Section: CRUNS Market & Features

CRU’s Nitrogen + Syngas conference returned to a face to face meeting for the first time in two years at the end of March this year.

For some years the fastest growing sector of the methanol market was Chinese olefins production. However, with growth there flattening out, it is traditional chemical uses which are taking over again as drivers of demand growth, with, longer term, a major prospect from fuel and energy applications.

Ammonia synthesis catalysts have seen major improvements over the last 100 years, and they are highly optimised with respect to activity, thermal stability, and poisoning resistance. Improving such catalysts even further requires a deep understanding of their structure and the impact of different parameters on performance. Clariant, Johnson Matthey and Topsoe report on their studies and developments in ammonia synthesis catalysts.

The ammonia market, already seeing record pricing in the wake of the winter’s gas price squeeze, is braced for even higher pricing in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The impact upon gas prices has been most marked, with rates of over $65/MMBtu seen in European forward pricing as the threat of a cessation of Russian gas exports loomed. This will undoubtedly lead to widespread idling of ammonia capacity in Europe.

Market Insight courtesy of Argus Media

Saipem, Stamicarbon, Toyo Engineering Corporation and KBR showcase recent projects and latest technology for urea and nitric acid plants.

Dr M.P. Sukumaran Nair, formerly Secretary to Chief Minister, Kerala and Chairman, Public Sector Restructuring & Audit Board, Government of Kerala looks at the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on supply of fertilizer to India and the world.

The CRU Nitrogen + Syngas Conference returns to Berlin for a live event from 28-30 March 2022. The conference will be run as a hybrid event giving participants the option to attend live in-person or online via the virtual platform.

High feedstock prices and regulatory burdens continue to put pressure on European nitrogen producers to innovate.

New innovations, services and latest technologies to improve the operation and reliability of steam methane reformers from AMETEK Land, Kontrolltechnik, BD Energy Systems, Koch Engineered Solutions, and Quest integrity.