ICL’s Value Chain

ICL benefits from a unique integrated value chain that begins through mining, and extends through to downstream end products, developing applications, formulations and solutions that add value for its customers in key agriculture, food and industrial end markets worldwide. Click to see our process. \

Sustainability Reporting Disclosures:

Disclosure: 102-2

Disclosure: 102-9

Resources

ICL extracts Potash, Phosphate, Bromine, Magnesium and other minerals in Israel, Potash and salt in Spain, Polysulphate™ and certain other minerals in the UK, and Phosphates in China.

Dead Sea: ICL conducts major mining operations by Israel’s Dead Sea – the lowest area of dry land in the world and among the saltiest bodies of water on earth. Minerals that are extracted include potash, bromine, sodium, magnesia, magnesium chloride and metal magnesium.
UK: ICL’s mining operations in the UK are located in the North York Moors National Park in northern England and are conducted both under land and under the North Sea. The Boulby mine’s 1,300m depth, makes it the deepest in Great Britain. As of June 2018, ICL Boulby primarily mines polyhalite, an organic fertilizer which ICL markets as Polysulphate™.
Spain: ICL currently operates two potash mines, in Suria and Sallent, both of which are located in the province of Barcelona and are approximately 530 to 900 meters below the surface.
Negev Desert: ICL’s subsidiary, ICL Rotem, has been surface mining phosphate at Rotem and Zafir (Oron – Zin) in the Negev Desert for more than sixty years. ICL Rotem minimizes the impact of its mining activities through responsible planning that allows for continuous reclamation of depleted mine blocks alongside mining operations.
China: ICL operates a joint venture, YPH JV, with Yunnan Phosphate Chemicals Group which engages in phosphate open-pit mining in Haikou, China, and which also holds a concession for mining in Baitacun, China.

Minerals

ICL’s mineral assets include: Potash, Phosphate, Polysulphate™ , Bromine, Magnesium, salts and other minerals. ICL benefits from strong synergies between its business units, as well as from major logistical advantages, geographic spread and operational flexibility.

Potash (K): Potash (potassium chloride) is one of three major nutrients required for plant growth. It is vital for the physiological processes of plant growth and improves the durability of the produce it fertilizes, helping agricultural products survive storage and transportation, as well as prolonging their shelf life. There are currently no artificial substitutes for potassium.

Phosphate (P): Phosphorus is derived from phosphate rock. Phosphate is one of three major nutrients required for plant growth. Phosphorus directly contributes to a wide range of physiological processes in a plant and accelerates the growth rate of crops. There are currently no artificial substitutes for Phosphorus.

Polyhalite: Polysulphate™ is available in its natural state. It is mined, crushed, screened and bagged, and involves no chemical separation. It is an organic multi-nutrient fertilizer approved for organic use in multiple countries across the EU and in the USA. With low environmental impact, it is proven to be highly efficient in increasing crop yields.

Bromine (BR): Bromine is a member of the halogen family and is known for its diverse uses in many industries. Bromine is rarer than about 75% of elements in the earth’s crust and is found in seawater and in underground brine deposits. Due to its high concentration of salt, the Dead Sea is a major source of the world’s Bromine.

Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Primary Magnesium metal is produced by ICL DSM using electrolytic processes to convert carnallite and dolomite. With a density that is 33% lower than aluminum and about 75% lower than steel, Magnesium is an ideal choice where weight reduction is important. The main uses of pure Magnesium are as an alloying element for the production of Aluminum alloys and, in alloy form, to produce automotive components. Pure Magnesium also plays an important role as a reagent in the production of Zirconium, Titanium and Steel.

Divisions

ICL’s operations are divided into four business divisions, enhancing its focus on technology and industrial know-how to create leadership.

Industrial Products: ICL Industrial Products specializes in Bromine based products, Phosphorous based products and Specialty Minerals. ICL’s global leadership in the Bromine industry is driven by its focus on delivering value to its customers rather than increasing volume. ICL is able to generate increased value by leveraging its unique assets and know-how as well as fostering innovation for the development of new applications, such as new Bromine and phosphorus based flame retardants, magnesia and salt products, solutions for energy storage, urban mining and others. ICL continues to leverage its unique logistical advantages and unparalleled experience related to the safety and environmental aspects of its Bromine business.

