While the covid pandemic has kept refinery run rates down in 2020, new refinery sulphur capacity will nevertheless form the bulk of new additions to sulphur production over the next few years. But delays to projects on both the supply and demand sides could tip a fairly balanced market in either direction.
Calgary-based Pieridae Energy Ltd says that it has hired a new Chief Operating Officer as from April 5th. Darcy Reding is a professional engineer with 30 years of experience in small and medium-sized private and public upstream oil and gas companies, 20 years of that in leadership roles. Reding spent the last decade at NAL Resources as VP of Operations and VP Operations & Geoscience. Prior to NAL, Reding held technical and leadership roles with Norcen Energy, Northrock Resources, Samson Exploration and Enterra Energy Trust.
The Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) has agreed new annual potash supply contracts with India and China.
ICIS, the independent commodity intelligence company, provides an overview of the nitrogen market. The world supply of urea looks set to outpace market demand in 2021, as several new projects come on-stream. Global ammonia demand, in contrast, is expected to rebound strongly this year after a difficult 2020. The flurry of recent green ammonia projects announcements is another significant market development.
Fertilizer markets are rallying to an extent not seen in almost a decade. This is primarily being driven by strong demand fundamentals, with crop prices moving to their highest point since 2013. But low pipeline inventories and supply disruptions have also played a part. In this guest editorial, CRU’s Chris Lawson explains what’s driving this rally and highlights the key supporting factors.
Market Insight courtesy of Argus Media
Phosphogypsum is finding increasing use in plaster and cement manufacture, roadbed construction and afforestation. We look at how previously unwanted solid waste generated by the phosphate industry is being turned into a valued resource.
Market Insight courtesy of Argus Media
Shutdowns in technical ammonia capacity due to the pandemic have contributed to make 2020 a turbulent year for ammonia markets, but plant shutdowns, strong fertilizer demand and a shortage of new merchant ammonia capacity are contributing to finally removing the burden of overcapacity.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, we look ahead at fertilizer industry prospects for the next 12 months, including the key economic and agricultural drivers likely to shape the market during 2021.