Mosaic Reports Wider-Than-Expected $0.19 Loss and Cuts Potash Production Forecast

Mosaic reported a third-quarter adjusted loss of $0.19 per share, missing analyst expectations by $0.17, on revenue of $3.1 billion. The Tampa-based fertilizer producer's net loss was $72.1 million, or $0.23 a share, compared with net income of $411.4 million, or $1.29 a share, a year earlier, TradingView reported. Mosaic produces concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients for farmers and agricultural retailers across North America, South America and Asia.

Phosphate Loss and Esterhazy Output Cut

Revenue fell 10.1% from a year earlier to $3.1 billion but exceeded the consensus estimate by $50 million, according to TradingView. Yahoo reported the same $72.1 million loss, or 23 cents per share, and the $3.1 billion revenue figure.

The phosphate segment recorded an operating loss of $194 million, compared with operating earnings of $102 million a year earlier. Sales volumes declined to 1.4 million tonnes from 1.6 million tonnes, even as average diammonium phosphate selling prices increased to $838 per tonne from $714.

The potash business generated operating earnings of $189 million, down from $229 million. Production challenges at the Esterhazy mine in Canada prompted Mosaic to lower its full-year potash production forecast to 8.6 million tonnes.

In Brazil, the Mosaic Fertilizantes business reported an operating loss of $21 million, compared with a $96 million profit a year earlier, as sales volumes fell to 1.9 million tonnes from 2.8 million tonnes.

"We aligned phosphate production with the availability of affordable sulfur, reduced costs, strengthened our financial position, and continued to advance opportunities to optimize the portfolio," said President and CEO Bruce Bodine in the earnings announcement.

Mosaic's Potash and Phosphate Scale

According to akta.pro company records, Mosaic is the largest phosphate producer in North America and the fourth largest producer overall. The same records estimate 2026 potash production from Canadian operations at 11.7 million tonnes, and describe Canada as the world's leading potash producer with more than 30% of global supply.

Layoffs and Leadership Changes Before Earnings

Mosaic said in October 2026 that it would lay off 199 workers at its South Fort Meade fertilizer plant starting December 8, 2026, citing global sulfur shortages and rising production costs, EIN Presswire reported. Stock Titan reported in September 2026 that Mosaic would transition its EVP of Operations role to current CAO Walt Precourt on December 1, with outgoing EVP Karen Swager retiring in 2027.

Mosaic's Fourth-Quarter Sulfur Contract

Mosaic secured a fourth-quarter sulfur supply contract at $615 per long ton, below the third-quarter average cost of $715. The company said previously purchased higher-cost materials will continue weighing on fourth-quarter earnings, with the benefits of lower sulfur prices expected to emerge primarily in early 2027. Mosaic expects full-year capital expenditures of $1.2 billion and is targeting spending below $1 billion in 2027.