Mosaic logged lower revenue in its latest quarter, with the fertilizer producer citing pressure from sulfur availability and affordability challenges.
The Tampa, Fla. company recorded second-quarter revenue of $2.82 billion, down from $3.01 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $3.1 billion.
The decline was driven by lower sales in Mosaic's potash and Fertilizantes segments, partially offset by an increase in phosphate sales.
Chief Executive Bruce Bodine said business conditions remained challenging in the quarter, and Mosaic has worked to pull back on phosphate production, cut costs and reduce capital expenditures as a result. The company maintains the ability to resume full production rates when markets improve, he said.
"We are focused on the things we can control," Bodine said.
Mosaic swung to a second-quarter loss of $272.8 million, or 86 cents a share, from a profit of $410.7 million, or $1.29 a share, a year earlier. The recent quarter's results were weighed down by $351 million in pre-tax items, including mark-to-market adjustments related to Mosaic's holding of Ma'aden shares and non-cash project write-offs.
Adjusted earnings per share were 13 cents, compared with estimates of 12 cents a share according to analysts polled by FactSet.