Nitrogen markets, and urea in particular, have been impacted by a series of geopolitical shocks in recent years which have driven markets over and above normal market factors such as feedstock and shipping costs, crop prices etc.
For many years confined to pilot projects and feasibility studies, biomass based gasification is seeing rapid take up in China for methanol production and may mark a new era in syngas generation.
A market already characterised by tight supply has been thrown into chaos by the Iran war and reduction of phosphate exports from the Gulf at the knock on effect on sulphur prices, a key input into MAP/DAP production.
• Short-term outlook: Ammonia benchmarks are expected to remain under upward pressure. The PAU turnaround removes a key supply source from an already tight SE Asian market.
Global ammonia benchmarks pushed to fresh highs in April, with a reported trade from Egypt to NW Europe at $905/t c.fr, marking the highest Atlantic level seen since the Middle East conflict began. The move was driven primarily by tightening North African supply, with Algerian offer levels climbing to $840-850/t f.o.b., and Egyptian availability constrained by EBIC being sold out through June, together with limited prompt tonnage from Abu Qir.
Siemens explains how digital process twins and real-time optimisation can be used to achieve significant cost savings and reduce emissions at industrial sites.
NX eBlue™ is a next-generation hydrogen production technology, ready for industrial deployment, that integrates electrification with renewable energy to deliver a low-carbon, high-efficiency alternative to traditional steam methane reforming. M. Antonelli, M. Mennella, and Dr. S. Romagnuolo of KT Tech S.p.A. describe NEXTCHEM’s proposal for the electrification of steam methane reforming.
Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO) has developed two proprietary technologies – g-Methanol ™ and SUPERHIDIC ™ – to enable ultra-low carbon e-methanol production.
As demand for green methanol grows, the Kassø e-methanol plant in Aabenaa, Denmark represents a significant milestone as the first commercial-scale e-methanol production facility in operation with a nameplate capacity of 42,000 t/a. European Energy and Clariant describe the technical collaboration between them in executing this pioneering e-methanol project
The selection of the post-combustion carbon capture technology to be implemented for a decarbonisation project is a crucial element during the early feasibility phases and it is strongly affected by the characteristics of the plant on which it has to be installed. NextChem highlights the comparative advantages of absorption technologies and the alternative opportunities of using a cryogenic configuration to reach the desired carbon capture rate.