Potash: ICL leverages its well positioned and unique Potash assets, as well as its logistical advantages, to rank among the three most competitive suppliers in its key target markets, including the EU, Brazil, India, South East Asia and China. ICL’s cost competitiveness is driven by its low logistical costs due to its facility proximities to ports and customers, as well as by ICL’s continuous optimization of its Potash production methods at ICL Dead Sea and ICL Iberia, efficiently utilizing its capacity potential. At ICL UK, the Company has shifted towards the exclusive production of Polysulphate, being the first and sole supplier of this new and unique fertilizer. ICL also continues to enhance its competitive position in Magnesium and to optimize synergies with its Potash operations at the Dead Sea.

Phosphate specialties: ICL is a global leader in providing Phosphate based solutions to the Industrial, Food and Agriculture end markets. ICL’s strategy is to continue to outgrow these markets by increasingly focusing on specialty Phosphate solutions, further promoting commercial excellence and value based product positioning while enhancing customer relationships. Specifically, ICL will strengthen and develop its Food Phosphate offerings by expanding geographically, developing new solutions and capturing White Phosphoric Acid (WPA) and Phosphate Salts growth opportunities in China. Leveraging its backward integration to the Phosphate resources of ICL Rotem in Israel and YPH in China, ICL will continue optimizing its upstream capabilities to support substantial growth and margin expansion of its specialty Phosphate products and solutions.

Growing Solutions: ICL is working to create global leadership in advanced crop nutrition & farmer centric solutions. It is doing so by leveraging its R&D excellence to enhance its product pipeline, creating partnerships and acquisitions, promoting digital integrated solutions, and promoting commercial excellence. ICL also benefits from synergies resulting from its broad range of products, extending from commodity fertilizers and semi-specialty fertilizers to specialty fertilizers and new Innovative Ag Solutions. To further boost growth, ICL continues to expand the manufacturing capacity of its flagship, Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF), and seeks to engage in partnership opportunities to expand its technological portfolio and develop farmer centric solutions based on digital innovation.

Markets

ICL’s fertilizers help farmers worldwide increase their yields and improve the quality of their crops. ICL’s food specialties products are used to improve the texture, stability and shelf life of products for the meat, bakery and dairy industries, and to improve nutritional values. ICL’s industrial additives and materials, such as flame retardants, phosphate salts, magnesium and specialty phosphate blends, are used in thousands of products to make them safer, more durable and longer-lasting. ICL’s products are also used for personal care products and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Agriculture: Our potash, phosphate fertilizers and technology-rich specialty fertilizers are critical inputs that help farmers worldwide to increase their yields and improve the quality of their crops.
Horticulture, Turf & Landscape: ICL’s innovative fertilizers and advanced bio solutions for plant nutrient and protection, are used for golf courses, sports fields and landscapes, as well as for nursery stock, perennials and pot and bedding plants.
Food: Guided by a thorough understanding of the unique needs of ICL’s customers and the challenges of the industry, ICL delivers tailored formulations that optimize the texture and sensory experience of foods and beverages.
Pharma: ICL manufactures high purity calcium phosphates for use as excipients and nutrient sources of Calcium and Phosphorus in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and over the counter (e.g. multivitamin or supplements) products. ICL provides solutions such as direct tableting, mineral fortification and flow conditioning.
Manufacturing: Our industrial additives and materials such as flame retardants, phosphate salts and specialty phosphate blends, are used in thousands of products making them safer, more durable and longer lasting.

Strategic Advantages

ICL’s 12,700 employees utilize mineral extraction and product formulation technologies to create thousands of products for end markets.

Unique Assets: Low cost evaporation process at the Dead Sea with the highest mineral concentration globally. The only producer of Polysulphate™ worldwide.
Strategic Locations: ICL’s strategic locations provide a competitive logistic advantage driven by proximity to ports and customers.
Know-How: ICL’s knowledge of chemistry, agronomy, synergy utilization and customer requirements accumulated over decades.
Startup Nation: Access to Israel’s leading high-tech ecosystem drives innovation.