Fertilizers
Overview
The fertilizer industry has seen dramatic changes in market dynamics, with challenges posed by policy and regulatory changes, political instability, conflicts and new macroeconomic realities. The drive towards energy transition and ambitious zero-carbon goals has also opened up the industry to new entrants and new opportunities.
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EU parliament rejects CBAM suspension clause: Update
EU parliament rejects CBAM suspension clause: Update
Adds deletion of Paris agreement carbon credits clause Brussels, 15 September (Argus) — The European Parliament today confirmed its rejection of a proposed new Article 27a to the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) that would have allowed the temporary suspension of the scheme for certain products. At the same time, they backed extending the CBAM to more than 180 additional steel and aluminium-intensive downstream products, including structures, pipes, tubes and components. Parliament's environment committee had already voted in July to extend the CBAM to a long list of downstream goods containing steel or aluminium. "This Article [27a] prevents investments in technologies of the future and punishes those that have already moved ahead," parliament's centre-left S&D draftsman Mohammed Chahim said. "The same people that are sceptical of the CBAM come to me and ask whether certain CN codes can be added to the list," he said. Chahim said parliament had rejected what he described as a "disguised" subsidy for foreign fertilizers through Article 27a. Instead, support for affected sectors in serious and unforeseen circumstances should come from CBAM revenues, he said. EU member states agreed on their CBAM revisions in June , supporting a similar expansion to downstream products while retaining a narrower version of Article 27a. Under the states' proposal, the CBAM could be suspended for certain products if import prices rose to 50pc above a 10-year average and remained at that level for six months. Argus analysis in June indicated that the CBAM was unlikely to be suspended for fertilizers under current market conditions if member states' proposed amendment was included in the final legislation. Only phosphate prices in some markets were above the threshold at the time. In a separate vote, parliament extended the list of products eligible for support under the temporary decarbonisation fund (TDF) to include urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and other mineral or chemical fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Wheat and barley, excluding seed, as well as iron, steel, cement and aluminium products, also remain eligible. Parliament said MEPs want TDF support available from 2027 to 2029, rather than starting in 2028 as proposed by the European Commission. And they want downstream products that use CBAM-covered goods as inputs to be eligible for support from the fund. Parliament confirmed the environment committee's previous deletion of the clause enabling the commission to take into account carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement when calculating the carbon price paid abroad. Parliament also approved new anti-circumvention provisions requiring the commission to monitor patterns "indicative of artificial splitting of transactions or other circumvention strategies aimed at falling below the de minimis threshold set at 50 tonnes of net mass in the CBAM regulation". EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra urged parliament and member states to reach agreement "well before" year-end. "Without agreement, there is a risk that the downstream extension simply cannot enter into force on 1 January 2028 as planned," he said. The vote, which passed by 464 votes to 50 with 159 abstentions, clears the way for negotiations with member states on a final legal text. Governments continue to support a more limited safeguard clause that could trigger temporary CBAM suspensions for sectors facing crisis conditions. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Venezuela looks to US for fertilizer, ag aid
Venezuela looks to US for fertilizer, ag aid
Caracas, 14 September (Argus) — Expanded US agricultural cooperation with Venezuela could support Caracas' plans to boost fertilizer output but could also increase competition in other markets, some producers in key Venezuelan agricultural states say. On 10 September the US Department of Agriculture announced measures aimed at opening the Venezuelan agricultural market, including for US exporters. The deal lifts US restrictions on foreign banks dealing with Venezuelan agricultural producers and expands technical support for the sector, among food assistance and other measures. It also promotes sales of US farm products to Venezuelan importers through an export guarantee credit program. Expansion of Venezuela's agricultural sector would support more demand for fertilizer, and the measure comes as Venezuelan state petrochemical company Pequiven is seeking to boost urea and ammonia production to 300,000 metric tonnes (t) from September to December, a source at the Pequiven complex in El Tablazo, Zulia state, said. Venezuela exported 421,972t of urea in 2025 and is still Latin America's largest producer, but some sources have indicated that production has declined in recent years. Venezuela has had 2.2mn t/yr of granular and prilled urea production capacity since 2015, according to Argus consulting. Pequiven recently restarted imports from its Colombia-based subsidiary Monomeros of NPK fertilizer. It has focused on supplying domestic urea to agricultural producers in the state of Portuguesa, a key producer of corn, sugar cane and rice. Producers in Portuguesa are cautiously optimistic that the US deal could help open their market access, but some were concerned that it could create a competitive advantage for US agricultural exports, market sources said. Sugar producers in Portuguesa have protested against increased imports of their product from Brazil in recent days. Financial sanctions and restrictions as well as frequent power outages in Venezuela have hurt agricultural production in states including Portuguesa, Barinas and Guarico. By Jose Chalhoub Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Highfield administration deepens Muga potash setback
Highfield administration deepens Muga potash setback
London, 14 September (Argus) — Australian potash developer Highfield Resources' voluntary administration has further stoked uncertainty over the development of its 1.3mn t/yr Muga potash project in northern Spain. The company announced the appointment of voluntary administrators on 7 September, prompting the Australian Securities Exchange to suspend trading in its shares because of concerns over its financial condition. The move follows a prolonged legal dispute over mining concessions at Muga and comes less than a year after Highfield raised A$10mn ($6.45mn) from existing shareholders to support project activities and address issues related to a permit for the Goyo mining concession, although progress on the latter has been slow and the project has largely stalled. The latest news of the voluntary administration only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the project. The administrators will be assessing funding, restructuring and potential sale options. By Julia Campbell Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Fertiglobe explores equity in Hamburg ammonia terminal
Fertiglobe explores equity in Hamburg ammonia terminal
London, 14 September (Argus) — Ammonia producer and trading firm Fertiglobe could acquire a stake in Germany-based MB Energy's planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg, under a recently announced initial agreement. Under the agreement, Fertiglobe will look to supply industrial ammonia buyer Covestro through MB Energy's 600,000 t/yr ammonia import terminal in Hamburg , which is now expected to begin operations in 2028 after various delays. Fertiglobe owns ammonia production assets in Algeria, Egypt and the UAE totalling around 4.4mn t/yr of capacity. The firm has a number of existing offtake deals with ammonia consumers in Europe, and will explore opportunities to supply other industrial buyers through the Hamburg terminal. Fertiglobe also has plans to develop renewable ammonia in Egypt , although a final investment decision on the project has been delayed since 2023. Covestro will use the ammonia as a feedstock in its existing production process, or to meet hydrogen supply requirements. Initially announced plans for the Hamburg terminal suggest it will connect to a cracking facility. Fertiglobe could supply conventional, renewable or low-carbon ammonia, the firm said. MB Energy recently announced the sale of its 1.3mn t/yr ammonia plant in the US Gulf, known as Gulf Coast Ammonia (GCA), to fertilizer producer Yara. MB Energy co-owns the GCA plant with US investment firm Lotus Infrastructure Partners. The Hamburg terminal will still be built and operated by MB Energy, suggesting the company will retain a presence in the ammonia logistics business. By Lizzy Lancaster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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