Focus Samples up to 11.4% Phosphate at Machay, Peru

VANCOUVER, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSX-V: FCV) is
pleased to announce that  preliminary reconnaissance exploration on its
100% owned Machay Project has confirmed the presence of
phosphate-bearing sandstone units on its claims (see press release June
6, 2011). Focus’s 17,000 hectares are located in the La Oroya-Tarma
region roughly 200km east of Lima, central Peru.

Focus has identified poorly exposed areas of weathered sandstone, with
many samples containing visible pellets of francolite (Ca(5)PO(4)CO(3, )a variety of the phosphorous mineral, Apatite). A total of 49 out of 131
reconnaissance samples have returned assays exceeding 1% P(2)O(5, )with the majority ranging between 1 – 4% P(2)O(5.  )Significantly higher assays of up to 11.4% P(2)O(5) were sampled on the eastern claims from a sub-cropping phosphatic sandy
limestone unit exposed in a road cut.

Focus geologists have made site visits to approximately 60% of the
claims to date and several additional claim applications have since
been made. Several claims were subject to a visual inspection by the
Regional Department of Agriculture and are pending registration at the
time of writing.

Considering the strong surface weathering that has occurred, these early
results are encouraging. Further evaluation work is planned and will
include trenching to test phosphate grades below the zone of surface
weathering.

Background

The phosphate-bearing beds are associated with medium-grained
fossiliferous sandstones that are typically yellowy-grey in colour and
can reach up to 30m in thickness. The units are hosted in the upper
parts of the Aramachay Formation, a Jurassic-aged marine sedimentary
unit and known host to phosphate occurrences. Stonegate Agricom’s (TSX:
ST) Mantaro deposit, located approximately 50km south of Focus’s claims
and hosted by the same geological unit, has a measured and indicated
resource of 39.5Mt @ 10% P(2)O(5) and inferred resource of 376.3Mt @ 9% P(2)O(5.)*

Approximately 75% of global phosphate resources are from marine
sedimentary phosphate deposits. As these deposits are syngenetic,
formed by the accumulation of organic debris on an ancient sea floor,
they tend to cover large areas and are relatively consistent in grade
and thickness. Similar rocks are known to host phosphate deposits in
the United States, and this type of mineralization is typically
amenable to beneficiation with good recoveries to produce marketable
concentrate grades. As well, the shallow dips of the phosphorite beds
on several of Focus’s concessions appear favourable for large scale
open pit operations, as is the generally low level of agricultural
activity.

A report by L.T. Grose, written in 1966 for Cerro de Pasco Corporation,
highlighted sample assays of up to 29% P(2)O(5) in the La Oroya-Tarma region. Focus’s findings are significant as the
the phosphate beds in this region of Peru can now be confirmed over at
least 90km of strike of the Aramachay Formation.

Phosphates are used mainly in the production of chemical fertilizers.
The current price of phosphate rock concentrate is approximately
$200/t, and prices have risen by approximately 55% over the last year,
reflecting growing world demand for fertilizer as a result of the
current global food crisis.

Further information is available on the Company website www.focusventuresltd.com.

((*) “Technical Report on Mantaro Phosphate Deposit, Junin District,
Peru, March 2, 2010″ of Stonegate on )(www.sedar.com)(.)

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this release was prepared
under the supervision of Mr. David Cass, Focus’s President, who is a
member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists
of British Columbia, and a “Qualified Person” in accordance with NI
43-101.

Samples were prepared and analyzed by CIMM Peru S.A in Lima by ICP OES
Metaborate Fusion. CIMM is an ISO 9001 accredited laboratory whose
quality control system complies with International Standards 2000 and
ISO 17025:2005.

About Focus Ventures

Focus Ventures is dedicated to the discovery and definition of quality
mineral resources in Peru and is developing a diversified portfolio of
quality projects that show potential to become new mines.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

“David Cass”

David Cass, President

Contact:  Erin Ostrom / Ralph Rushton

Symbol: TSXV-FCV

Shares Issued: 29.3-million

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory
Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement

Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking
information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the
business of Focus Ventures Ltd.  Actual results may differ materially
from those currently anticipated in such statement.

SOURCE Focus Ventures Ltd.