Potash Corp. (POT) had contact with China's Sinochem Group and Brazil's Vale (VALE) as the Canadian company looks for alternatives to a hostile takeover bid from BHP Billiton Ltd (BHP).

Vale and Sinochem both made contact late last week, Bloomberg News reported without naming its sources. Neither company has held formal talks with the world's biggest fertilizer company.

Last week, Potash Corp.'s board rejected a $39 billion offer from BHP Billiton. Now BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, is taking its bid to Potash Corp.'s shareholders.

Vale and Sinochem both declined to comment on whether there had been contact with Potash Corp.