Fertilizer International 529 Nov-Dec 2025
25 November 2025
CF ships first low-carbon cargo to Europe
CF Industries, the world’s largest ammonia producer, has announced the first shipment to Europe of certified low-carbon ammonia from its Donaldsonville, Louisiana, nitrogen production complex in the United States.
Commodity supplier Trafigura loaded the 23,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia at Donaldsonville on the 25th September. It is destined for Antwerp, Belgium.
The ‘blue’ ammonia cargo has been certified as having a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional ‘grey’ ammonia production, under The Fertilizer Institute’s (TFI’s) Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity (VACI) Programme.
Trafigura purchased the low-carbon ammonia on behalf of materials manufacturer Envalior. It intends to use the shipment as a feedstock for low-carbon caprolactam production.
“We are proud to partner with industry leaders Trafigura and Envalior as we work together to develop a low-carbon ammonia supply chain in advance of the implementation of the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism,” said Bert Frost, EVP, Sales, Market Development And Supply Chain at CF Industries. “We also are pleased to reach an important milestone for CF Industries by delivering our first low-carbon premium offering to Europe.”
“At Envalior, sustainability is not just part of our strategy – it’s part of who we are. This shipment of low-carbon ammonia marks a significant step in our journey to decarbonize our supply chain and deliver climate-resilient solutions,” said Thorsten Bredemann, the company’s VP, Global Marketing & Sales Intermediates. “By integrating certified low-carbon feedstocks into our production of caprolactam/ammonium sulphate and downstream into PA6, we are showing our commitment to low-carbon materials and helping our customers meet their environmental goals.”
In a landmark moment for CF Industries, the carbon capture and storage project at its Donaldsonville site became operative in July (Fertilizer International 528, p9). This has the capacity to sequester up to two million tonnes of CO2 generated by ammonia manufacturing annually – enabling the production of low-carbon ammonia at the site.
Consequently, CF now expects to produce approximately 1.9 million tonnes of VACIcertified low-carbon ammonia per annum at Donaldsonville. This can also be used to manufacture low-carbon fertilizer products.
