Israel Chemicals

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Israel Chemicals Ltd. (Hebrew: כימיקלים לישראל בע"מ), also known as ICL, is a multi-national Israeli manufacturing concern that develops, produces and markets fertilizers, metals and other special-purpose chemical products.

[edit] History

ICL was formed in 1968 as a conglomerate of the Dead Sea Works and other state-owned companies that extracted minerals from Negev desert mines.

In 1977, ICL started its first manufacturing (as opposed to sales) efforts abroad, with the purchase of BK Giulini Chemie GmbH, a German chemicals manufacturer. This was followed in later years with further overseas acquisitions.

ICL was privatized on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in 1992. The government still retains a "Special State Share," which entitles the State to certain veto rights. Since 1995, ICL's controlling interest is held by the Israel Corporation holding group. As of October 2007, ICL's market cap was US $12.9 Billion.

[edit] Current operations

90% of ICL's sales are exports. A major player on world markets, ICL through its subsidiaries, accounts for^{[citation needed]}:

35% of world bromine production
11% of world potash production and 13% of international potash trade (excluding the cross-border trade between the United States and Canada)
9% of western world primary magnesium consumption
3% of world phosphate rock production, 3% of international phosphate rock trade (excluding the cross-border trade between the US and Canada)
One of the world’s most integrated manufacturers and suppliers of phosphate products.

ICL's operations also make it a leading supplier of fertilizers in Europe and a major player in numerous specialty chemical market segments. In Israel, ICL is the leading supplier of fertilizers and the leading chemical concern, as well as one of Israel's largest companies.

60% of ICL's raw products (minerals) are excavated in Israel. ICL also owns and operates underground mines in Spain, United Kingdom (North Yorkshire), China, the US and South America.