Israel Chemicals
Encyclopedia
Israel Chemicals Ltd. , also known as ICL, is a multi-national Israel
i manufacturing concern that develops, produces and markets fertilizer
s, metals and other special-purpose chemical products.
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.
As of April 2009, the company was said to be considering a bond offering to raise 500 million shekels ($122 million).
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 mine
s in Spain
, United Kingdom
(North Yorkshire
), China
, the US
and South America
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i manufacturing concern that develops, produces and markets fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
s, metals and other special-purpose chemical products.
History
ICL was formed in 1968 as a conglomerate of the Dead Sea WorksDead Sea Works
The Dead Sea Works is an Israeli potash plant in Sdom, on the Dead Sea coast of Israel.-History:The company was established in 1930 by Moshe Novomeysky. It was known then as the Palestine Potash Company...
and other state-owned companies that extracted minerals from Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
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
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
chemicals manufacturer. This was followed in later years with further overseas acquisitions.
ICL was privatized
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Tel Aviv is Israel's only stock exchange.The TASE is the only public market for trading securities in Israel. It plays a major role in the Israeli economy....
(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
Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation is Israel’s largest holding company. Fifty of its manufacturing activities and 70% of its consolidated revenues derive from global operations. Its core holdings are fertilizers and specialty chemicals, energy, shipping and transportation. Israel Corp is a constituent of the...
holding group. As of October 2007, ICL's market cap was US $12.9 Billion.
As of April 2009, the company was said to be considering a bond offering to raise 500 million shekels ($122 million).
Current operations
90% of ICL's sales are exports. A major player on world markets, ICL through its subsidiaries, accounts for:- 35% of world bromineBromineBromine ") is a chemical element with the symbol Br, an atomic number of 35, and an atomic mass of 79.904. It is in the halogen element group. The element was isolated independently by two chemists, Carl Jacob Löwig and Antoine Jerome Balard, in 1825–1826...
production - 11% of world potashPotashPotash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
production and 13% of international potash trade (excluding the cross-border trade between the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) - 9% of western world primary magnesiumMagnesiumMagnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
consumption - 3% of world phosphatePhosphateA phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
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
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
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 mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
s in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
), China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.