By Daniella D’Alimonte - Exclusive to Potash Investing News

Migao Corporation (TSX: MGO), a China-based company that processes potash into specialty potash-based fertilizers for the Chinese market, recently announced large purchase orders.

The company will supply 50,000 tonnes of potassium sulphate to its wholly-owned subsidiary Guangdong Migao. By January 30, 2009, the product will be transported by rail to three surrounding provinces for use on crops.

“As a result of this order and other commitments for our specialty potash-based fertilizers, all of our production across all of our facilities is sold forward until March 2009,” said Liu Guocai, Migao’s Cheif Executive Officer, in a recent press release. “We continue to experience strong demand for our fertilizers from the high value crop market sectors we serve throughout China.” Migao is up over US$4.84 per share after dropping down to US$4.40 last week.

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (TSX: POT) has dropped around 20 cents since last week, settling at around US$147 per share going into the weekend.

Representatives of the United Steelworkers union were sent out to London and New York in the last week to represent the 500 striking Potash Corp. employees. The move is an attempt to inform investors how the dispute, which started at the beginning of August, is affecting the company, according to the Union.

“Basically, we want to go everywhere that Potash Corp. intends to put out their message that everything’s fine,” said Roger Falconer, Head, Strategic Campaigns, for the Canadian branch of the United Steelworkers union to Canwest. “We intend to let investors know that we do not believe everything is fine.”

Potash Corp. maintains that it has not seen substantial changes in the company since its July forecast. The company expected full-year earnings of up to $13 per share at that time.

Atacama Minerals Corp. (TSX: AAM) recently reported delays at its Aguas Blancas iodine/nitrate mine in Chile. During its last quarter it had announced the commissioning of a new agitated leach plant. It was predicted to increase the company’s yearly production of high quality iodine from the current 1,000 tonnes to 1,500 tonnes, according to its press release. However, the commissioning process, which tests and improves plant functions, is experiencing issues in the crushing and grinding section. Full-start up could now be delayed to as late as the first quarter of 2009.

Engineering and procurement have already begun on Atacama’s board approved specialty nitrate fertilizer plant at the same location. The company plans to use spent brine released from the iodine operations for this new plant. It is expected to produce about 70,000 tonnes of nitrate fertilizer annually.

The construction is estimated to cost US$60 million to be spread out over a 27-month period. Atacama completed a private placement financing August 19 of about US$5 million. It plans to use a portion of this to pay for the construction of the plant.

Western Potash Corp. (TSX: WPX) has fallen to under US$0.48 per share. It has been consistently falling since it peaked at over $6.00 per share at the beginning of June.

The company recently announced results from its first four potash exploration drills at its Manitoba-based Russell-Miniota permit. Three of the drill holes intercepted the Esterhazy member, which is a potash formation currently being exploited by Potash Corp. at its nearby Rocanville mine. The company is considering the results favourable in comparison to historic drilling in the area, according to the press release.