MOSCOW, September 21 - RAPSI. Uralkali, the world's largest potassium chloride producer has settled with the plaintiffs representing its direct and indirect customers in the United States, thus agreeing to pay $10 million and $2.75 million, respectively, the company statement says.

The agreements signed on September 20 will come into effect as soon as they are approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

In September 2008, U.S. potassium chloride consumers submitted appeals to U.S. federal courts, alleging that potassium chloride producers had set prices for their products in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Pursuant to the concluded amicable agreements, Uralkali, BKK, the International Potassium Company, and Uralkali Trading SA, will be exempted of any liability.

Since Uralkali's merger with Silvinit, the company has occupied first place in the world in terms of potassium chloride production, with a market share of about 20 percent. Uralkali shares and global depositary receipts circulate on the MICEX-RYS and London Stock Exchange. At the end of 2011, the group increased its IFRS profits by 40.8 percent to $4.203 billion. Its net profit grew 60 percent to $1.527 billion.