What KSM does

KSM Inc. is a privately-held Canadian fertilizer company developing a 45,000 tonne-per-year production facility in Tring-Jonction, Quebec (80 km south of Quebec City) for the manufacture of Potassium Sulphate (SOP) and Potassium Magnesium Sulphate (SOPM) under its K-Bec brand. The company employs a patented, low-temperature production process that it claims reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by 70% compared with standard SOP/SOPM manufacturing methods. The product portfolio comprises three SKUs: K-Bec SOP Granular (50% K2O, 17% sulphur), K-Bec SOPM (22% K2O, 11% MgO, 22% sulphur), and K-Bec SOP Soluble (50% K2O, 18% sulphur, pH 6.4), sold in forms suited to direct application, fertilizer blending, and fertigation.

The company targets agricultural growers across eastern Canada and the United States, positioning itself as the first local supplier of SOP and SOPM fertilizers in eastern North America. Distribution is direct from the Tring-Jonction plant to growers; pricing is not publicly disclosed and customer inquiries are routed through a sales contact. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales rather than licensing or subscription. The commercial team is led by a Chief Commercial Officer (Jay Hussey) whose prior career includes Vice-President roles at Migao Corporation and experience negotiating multi-year supply contracts and joint ventures across Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas.

KSM has raised approximately CAD $23.6 million across four disclosed funding rounds between 2018 and 2024 from Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Investissement Quebec, Fondaction, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and federal/provincial government programs. The company reports 1–10 employees, is controlled by founder/management (President David Lemieux, VP R&D and co-founder Dr. Jean-Marc Lalancette), and the production plant is described as under construction on the company's own materials, indicating a pre-commercial or early-commercial stage with no disclosed revenue.

Name

KSM

Legal name

KSM Inc.

Website

https://ksmfertilizers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KSM Inc. is a Canadian fertilizer company building a 45,000 tonne-per-year plant in Tring-Jonction, Quebec to produce Potassium Sulphate and Potassium Magnesium Sulphate under its K-Bec brand for agricultural growers across eastern North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Fertilizers

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Potassium Products (SOP, Low-Chloride K, K-Thiosulfate) (AFABACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Potash Fertilizers (MOP/SOP) (IMAEAEAC), Fertilizer Production & Granulation Services (Tolling, Compaction, Prilling) (AFABABAI)

Keywords

• Specialty fertilizer manufacturing
• Potassium sulphate fertilizers
• Low-chloride crop nutrition
• Sulphate of potash production
• Agricultural mineral nutrients

Headquarters

HQ city

Thetford Mines

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fertilizer Product Sales: KSM generates revenue through the sale of SOP (Potassium Sulphate) and SOPM (Potassium Magnesium Sulphate) fertilizers under the K-Bec brand. Products are sold in granular, soluble, and standard forms for various agricultural applications including direct application, blending, and fertigation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

KSM manufactures specialty low-chloride Potassium Sulphate (SOP) and Potassium Magnesium Sulphate (SOPM) fertilizers under the K-Bec brand, supplying potassium, sulphur, and magnesium nutrients to farmers and growers in eastern Canada and the United States. The company operates a 45,000 tonne per year production facility under construction in Tring-Jonction, Quebec, using a patented low-temperature process that reduces GHG emissions by 70% compared to comparable methods.

Product overview

KSM is a locally-owned fertilizer company with a patented, low-cost production method for manufacturing Potassium Sulphate (SOP) and Potassium Magnesium Sulphate (SOPM) fertilizers. The company operates a 45,000 tonne per year production facility in Tring-Jonction, Quebec, positioning itself as the first local source in eastern North America for SOP and SOPM fertilizers. The product portfolio under the K-Bec brand includes three distinct offerings: SOP Granular (50% K2O, 17% sulphur), SOPM (22% K2O, 11% MgO, 22%S), and SOP Soluble (50% K2O, 18% sulfur, pH 6.4). The company's production process uses significantly lower temperatures than comparable processes, achieving 70% reduction in GHG emissions. All products provide low-chloride sources of potassium, sulphur, and magnesium nutrients optimized for crops in eastern Canada and the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• K-Bec: K-Bec brand fertilizers offer a low-chloride source of potassium, sulphur, and magnesium in forms best suited for crops in Eastern North America. Products include SOP Granular, SOPM, and SOP Soluble.

Products and services

• K-Bec SOP Granular Potassium Sulphate (SOP) fertilizer in granular form with 50% K2O and 17% sulphur content, providing a low-chloride source of potassium and sulphur. Ideal for blending, direct application, and fertigation to enhance crop yield, quality, and resistance to drought and disease.
• K-Bec SOPM Potassium Magnesium Sulphate fertilizer providing three essential nutrients (potassium, sulphur, and magnesium) with 22% K2O, 11% MgO, and 22% S balance, available in standard or granular form. Ideal for low-chloride applications on fruit and vegetable crops and suited for a variety of row crops.
• K-Bec SOP Soluble Completely soluble Potassium Sulphate (SOP) fertilizer delivering 50% K2O and 18% sulfur with pH 6.4. Ideal for fertigation across a wide variety of crops; easily blends with other fertilizers, leaves no residue, and completely dissolves.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% reduction in GHG emissions compared to comparable production processes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Migao Corporation: China-based SOP producer where KSM's CCO Jay Hussey was previously VP. Directly comparable specialty-potassium peer with operations across Asia and a focus on SOP and potassium nitrate for high-value crops.
• Compass Minerals International: U.S.-listed specialty minerals company that produces SOP (sulfate of potash) at its Ogden, Utah facility and serves agriculture, turf and industrial customers. Directly comparable to KSM as a North American SOP manufacturer targeting specialty-crop growers.
• Tessenderlo Group: Belgian specialty chemicals group whose crop solutions segment (including Akzo Nobel–legacy assets) is one of the world's largest producers of SOP and soluble potassium sulphate. Directly comparable to KSM in product (SOP/SOPM), end markets (fruit/vegetable and fertigation), and global supply role.

Broad incumbents

• K+S Aktiengesellschaft: German potash and salt producer with a broad specialty fertilizer portfolio including SOP variants (e.g., KALISOP). A broad incumbent competing in the same SOP product category as KSM, but with globally diversified mining and logistics.
• SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile): Chilean global specialty fertilizer and chemicals company with a leading position in specialty plant nutrition including potassium-based products. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same low-chloride, specialty-crop nutrition space.
• ICL Group: Israeli specialty fertilizers and potash producer offering a wide portfolio including SOP, PK blends and water-soluble grades. Broad incumbent with overlapping specialty-crop and fertigation product lines to KSM's K-Bec range.
• Nutrien Ltd. World's largest crop input provider and the dominant Canadian potash producer, also marketing specialty fertilizer blends. Represents the dominant incumbent KSM will compete against for eastern Canadian and U.S. distribution.
• Yara International: Norwegian global fertilizer producer with significant specialty-crop and fertigation product offerings (including sulfate-based K sources). Comparable as a broad incumbent with deep agronomic and distribution capabilities competing for the same eastern NA customers.
• The Mosaic Company: U.S.-based crop nutrition major with a large potash and phosphate footprint and growing specialty fertilizer exposure. Broad incumbent whose distribution reach and product breadth in North America represent competitive pressure on KSM.

Emerging players

• Sinochem Fertilizer: Major Chinese fertilizer producer/distributor with growing specialty and SOP-related offerings. Comparable as a large emerging player exporting into global potash and specialty fertilizer markets relevant to KSM's category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ksm-fertilizers
• Facebookfacebook.com/61561998632765

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KSM