Potash, pulse crops help push up Sask. export numbers

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REGINA -- Premier Brad Wall says potash and pulse crops helped more than double Saskatchewan's exports to India in the first half of this year.

The value of these exports soared from $264 million to $553 million.

Overall, business for Saskatchewan exporters rose 4.3 per cent in the first six months of the year, generating more than $17.5 billion in sales.

Wall says Saskatchewan is on pace to surpass its annual export record set in 2012.

Oil and natural gas are still the biggest export products for Saskatchewan, followed by potash and wheat.

Wall says these exports -- especially to growing Asian markets -- show Saskatchewan products that are in demand around the world.

"Saskatchewan's future prosperity depends on building strong trade connections to the world's fastest growing region," the premier said Wednesday.