Strait of Hormuz disruptions linked to the Iran war have choked off fertilizer shipments from the Middle East and pushed prices sharply higher, prompting a wave of emergency support and trade measures as governments try to shield farmers ahead of key planting seasons.
QatarEnergy has agreed a 15-year urea supply contract with Koch Fertilizer, covering up to 740,000 t/y of Qatari-origin product from July 2024 into the US and other export markets.
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.
Bahrain’s Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) says that its ammonia, urea and methanol plants remain offline following an Iranian drone attack and subsequent fire at the site. No injuries were reported from the incident.
Shell plc SHEL has temporarily halted production at its Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility in Qatar following a major attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City. The Pearl GTL facility, one of the largest of its kind globally, was forced to shut down after sustaining damage during aerial attacks leading to a fire on one of its processing trains. While the fire was quickly contained and no injuries were reported, production was suspended to assess the extent of the damage. The site has the capacity to process up to 1.6 bcf/d of gas into 140,000 bbl/d of liquid fuels.
ADNOC Gas has outlined a staged recovery plan for its Habshan complex after April attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while reporting sharply stronger sulphur earnings on the back of firm prices and resilient output elsewhere in its network.
CF Industries and PepsiCo have launched a commercial partnership to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions in potato production by offering certified low‑carbon urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) to growers supplying PepsiCo’s Frito‑Lay snack brands.
Copper smelters are under fresh pressure as treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) fall amid tighter concentrate supply and rising smelter capacity, while record sulphuric acid values reshape smelter revenues.
CRU’s "Energy Shock: Impact on commodity value chains" briefing in London on 14 May is essential for fertiliser, sulphur, nitrogen and syngas professionals seeking practical tools to manage rising cost and supply risk.
A review of papers presented at this year’s Sulphur World Symposium, held by The Sulphur Institute (TSI) in Vancouver, Canada this year from April 28 to 30.