ALL AMOUNTS ARE STATED IN U.S.$

CALGARY, Alberta -- Agrium Inc. (TSX and NYSE: AGU) announces the establishment of a representative office in Beijing, China. The office will be led by Dr. Mark Wong who will serve as President of Agrium (China) Inc. 

Mike Wilson, President and CEO of Agrium Inc. (Agrium), headquartered in Calgary said, “Agrium is excited about the opportunity to build a permanent presence in China which will enable us to further develop our on-going discussions with potential business partners.  We look forward to continued growth and pursuit of further opportunities in the largest and most dynamic agricultural market in the world.”

The establishment of a representative office will allow Agrium to pursue growth opportunities beyond its current interests in the region. Agrium purchases urea from Chinese sources, supplies muriate of potash (MOP) to Chinese customers through its investment in Canpotex Limited, and holds a 19.6% equity position in a Chinese specialty fertilizer company, Hanfeng Evergreen, Inc, with whom Agrium has licensing agreements for sulphur coated urea technology in China.
 
About Agrium
Agrium Inc. is a major Retail supplier of agricultural products and services in North and South America, a leading global Wholesale producer and marketer of all three major agricultural nutrients and the premier supplier of specialty fertilizers in North America through our Advanced Technologies business unit.  Agrium’s strategy is to grow across the value chain through acquisition, incremental expansion of its existing operations and through the development, commercialization and marketing of new products and international opportunities.  Our strategy places particular emphasis on growth opportunities that both increase and stabilize our earnings profile in the continuing transformation of Agrium.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including those referred to in the management discussion and analysis section of the Company’s most recent annual report to shareholders, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in the Company’s anticipated financing requirements and the method of financing such requirements and changes in securities and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof.  Agrium disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information as a result of new information or future events.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Dr. Mark Wong
+86-10-6505-6780