Canadian-based Agrium Inc. is a global producer and seller of nutrients for the agricultural and industrial markets. In 2011, Agrium signed an agreement with Morocco’s state-owned phosphate company, OCP, and began importing phosphates for its fertilizing plant in Alberta.[1] The phosphates were claimed to be originating from “Morocco” but were actually from Western Sahara.[2] In 2014 alone, Agrium imported fourteen shipments from Western Sahara, more than any other company internationally. These shipments totaled 779,000 tons of phosphate, worth $85.7 million, and accounted for about 37 percent of total Western Saharan phosphate exports.[3] Though in 2015 phosphate imports decreased to 442,000 tons, worth $51.9 million,[4] they grew again in 2016.[5] Export of phosphates is Morocco’s biggest source of income from Western Sahara.[6]
[1] Western Sahara Resource Watch Report, P for Plunder, March 2015, p. 15, http://wsrw.org/files/dated/2015-03-11/p_for_plunder_2014_web.pdf.
[2] Mitchell Anderson, “Canadian Agri-Business Linked to Moroccan Conflict Mineral,” Tyee, October 14, 2013, http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/10/14/ Canadian-AgriBusiness-Morocco/.
[3] Western Sahara Resource Watch Report, P for Plunder, March 2015, http://wsrw.org/files/dated/2015-03-11/p_for_plunder_2014_web.pdf; Bloomberg, “Agrium Was No. 1 Buyer of Phosphate From Western Sahara,” March 13, 2015,
[4] Western Sahara Resource Watch Report, P for Plunder, April 2016,
http://wsrw.org/files/dated/2016-04-07/p-for-plunder-2015-web.pdf.
[5] Western Sahara Resource Watch, “WSRW Concerned over Increased Agrium Imports,” July 11, 2016, http://www.wsrw.org/a243x3537.
[6] Western Sahara Resource Watch, “WSRW Concerned over Increased Agrium Imports,” July 11, 2016, http://www.wsrw.org/a243x3537.
