Nutrien announced the indefinite closure of its Trinidad Nitrogen operations, citing ongoing natural gas constraints.
Nutrien reported third-quarter net earnings of US$288-million, down 39 per cent from a year earlier.
Nutrien plans to shutter operations at its White Springs phosphate facility in Florida.
- Third-quarter net earnings
- US$288-million, down 39 per cent year over year
- Earnings per share
- 61 US cents, down from 97 US cents
- Nitrogen net sales
- Down 6 per cent; cost of goods up 8 per cent
- Phosphate net sales
- US$514-million, up 4 per cent; cost of goods up 29 per cent
- White Springs facility
- Closure planned for the second quarter of 2027
- Potash sales guidance
- Raised to 14.8 million tonnes from 14.3 million tonnes