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Latest from BCInsight

Syngas project listing 2025
A round-up of current and proposed projects involving non-nitrogen synthesis gas derivatives, including methanol, synthetic/substitute natural gas (SNG) and gas- and coal to liquids (GTL/CTL) plants.

People
Nishant Kanodia, chairman of Matix Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, has been appointed to the board of directors of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA). The appointment was formalised at the IFA Annual Conference 2025 in Monaco, with the theme of ‘Investing in the Future of Food’. With approximately 500 members across more than 80 countries, IFA champions policy, innovation, and sustainable fertilizer practices that contribute to global food security.

Price Trends
Ammonia benchmarks on both sides of the Suez were little changed in mid-June with a seemingly balanced supply-demand outlook, although those of a more bullish persuasion continue to support the notion that prices will soon – if they have not done so already – reach a floor. In Algeria, while activity was limited, producer Sorfert was believed to be seeking prices of $410415/t f.o.b. for July delivery, up $10-15/t and equivalent to >$450/t c.fr NW Europe. Imminent tariffs on imports of Russian fertilizers into the EU may trigger an uptick in downstream capacity utilisation across the continent.

Market Outlook
• The short term outlook appears balanced for the most part, although more bullish participants seem to be holding sway over market sentiment.

Ammonia safety update
As well as a recent US Chemical Safety Board report on an ammonia release incident, the past year has seen considerable focus on safety of ammonia at sea, in preparation for its possible use as a clean burning maritime fuel.

IMTOF 2025
This year’s International Methanol Technology Operators’ Forum (IMTOF) was held at the Holiday Inn Regents Park hotel, London, from June 15 to 18.

Recent developments in the ammonia market
Increased merchant ammonia capacity over the next few years may lead to longer term price declines.

Another month of market turmoil
Ju ne saw fertilizer markets – urea markets in particular – thrown into chaos by the widening of hostilities in the Middle East. Israel’s and then the United States’ strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and the retaliatory attacks on Israel and Qatar for a while held out the potential for the conflict to widen, perhaps even leading to attempts to close the straits of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, something not seen since the ‘tanker war’ of the 1980s when Iraq tried to cripple Iran’s oil exports during the eight year Iran-Iraq War.