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.
Project Meadowlark, a more than $1 billion homegrown nitrogen fertilizer complex in Gothenburg, Nebraska, has cleared key early milestones as it targets civil works in 2027 and commercial operations by 2029.
Topsoe has entered into an agreement with Texas-based sustainable fuels and chemicals technology company BioVeritas to unlock advantaged feedstocks for existing infrastructure. The agreement will enable fuel producers to license Topsoe’s HydroFlex® technology alongside the Bio-Veritas Process™ to produce renewable fuels from second-generation feedstocks, such as woody biomass, corn stover, wheat straw, and similar waste and residual biomass. The BioVeritas Process™ converts second-generation feedstocks to advantaged intermediates, called KEY-Tones™ that can be processed by Topsoe’s HydroFlex® technology to unlock production of renewable fuels using second-generation feedstock.
INEOS Enterprises has agreed to sell INEOS Calabrian, its ultra-pure sulphur dioxide and derivatives business, to Ecovyst. INEOS Calabrian operates manufacturing sites in Port Neches, Texas, USA and Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Completion of the sale is expected by the end of June 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
CF Industries has delayed a planned multi-week maintenance turnaround at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex, the world’s largest ammonia production facility, in response to the supply disruption caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, the producer announced in a press release. The company said the decision is expected to make approximately 100,000 tonnes of additional granular urea available to US customers during the spring application season. CF Industries added that it is also prioritising new sales to domestic customers over higher-priced export orders for the duration of the spring planting season.
Woodside Energy has formally assumed control of the Beaumont New Ammonia (BNA) facility in Texas, following the completion of performance testing by previous owner OCI. However, speaking at a recent press briefing for Woodside’s quarterly results, CEO Liz Westcott admitted that the switch to carbon capture and storage at the 1.1 million t/a ammonia facility was now being delayed to 2027.
Itafos has amended its long-term sulfuric acid supply contract with Rio Tinto’s Kennecott copper business, locking in a new pricing basis and more flexible volumes to support US phosphate production at Conda, Idaho through 2029.
Woodside Energy has formally assumed control of the Beaumont New Ammonia (BNA) facility in Texas, following the completion of performance testing by previous owner OCI. However, speaking at a recent press briefing for Woodside’s quarterly results, CEO Liz Westcott admitted that the switch to carbon capture and storage at the 1.1 million t/a ammonia facility […]
Devon Energy has signed a definitive merger agreement with Coterra Energy. The companies say that the combination will create a leading shale operator with a high-quality asset base anchored by a premier position in the economic core of the Delaware Basin. The combined company will be named Devon Energy and will be headquartered in Houston while maintaining a significant presence in Oklahoma City. The companies say that they have identified $1 billion in annual pre-tax synergies which, together with technology-driven capital efficiency gains and optimised capital allocation will drive near and long-term per share growth.
Taseko Mines’ Florence Copper project, featuring Metso’s copper solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) technology, is ramping up its commercial operations in Arizona. The successful harvesting of the first copper cathodes at the end of February 2026 is an important milestone for Taseko Mines and Metso, marking the first new greenfield copper production in the United States since 2008. The project caters to the rapidly growing copper demand while supporting the transition towards more environmentally responsible copper production in North America.