* Belarus is world's largest producer of potash
* Supplies this fertiliser to China, India, other countries
* Nationwide protests take place after disputed elections
MINSK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Some fertiliser production has
stopped at Belarusian potash miner Belaruskali after a number of
its workers joined protests over the country's disputed
election, TASS news agency cited the miner's labour union as
saying on Monday.
The scale of the industrial action among state-owned
Belaruskali's 16,000-strong workforce across six mines was
unclear. The company is the world's largest producer of potash,
a key source of dollar revenue for Belarus, and is a major
supplier of fertiliser to China and India.
Belaruskali was not available for comment when called by
Reuters.
Its trading arm - the Belarus Potash Company (BPC) - said
earlier on Monday it would do its best to honour contracts with
customers.
Industrial action in Belarus began last week after
allegations of election rigging and police brutality.
Some of the Belaruskali workers protesting near the
company's headquarters in Soligorosk, 135 km (84 miles) south of
Minsk, are calling for new elections, the sacking of Belarus
officials involved in a violent crackdown and for the release
from jail of people they say are political prisoners.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who declared a
landslide election win in the disputed election, has said he
will not hold a new vote.
Belaruskali produces 1 million tonnes of potash a month, 18%
of global monthly consumption, and has limited storage capacity,
analysts at VTB Capital said in a note on Monday.
The global potash market is currently tight as large
deliveries are planned under recently signed contracts with
China and India, they said.
Other global potash producers, including ICL,
Mosaic and K+S, could benefit if supplies
from Belarus dry up for some time, VTB added.
In a statement Monday, BPC told clients: "We are fully aware
of the importance of our commitments to you, as well as a high
degree of responsibility, and we ask for your understanding.
"We hope for a quick resolution of this situation," it
added, posting a banner saying "Pray for Belarus".
(Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky
Writing by Tom Balmforth and Polina Devitt
Editing by David Goodman and David Holmes)