Fertilizer is plant food, a combination of nutrients added to soil to help plants grow. The three most important components of fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These chemical compounds leave lawns, gardens, golf courses and parks looking their best.

Industrial farm operations rely on fertilizers to manage efficient and consistent growth of their crops. The continuing improvements in agricultural yields has been made possible through the use of fertilizers, which is critical to support the world’s growing population of approximately 6.6 billion people.

Associated, which operates numerous deep draft facilities on the U.S. Gulf, handled millions of tons of dry bulk fertilizer at its terminals last year. Year to date figures show that 2008 will significantly exceed tonnage from 2007. The most common types of imported fertilizers include potash, urea, DAP, MAP and ammonium nitrate.
"The fertilizer market is strong and for the foreseeable future will remain strong," says Glenn Shexnayder, Senior Vice President of Sales. "This translates into more imports through the Mississippi River which will increase the amount of tonnage we will discharge from vessel to barge in the future. These cargoes will be handled at our facilities with most of the tonnage being transloaded midstream."

The demand for fertilizer has been driven by a confluence of events, including population growth, shrinking world grain stocks and the appetite for corn and palm oil to make biofuel. But experts say the biggest factor has been the growing demand for food, especially meat, in the developing world.

Associated is uniquely positioned to benefit from growth in the fertilizer trades through its strategically located facilities on the U.S. Gulf. These terminals have the capability to efficiently move cargo from ships to barge, truck, rail or storage. These transportation options provide direct access to the Midwest where many of the country's largest farms are located.

As manufacturers work to increase supply, and as new plants come online to produce fertilizer, Associated Terminals remains at the forefront of the bulk cargo-handling industry to efficiently and effectively move this valuable cargo with a vital role in international commerce.