North American potash producers got off to a flying start to 2013 for exports, offering support to industry hopes that a deal signed with China will spark a rash of demand from other importers. 

Companies including Mosaic and PotashCorp exported 657,000 tonnes of potash last month, up 38% year on year. 

The rise, which represented the first two successive months of rising exports since 2011, followed the signing late in December of a long-awaited supply contract between North American producers and China, the top importer, which delayed a new deal in a drive to secure lower prices.

Potash producers blamed China's stand-off for a demand slowdown which saw world potash shipments in 2012 fall well below initial expectations, and forced inventories held by North American producers above 3m tonnes as of the year of the year, 37% above average levels.

Many potash groups, such as US-based Intrepid Potash and  Canada's PotashCorp, have forecast better market prospects now the China deal has been sealed, with India, the second-ranked importer, also now having ended its own stand-off with exporters.