Chemical and Mining Company of Chile, Inc. engages in the production and distribution of potassium nitrate, iodine, and lithium carbonate worldwide. The company also produces other specialty plant nutrition products, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and specialty blends; iodine and lithium derivatives; and certain industrial chemicals, including industrial nitrates. The specialty plant nutrients are used in solid or liquid form primarily on crops, such as fruits, vegetables, industrial crops, cereals, and cotton. The company’s iodine and iodine derivatives are used in a range of medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications, including x-ray contrast media, antiseptics, biocides, and disinfectants; and lithium carbonate is used in various applications, which consist of batteries, frits for the ceramic and enamel industries, heat resistant glass, primary aluminum, lithium bromine for air conditioner equipment, continuous casting powder for steel extrusion, pharmaceuticals, and lithium derivatives. Its industrial chemicals include sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, boric acid, and potassium chloride, which are used primarily in the production of glass, explosives, charcoal briquettes, and metal treatment. The company's other products comprise potassium chloride and other commodity fertilizers. As of December 31 2007, it held exploration rights or exploitation rights to mineral resources representing approximately 1,675,000 hectares in Caliche Ore Mines; and had 4 mines covering an area of approximately 597,731 hectares. Chemical and Mining Company of Chile also held rights to exploit the mineral resources in an area covering approximately 197,000 hectares of land in the Salar de Atacama in northern Chile. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Santiago, Chile.
$42.76 (07/13/08)
