Skip to main content

Agricultural

13 January 2026

Press Release: NEXTCHEM (MAIRE) announces two awards in China based on its proprietary NX STAMI Nitrates and NX STAMI Urea technologies, advancing the fertilizer industry

NEXTCHEM (MARIE)’s Press Release: 13 January 2026, Milan

  • NEXTCHEM will leverage its mono-pressure nitric acid technology providing the license and the process design package (PDP) for a new plant in China
  • NX STAMI™ Urea technology has also been selected for the revamping of an existing nitrogen fertilizer complex in Northern China

MAIRE (MAIRE.MI) announces that NEXTCHEM, through its nitrogen technology licensor Stamicarbon, has been awarded two contracts in China, leveraging its proprietary technology portfolio and reinforcing its commitment to delivering practical, efficiency-driven solutions to meet the evolving needs of the fertilizer industry.

NEXTCHEM will provide the license and the PDP for a new nitric acid plant in China. The project entails the application of Stamicarbon’s state-of-the-art mono-pressure technology, part of NX STAMI™ Nitrates series, which uses oxygen instead of air as feed for the process, enabling high energy recovery and low operational costs. This award builds on the Group’s long-standing expertise in nitrogen technologies and reflects its commitment to industrializing efficient, low-emission solutions for the agricultural supply chains. With approximately 80% of global nitric acid production dedicated to fertilizer applications, efficient and low-emission nitric acid processes are critical to the global production of sustainable fertilizers.

Moreover, NEXTCHEM has also signed a new contract to provide the license and the PDP, as well as technical assistance services for the revamping of a nitrogen fertilizer complex in Northern China. The project is aimed at upgrading an existing urea plant based on the proprietary NX STAMI™ Urea technology, allowing significant reductions in steam consumption and improving energy efficiency, while optimizing both CAPEX and OPEX.

Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM, commented: “These two awards in China underscore NEXTCHEM’s ability to combine proprietary cutting-edge technologies with tangible efficiency gains for our clients. This is a clear testament to NEXTCHEM’s strategy aimed at accelerating a more sustainable and competitive fertilizer value chain while strengthening its long-term presence in key markets.”

Latest in Agricultural

Australia fast-tracks Murchison green ammonia project

Australia’s federal government has selected the Murchison Green Hydrogen project in Western Australia as one of four pilot projects under its newly launched Investor Front Door initiative, a scheme designed to streamline regulatory approvals and fast-track major projects deemed to be in the national interest, the government announced 9 April. The Murchison project, which will use wind and solar energy to produce large-scale green ammonia, is intended to serve as a model for commercial-scale green hydrogen development in Australia and to generate green export opportunities to markets in Asia and Europe. Murchison, being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP), is expected to have a total production capacity of roughly 1.3 million t/a of green ammonia. The first phase of operations is due to begin in 2029.

CF Industries delays turnaround to ease supply concerns

CF Industries has delayed a planned multi-week maintenance turnaround at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex, the world’s largest ammonia production facility, in response to the supply disruption caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, the producer announced in a press release. The company said the decision is expected to make approximately 100,000 tonnes of additional granular urea available to US customers during the spring application season. CF Industries added that it is also prioritising new sales to domestic customers over higher-priced export orders for the duration of the spring planting season.

SABIC secures feedstock for new plants

SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company says that it has received approval from the Saudi Ministry of Energy to allocate feedstock required for the construction of its seventh plant in Jubail Industrial City. The new facility will produce approximately 1.2 million t/a of ammonia and 2.6 million t/a of urea, increasing the company’s urea production capacity from 4.8 million t/a to 7.4 million t/a; a 54% increase. This is expected to strengthen its position as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of nitrogen-based nutrients, in line with its 2040 growth strategy.